If I set off a flea bomb, do I have to turn off my pilot light?

Question

I know the directions say you should turn off ALL appliances and pilot lights... but if your water heater is downstairs in another room? I found a few fleas on my dog and while she's getting dipped, I want to set off a bomb in the house.

Answer 1

There should be some kind of central shut off for the gas--call and ask your gas co.  At least here in California, we all know where that is so they

have it here.

Answer 2

The simplest answer is yes, turn them all off!

Simply turning off the gas at the mains is not good enough either, as a pilot light can continue to burn for minutes, hours, or even days just on the gas left in the line *after* the shutoff valve, which can pressurise slightly behind the regulator.

The propellant ejected from the flea bomb will disperse very quickly, but it comes out cold, and so flammables will initially tend to pool near the ground level.

Turn off all your consumer electronics at the switch, fans, computers, lights, etc, as well as anything that has a motor in it (motors generate small arcs open to the air - a great ignition point.) Turn off each gas appliance's individual tap, and make sure the pilot is extinguished before beginning.

Answer 3

See below for  a good link on how to use a flea bomb.

My guess is that you only need to turn off appliances/pilot lights in the rooms you are bombing.  Just close the door to the water heater room downstairs and you'll be fine...