[masraum]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I just read it was reported that the homeowner was having water heater problems. Water doesn’t explode, so it has to be gas.

There were two or three people in the house at the time.

If it was the gas to the water heater leaking, it makes you wonder how long the problem was going on. The gas sinks to the ground, which is why water heaters are raised at least 18 inches above the ground. How does enough gas accumulate to explode?

Maybe the water heater was not working but the gas kept running and the source of the ignition with something else? Seems like you would smell it.

Water heaters can explode even if they are electric. They have a pressure limiting valve. I don't know if they have another layer of safety specifically for over-pressure, but if they over heat and the pressure limiting valve fails, they can explode in spectacular fashion. I'm not saying that's what that was, but it is possible.