Nashville Home Inspection - What's Wrong With this Picture? (3/8/9)

HINT:  KABOOM!!

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

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.