[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by kathy palermo

Steve from NY
Thanks so much for your reply, will keep your information in mind when we are looking
at properties, A1-lightning
We live in a home with a basement, about 2,000 sqft, we want to down size, but still
want enough space so we are not in each others way all the time.
Kathy

You're going to miss your basement!

[katezbox]

Originally Posted by SteveFromNY

You make very good points. I have an adjustable wrench out on the counter for just such an emergency!
I guess what baffles me is the apparent confusion around having or not having gas. It seems almost like people in all-electric homes think that not having gas means they can't be struck by lightning. While the damage may be less severe, it's still likely to be pretty messy. A house backing onto Canal St last year (or the year before) had a 4 ft hole blown through the roof. No fire, but a huge hole nonetheless. I'd still get the LPS, even with an all electric home..

Steve,

Thank you - you are the voice of reason....

[Ohiogirl]

Actually, you may find that you don't miss your basement. I've lived in many different housing styles in many parts of the country and found I could do quite nicely w/o a basement. If you haven't used it in 2 years, you very likely don't need it. Take a really good look before you move it down. Plus, if you're like most of us, a lot of that stuff is for maintaining the house and yard you won't have anymore.

The biggest plus is you don't have to clean it! also, you don't have to worry about it leaking or painting it or remembering what's in all those boxes and cubbyholes. And if you still have your kids' stuff, you have a REALLY good incentive to finally get them to take it or trash it.

(And GG - I went to Our Lady of Peace on the north side - if I'm not mistaken, they closed St. Leo's a while back. I moved out of state at 21 and moved back to Columbus at age 50, but always came back regularly to visit family. Columbus greatly improved in my absence - hopefully that was unrelated! Lived in Fairfield for a couple of years in there somehwhere, had one of my kids at Christ Hospital in Cincy).

[djplong]

Yeah, I knew about the lack of basements. As I recall, it was because of the high water table. But the thing about the gas lines still puzzles me. I mean, I understand the explanation, but in my house the gas line may come in underground (where a slab would be) but it then goes around the foundation (where the foundation meets the frame of the house) for the exact reason mentioned - ease of access. No digging through concrete or crawling around rafters.

I have to say, right now, I *would* miss my basement. And that's even after losing half the stuff down there due to a burst heating pipe earlier this year. And my fiancee has her own batch of "stuff". I'm not the packrat I used to be - still recovering though

I certainly wouldn't mind getting rid of 90% of the stuff in my garage, though. I'll keep the electric lawnmower but #1 with a bullet for getting rid of is the SNOWBLOWER!

[kathy palermo]

My husband informs me that the problem is not that the gas lines are routed through the attic, but that the gas lines are flex-tubing and he has heard that the tubing used is flimsy; consequently the tubing can fail when the house is struck by lightning.

Here, code requires that gas lines are to be black-iron pipe. My husband also heard that some owners in TV have had iron pipe gas lines installed? If it is true that the flex-tubing being used by the developer is thinly-walled we wonder aloud what else is sub-standard in the homes. We want a home with gas as opposed to all electric because we do not want to be dependent on one from of power.

We understand that Florida has some of the worst storms than any other state located within the continental U.S.; also that the part of Florida where TV is located has an unusually high number of lightning strikes when compared to the rest of Florida. However, we still are considering moving here. It is not nice to have your home struck by lightning, it is worse to have a 4-foot hole blown out of your roof because it was struck, but it is sad to think that your home burns down because the gas line failed.

[l2ridehd]

There is black iron pipe rated for gas, but their is also copper flex tubing that is rated for gas. The lines used in TV have to meet code for gas rated pipe to be used. The problem is that copper will melt in high heat where black iron has a much higher melting temperature. It might be an improvement to replace the flex tubing with black iron, however a better and lower cost solution would be to get an automatic shut off installed in the gas line tied to some type of heat/fire sensor in the attic.

For the most part I have found the quality of construction for TV homes to be above average. I would say good quality, not very good quality. I will continue to use gas. I prefer it for cooking, heating, hot water and pool heater. I also have a gas fireplace. I will consider installing an automated system for shutting it off at the meter. I need to do some research to determine what is the best value solution and I will post it when I find it.

[kathy palermo]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

There is black iron pipe rated for gas, but their is also copper flex tubing that is rated for gas. The lines used in TV have to meet code for gas rated pipe to be used. The problem is that copper will melt in high heat where black iron has a much higher melting temperature. It might be an improvement to replace the flex tubing with black iron, however a better and lower cost solution would be to get an automatic shut off installed in the gas line tied to some type of heat/fire sensor in the attic.

For the most part I have found the quality of construction for TV homes to be above average. I would say good quality, not very good quality. I will continue to use gas. I prefer it for cooking, heating, hot water and pool heater. I also have a gas fireplace. I will consider installing an automated system for shutting it off at the meter. I need to do some research to determine what is the best value solution and I will post it when I find it.

Now this is a heck of an idea. I will continue to monitor this message thread to see what you have come-up with. Thank you. My husband will most likely research this too.

-Kathy

[kathy palermo]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

There is black iron pipe rated for gas, but their is also copper flex tubing that is rated for gas. The lines used in TV have to meet code for gas rated pipe to be used. The problem is that copper will melt in high heat where black iron has a much higher melting temperature. It might be an improvement to replace the flex tubing with black iron, however a better and lower cost solution would be to get an automatic shut off installed in the gas line tied to some type of heat/fire sensor in the attic.

... I will consider installing an automated system for shutting it off at the meter. I need to do some research to determine what is the best value solution and I will post it when I find it.

What an excellent idea. I will continue to watch this message to see what you may have come-up with. No doubt, my husband will start the research also. Thanks. -Kathy

[kathy palermo]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

There is black iron pipe rated for gas, but their is also copper flex tubing that is rated for gas. The lines used in TV have to meet code for gas rated pipe to be used. The problem is that copper will melt in high heat where black iron has a much higher melting temperature. It might be an improvement to replace the flex tubing with black iron, however a better and lower cost solution would be to get an automatic shut off installed in the gas line tied to some type of heat/fire sensor in the attic.

... I will consider installing an automated system for shutting it off at the meter. I need to do some research to determine what is the best value solution and I will post it when I find it.

Thank you for this excellent idea. My husband reports he will research the idea too. I look forward to seeing what you find out.

P.S. This is the third time I am replying to this post and for some reason my post is not showing. I have switched browsers and I am trying again. If my answer to this message shows more than once I apologize in advance. -Kathy

[kathy palermo]

12ridehd, thanks for the idea for an automatic gas shutoff. Can't wait to read what you post regarding the idea. My husband is going to also look-into the idea. -kathy