Leap Day ended badly
@shaggin (74987)
United States
February 29, 2016 10:07pm CST
I had a nice time today after my children got home celebrating leap day.
I was reading to my daughter upstairs before bed. We came down stairs for a bedtime snack and immediately I noticed a strange smell.
At first I thought it might be propane but all the knobs were off and it didn't smell quite the same. I realized the small was gas or oil.
I opened the cellar door and saw red oil all over the cement floor. I ran down and saw oil pouring out of the water heater (we have a fuel fired water heater).
I quick yelled into Glenn who was in the bathroom and then called my father in law who is a plumber. He told me he was at the ER with his brother and would be down later. He said to turn off the heat.
I turned the thermostat off and Glenn turned off the water heater. He thinks the filter might be plugged. I bought bag after bag of cat litter at the Dollar general while Glenn poured it on the oil to absorb it. We wound up using 110 pounds of cat litter. I will need to buy more tomorrow and have a ton of cleaning up to do. Glenn estimated there was at least 15 gallons of oil spilled.
It is 11 pm now. Everyone is in bed including me. I hope it doesn't get to cold in here by the time my father in law can come tomorrow. The cellar window is open.
I am nervous. I don't think I will be able to sleep. I couldn't shower so I used makeup remover wipes and baby wipes to clean myself up. I have laundry and dishes that need to be finished as well.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@YuleimaVzla (1857)
• Maracaibo, Venezuela
1 Mar 16
Hi friend, do not worry you'll be fine, you just have to be well ventilated doors and windows of the house, and did much to put cat litter. I'll tell you something I am from Venezuela, mostly we are producers of oil in the world, almost all cities have seesaws oil (seem carousels) and I, I have one right next to my house, sometimes it is both the oil that pours in my backyard and also sometimes has a lot of pressure gas and shoot pieces of crude oil around like firework, trust me you'll be fine, I have 31 years living with it and has not passed us anything, let alone happen to you only the very strong odors are not healthy for breathing and lungs of children, tries to fix this problem as soon as possible, kisses.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
1 Mar 16
The type of oil we use to heat our home is Home Heating Oil #2 fuel oil very similar to diesel fuel or kerosene. The cat litter is used to absorb it. The smell was very bad. It worked its way up into our bedrooms upstairs last night. My throat was so sore from it this morning when I woke up. I barely slept at all last night I was so worried. I came down at about 1 am to check to make sure it wasn't leaking again as the smell was so strong in the upstairs. I had left the window open but it didn't seem to air out much at all.
1 person likes this
@YuleimaVzla (1857)
• Maracaibo, Venezuela
1 Mar 16
@shaggin If I understand is worrying, seek help as soon as possible call a professional, if elprofesional can not come immediately then try spending the night at a relative's home, at least the children and you would never again smell toxic things ... you suffered a sore throat, which occurs as a result of harmful gases such as when we smell carbon monoxide buses or cars. Take a small glass with two fingers as vinegar and gargle that will help.
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
1 Mar 16
@YuleimaVzla That is great advice thank you. I have never heard of doing that. My mother always says to drink milk to help. My grandfather used to be a mechanic and would have to paint cars. Sometimes it would make him sick and he would have to go outside and drink a glass of milk. I cannot stand the taste of milk. I was the only one who seemed to suffer any problems from the smell. Everyone else in the house was fine. Maybe my sense of smell is stronger I don't know.
@ricki_911 (21625)
• Toronto, Ontario
3 Mar 16
I would of called your insurance company and they would covered the cost. I think it would of been cheaper, and cleaned up properly without worrying.
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
4 Mar 16
I didn't think to do anything like that. I only have car insurance that is it. I live in a house that my parents own but they do not live here. They don't make me pay rent. I pay all the bills and repairs etc. I have been told I can get renters insurance but I just feel it is a waste of money when I will likely never use it. I wonder how often the oil filter has to be replaced to keep it from rotting out the way it did. I never want to have to go through this again so I better ask my father in law.
