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What's Wrong With this Picture? (3/8/9)

Reblogger
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Franklin Homes Realty LLC

With the cold weather approaching, think twice about installing a fireplace in your home on your own.  You want to hire a professional.  A licensed installer will prevent the unit from being too close to the house.

The following picture taken by a home inspector, shows the potential danger to your home and family's lives. Be sure to hire a professional.

Courtesy of Franklin TN REALTOR® Tammie White www.TWRealtyGroup.net.

Original content by Robert Dirienzo

HINT:  KABOOM!!

Propane Tank

ANSWER:  The homeowner installed a free-standing gas stove in the living room as an after market device.  Then he placed the supporting propane tank on the opposite side of the wall and ran the gas line into the crawl space and up into the living room.  Now look at that picture and imagine a fire that starts in the house at the new fireplace.  How long will it take the heat and eventual flame to reach the propane tank?  Minutes?  Before the fire department shows up?  Probably.  Now imagine how large the explosion will be when the tank goes.  The good news is that the explosion will probably blow the fire out as well.  The bad news is that any people or other homes nearby will suffer greatly.

There are rules for locating propane tanks relative to the structure and the property line.  Building codes may differ depending on the municipality.  In general, a tank that is 500 gallons or less should be located at least 10' from the structure or property line.  Tanks sized from 501 to 2000 gallons should be 25' from the structure or property line.  Tanks exceeding 2000 gallons should be at least 50' from the structure or property line.  No tank should be stored within inches of the structure.  Otherwise, you may hear a loud KABOOM!!

Thank you,

Richard Acree

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Comments in this blog posting are the copyrighted intellectual property of Richard Acree, President, HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, and contributing members of the Active Rain Real Estate network, and are intended to educate and otherwise assist home owners, sellers and buyers, building owners, sellers and buyers, realtors, real estate investors, property managers, and lenders in the process of owning, buying or selling homes or commercial buildings.  HABITEC is a residential (home) and commercial building inspection company serving Middle Tennessee including Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Mt. Juliet, Hendersonville, Dickson, Belle Meade, Columbia, Spring Hill and more!  In addition to building inspections HABITEC offers Environmental Services for mold assessments, radon testing and water quality analysis.  Additional information about HABITEC can be found on our website at www.habitecinspections.com, or call 615-376-2753. 

Richard Acree is the author of the HABITEC Home and Building Inspections Blog and founder of the ActiveRain Group Tennessee Home and Building Inspectors.  All are welcome to join and see more blogs like this one. 

 

Posted by
Tammie White, Managing Broker/Owner
CLHMS, CRS, GRI, SFR
Franklin Homes Realty LLC
Franklin, TN
(615) 495-0752 
GET REAL. GET LOCAL.
 
This posting with the content written here and photographs displayed are the intellectual property and opinions of Tammie White of Franklin Homes Realty LLC. Any party who uses this material without the written permission of Tammie White is subject to copyright infringement and possible lawsuit.

Comments (6)

Ralph Gorgoglione
Metro Life Homes - Palm Springs, CA
California and Hawaii Real Estate (310) 497-9407

Yuk.

what a mess.

Looks a little like toxic waste.

Nov 20, 2009 04:03 PM
Susan Neal
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

I disagree with only one part of this post:  if you have a propane tank inches from your home, you won't hear the KABOOM!  You'll be dead or unconscious before you know what happened!

That is one scary picture!

Nov 20, 2009 04:05 PM
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

That is why I live in Phoenix. Good bye to white and hello sun

Nov 20, 2009 04:17 PM
Kryste Adams
RE/MAX Key Properties - Luxury Homes, Golf Course Homes - Bend, OR
Bend, Oregon Real Estate

Yikes, that's a scary picture and thought...

Nov 20, 2009 04:26 PM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

I think it just needs to be painted. They should make sure they use a good, fire-resistant paint. LOL

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Nov 28, 2009 12:14 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Certainly that home owner thought they were doing something good for their home, but wow, that could have been deadly real quick.

 Todd Clark - www.LivingBeaverton.com

Nov 29, 2009 04:45 PM