this post was submitted on 27 May 2026
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hmmm

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For things that are "hmmm".

Rule 1: All post titles except for meta posts should be just plain "hmmm" and nothing else, no emotes, no capitalisation, no extending it to "hmmmm" etc.

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[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 102 points 3 weeks ago (17 children)

That piece of gas flex has become the only neutral current path for the electrical service to the house. This occurs when the electrical service's neutral conductor fails, and there is no good bonding of the gas service at it's entrance point, and the water service to the building is plastic.

[–] billwashere@lemmy.world 43 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

This makes total sense but how does this not go boom? No oxygen in the gas line?

[–] Sludgehammer@lemmy.world 40 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Bazoogle@lemmy.world 21 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

So you're saying you should poke a hole in the line?

[–] InputZero@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago

That would just make a jet fire. Which may eventually result in the catastrophic failure of the pipe but if you really want to see a house jump cut a slot. Much more area for gases to mix. It's only 1psi probably so a hole may not be enough.

[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 12 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (4 children)

Autoignition temperature of natural gas is above 500c. Need a spark, or enough heat, there could even be a leak and this not be enough heat to ignite.

[–] billwashere@lemmy.world 19 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I’m pretty sure if it’s red hot it’s close to if not over 500°C but I guess it depends on the metal.

[–] monotremata@lemmy.ca 9 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

My understanding is that it doesn't really depend on the metal much. It's just the blackbody radiation associated with that temperature. So basically anything glowing red from heat is probably over 500°C.

"As the object increases in temperature to about 500 °C (773 K; 932 °F), the emission spectrum gets stronger and extends into the human visual range, and the object appears dull red."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-body_radiation

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

The intensity does depend on the emissivity of the material, and emissivity is a bit counterintuitive:

https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/emissivity-coefficients-d_447.html

But less than you’d think, given the extreme coefficient, as human perception of brightness is nonlinear. An object twice as bright as another looks pretty similar to the eye.

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[–] tunetardis@piefed.ca 8 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

So electrician/plumber/HVAC/gas co/exorcist? What are we looking at here?

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[–] deranger@sh.itjust.works 94 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Just preheating the gas a bit, it’s for better thermodynamics.

[–] JohnWorks@sh.itjust.works 97 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

It's concerning that there's more than 1 image of this happening

[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 63 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

It’s common, that’s why building codes exist, and why you don’t hire the cheapest contractor, since they probably aren’t licensed.

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[–] TheGoldenV@lemmy.world 26 points 3 weeks ago

I’m wondering if we’re at a safe distance?

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago

I would have taken one and run out.

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[–] silverchase@sh.itjust.works 62 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] neuracnu@lemmy.blahaj.zone 27 points 3 weeks ago

Forbidden red vines

[–] Darkard@lemmy.world 50 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I'd recommend turning off the power before someone goes from blue to well done

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[–] binux@sh.itjust.works 42 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Good news: The water heater is working

Bad news: The water heater is working

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[–] rockerface@lemmy.cafe 41 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Oh hell yeah, you guys got the Gamer Tank™ with RGB lighting!

[–] youcantreadthis@quokk.au 11 points 3 weeks ago

Well r at least

[–] thatkomputerkat@lemmy.blahaj.zone 36 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Yeah, imma go turn off the main breaker in the panel and just gtfo and go sit in my car down the street while I calm the fuck down for an hour. Lol fuck that. Gat damn electrified gas line what the fuck.

[–] LogicalDrivel@sopuli.xyz 29 points 3 weeks ago

Holy shit thats a gas line? I thought it was some wild water pipe or something. Yeah thats a GTFO now moment for sure.

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[–] laranis@lemmy.zip 33 points 3 weeks ago

That's not a "take a picture" moment.

[–] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 24 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Well that is ... sub-optimal.

[–] No_Eponym@lemmy.ca 6 points 3 weeks ago

Heading towards super-critical?

[–] strop@lemmy.ml 21 points 3 weeks ago

Kinda hot ngl

[–] thagoat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 3 weeks ago
[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 18 points 3 weeks ago

Early example of a Cyberpunk water heater

[–] SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.world 14 points 3 weeks ago

I submitted this photo to chatgpt and it said my toaster was improperly wired.

[–] mrfriki@lemmy.world 12 points 3 weeks ago

Vaporwave water heater.

[–] AccoSpoot1@lemmy.world 12 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Water heater operating at 110% efficiency.

[–] KingGimpicus@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 weeks ago

100% water, 10% heating. Its like in floor heating but faster. Direct atmospheric transfer of heat so you can heat while you heat so your heat puts you in heat.

[–] the_riviera_kid@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago

I'm sure it's fine don't worry about it.

/S

[–] Hiro8811@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

How the hell is that pipe holding up the pressure

[–] nomecks@lemmy.wtf 15 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Residential natural gas is like 1 psi.

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[–] ozoned@piefed.social 10 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Lick it. See if it tastes like strawberry. /s Please don't actually do it. :D

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@thelemmy.club 8 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

You are not my supervisor.

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[–] dohpaz42@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago (8 children)

Back when I was married, I would not have been surprised if my water heater line looked like this when my (now ex-) wife took showers. That woman would take insanely hot showers. 😅

As an aside, she also had an insane sense of smell too.

Come to think of it, maybe she is an X-Men mutant.

Which means my kids are going to be X-Men.

Oh boy.

[–] lime@feddit.nu 13 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Sabata11792@ani.social 11 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
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[–] HeyJoe@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Wow same with mine! Super long, super hot. She would do the same with our kids and get annoyed that we couldnt all bathe (excluding me since im a morning shower person) and have enough hot water for everyone. Hmmm i wonder why... explaining this was just met with eye rolls and that it shouldnt be that way. I just made the plunge for divorce as well so I just keep thinking of all the things that will be normal again. This, plus not needing 30 packs of toilet paper every month alone will probably save me a fortune and thats just the tip of the ice burg.

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[–] Etterra@discuss.online 8 points 3 weeks ago

Well that ain't supposed to happen.

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 8 points 3 weeks ago

Good think that is not a gas line or anything.....

[–] Ceruleum@lemmy.wtf 7 points 3 weeks ago

That's how lightsabers are made.

[–] ICastFist@programming.dev 7 points 3 weeks ago

STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT!

[–] Jankatarch@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

You walk downstairs and look at your water heater to feel that unexpected, familar piece of thought.

"Grip"

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