Images: 20 things in your home that can explode
Check out this rundown of everyday items that can blow up.
1. Aerosol cans left in sunlight or heat. This includes items such as cooking spray and WD-40.
2. Light bulbs implode when they break instead of explode, but there's not much difference to the observer. A drop of water landing on a hot bulb can cause it to explode.
3. Hot water boilers have TPR valves just like water heaters. They should be tested regularly.
4. Make sure to pierce a potato's skin before baking it!
5. It's best to dispose of household batteries that aren't in use anymore. While explosions are rare, they can happen.
6. Beer bottles left in the freezer.
7. Breaker box. A large service panel can have an explosion due to a short circuit overwhelming the breakers.
8. Espresso machines: There's a reason the directions say don't remove filter unit when under pressure."
9. Firewood. The popping of a real wood burning fireplace is actually little explosions of trapped pitch, sap or water.
10. Flour. Baking flour is highly flammable and has the potential for flare-ups.
11. Open sealed containers. Especially in high altitudes, sealed packages should be opened carefully. This is also true if the container is full of powders.
12, Hot water heater. If the TPR (temperature and pressure release) valve and the heater's thermostat fall at the same time, you could be looking at trouble.
14. Propane tank. This one goes without saying but we'll say it anyway. Be careful with propane tanks for barbecue grills.
15, If your pumpkin hasn't been carved, don't leave it outside. It can freeze and create a mess.
16. Sausage. These can be painful, causing boiling hot juice to squirt out of the casing and burn the unsuspecting griller.
17. Septic tank. Problems with a system can lead to methane buildup. Not good.
19. Trees can explode because of a fire or lightning strike, both of which heat the water in the wood.
20. Old-fashioned TV tubes are harder to break than a light bulb, but it can happen. Thanks for checking out the slideshow!
1. Aerosol cans left in sunlight or heat. This includes items such as cooking spray and WD-40.
2. Light bulbs implode when they break instead of explode, but there's not much difference to the observer. A drop of water landing on a hot bulb can cause it to explode.
3. Hot water boilers have TPR valves just like water heaters. They should be tested regularly.
4. Make sure to pierce a potato's skin before baking it!
5. It's best to dispose of household batteries that aren't in use anymore. While explosions are rare, they can happen.
6. Beer bottles left in the freezer.
7. Breaker box. A large service panel can have an explosion due to a short circuit overwhelming the breakers.
8. Espresso machines: There's a reason the directions say don't remove filter unit when under pressure."
9. Firewood. The popping of a real wood burning fireplace is actually little explosions of trapped pitch, sap or water.
10. Flour. Baking flour is highly flammable and has the potential for flare-ups.
11. Open sealed containers. Especially in high altitudes, sealed packages should be opened carefully. This is also true if the container is full of powders.
12, Hot water heater. If the TPR (temperature and pressure release) valve and the heater's thermostat fall at the same time, you could be looking at trouble.
14. Propane tank. This one goes without saying but we'll say it anyway. Be careful with propane tanks for barbecue grills.
15, If your pumpkin hasn't been carved, don't leave it outside. It can freeze and create a mess.
16. Sausage. These can be painful, causing boiling hot juice to squirt out of the casing and burn the unsuspecting griller.
17. Septic tank. Problems with a system can lead to methane buildup. Not good.
19. Trees can explode because of a fire or lightning strike, both of which heat the water in the wood.
20. Old-fashioned TV tubes are harder to break than a light bulb, but it can happen. Thanks for checking out the slideshow!
1. Aerosol cans left in sunlight or heat. This includes items such as cooking spray and WD-40.
2. Light bulbs implode when they break instead of explode, but there's not much difference to the observer. A drop of water landing on a hot bulb can cause it to explode.
3. Hot water boilers have TPR valves just like water heaters. They should be tested regularly.
4. Make sure to pierce a potato's skin before baking it!
5. It's best to dispose of household batteries that aren't in use anymore. While explosions are rare, they can happen.
6. Beer bottles left in the freezer.
7. Breaker box. A large service panel can have an explosion due to a short circuit overwhelming the breakers.
8. Espresso machines: There's a reason the directions say don't remove filter unit when under pressure."
9. Firewood. The popping of a real wood burning fireplace is actually little explosions of trapped pitch, sap or water.
10. Flour. Baking flour is highly flammable and has the potential for flare-ups.
11. Open sealed containers. Especially in high altitudes, sealed packages should be opened carefully. This is also true if the container is full of powders.
12, Hot water heater. If the TPR (temperature and pressure release) valve and the heater's thermostat fall at the same time, you could be looking at trouble.
14. Propane tank. This one goes without saying but we'll say it anyway. Be careful with propane tanks for barbecue grills.
15, If your pumpkin hasn't been carved, don't leave it outside. It can freeze and create a mess.
16. Sausage. These can be painful, causing boiling hot juice to squirt out of the casing and burn the unsuspecting griller.
17. Septic tank. Problems with a system can lead to methane buildup. Not good.
19. Trees can explode because of a fire or lightning strike, both of which heat the water in the wood.
20. Old-fashioned TV tubes are harder to break than a light bulb, but it can happen. Thanks for checking out the slideshow!
