Warning; Lots of Whining!

[DebsC]

It's fall and cooler here in the Ozarks. My greenhouse is (was) full of colorful, fragrant flowers. A sight to behold!

I've worked a year to get to this point as all the rest of you have. Because of the cooler nights, the stove is coming on some.

It's a vented gas stove so nothing to worry about. Right? WRONG!!! I sat on the wet gravels and cried at the sight of my wilted blooms. It made me sick t my stomach!!! Literally!

After I was able to stand again I checked the vent pipe and where it hooks into the stove. No problem. But while I was checking all that the stove came on and then I knew.

It was coming on with a big swoosh sound. The stove was putting out propane and it was taking a few seconds to light.

The extra gas was coming in to the greenhouse!!! After sitting all summer, I guess it was dusty or whatever and needed to be blown out and cleaned up.

What a heartbreaking lesson to learn. Check your stoves!!!!!! Make sure the propane stoves are clean and lighting properly.

It sure is hard to see those gorgeous flowers hanging limp from gas fumes.

[Ross]

Bummer! Can you install an extra fan to vent those gases? It would have to exhaust, not blow in fresh air. Is it working better after the cleaning?

[LauraN]

Oh you poor thing... I feel heartbroken for you !

[DebsC]

Originally Posted by rsfrid

Bummer! Can you install an extra fan to vent those gases? It would have to exhaust, not blow in fresh air. Is it working better after the cleaning?

It seems to be lighting okay now. I'll have to wait for more blooms I guess to be absolutely sure. I do have an exhaust fan but of course it was cool and didn't come on. I also run two smaller fans at night.

Thanks for the sympathy, Laura, I need it!!!!

[Phantasm]

It seems that we all learn the hard way........This happens to me in the winter when we have a power outage and I have to use emergency propane heaters that don't vent. It doesn't seem to affect the plants but flowers are another thing. My poor Laelia rubescens always seems to be in flower when this happens!

[DebsC]

Originally Posted by Phantasm

It seems that we all learn the hard way........This happens to me in the winter when we have a power outage and I have to use emergency propane heaters that don't vent. It doesn't seem to affect the plants but flowers are another thing. My poor Laelia rubescens always seems to be in flower when this happens!

I get a few very yellow leaves on the catts as well as the wilted flowers. I'd put in electric heat if I could afford it.

[goodgollymissmolly]

Sorry to hear to about your bad luck. How demoralizing!!!
Makes a good case for a powered vent. My vent comes on first, then the furnace lights. The vent fan continues to run for a while after the furnace has shut down.

I hope your problem is fixed now. I have read some posts that suggest that most pilot lit, Modine furnaces start with a puff that can blow out the pilot. I went with a powered vent and electronic ignition just because of that apparent fact.

Jim, Lexington,KY

[Tindomul]

How likely is it that the plants will attempt a rebloom on the same spike or new spike within weeks time? I guess my question is, will the plants try to flower again?
It must be so frustrating, sorry this happened.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by goodgollymissmolly

Sorry to hear to about your bad luck. How demoralizing!!!
Makes a good case for a powered vent. My vent comes on first, then the furnace lights. The vent fan continues to run for a while after the furnace has shut down.

I hope your problem is fixed now. I have read some posts that suggest that most pilot lit, Modine furnaces start with a puff that can blow out the pilot. I went with a powered vent and electronic ignition just because of that apparent fact.

Jim, Lexington,KY

Jim, that makes total sense since the so-called high-efficiency furnaces do essencially the same thing. Why can't greenhouse heaters do the same? Well, they CAN!

[shakkai]

Debs, I'm so sorry to hear of this disaster. What a terrible thing to have happen just when you are starting to enjoy the fruits of a year's long labor...

Thanks for sharing this with everyone though, so maybe others can avert the same frustration you must be feeling.

Keep you chin up! All of your hard work has produced healthy plants that may just surprise you and bloom again shortly. My fingers are crossed that they do!