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This happens when the neutral goes out in a house. Usually the waterlines will handle it, but if the house has pex the ground will go through the gas lines.
Especially if a high voltage line comes down on a gas meter for whatever reason.
Definitely run away and call professional… everyone i guess.
Would killing the main breaker at least prevent the heating of the pipes so that the expert isn't walking into a potentially dangerous situation?
I think in this case the power heating the pipes is not coming from this house's electrical service, so killing the main breaker probably won't help.
I'm a little concerned killing the main breaker might result in a sudden temperature change that might fracture the gas line. Of course if you turn the gas off you might get fried.
I read that this happened due to a downed power line. Unfortunately, killing the main breaker would not do anything.
We found out a while ago that plumbing pipes aren't the best way to ground a house for a variety of reasons, and this is why ufers (grounding to foundation steel) and ground rods are now the NEC standard. Also, this is why bonding wires are important as well. If the plumbing were bonded to a proper dwelling ground system, the current would find a direct path to ground and trip the responsible breaker, instead of using the gas lines as a big ass resistor and creating the light show we see here.
I've never seen pex running into a house from the street/ground. It's always been copper up to the water meter at the very least and it's code (in NJ at least) to put grounding wire there.
I'm in a new development. It's all plastic.
This would have also been prevented if the electrical install included an RCD. It would have tripped instantly when the neutral gets disconnected
Better yet to just have a bond to the gas and water pipes. In this instance, any current introduced to the plumbing has a direct connection to ground, which will allow current to flow freely and trip the breaker.