I was advised to use spray foam around the vent pipe of my oven because I was dealing with some pest issues. However, after doing some research, I came across warnings that spray foam can melt or even explode when exposed to heat. Now I'm really worried! I live in a rental and don't want to tell my landlord that I've done this—what if I get evicted? How serious is the risk with the foam around the oven pipe? I can't see how deep the foam fills the hole since it's a small gap, and I need help figuring out what to do next. I've removed as much foam as I could, but I'm not sure if it's enough or if I should try to do more.
1 Answer
Spray foam and heat really don't mix well. While it shouldn't exactly explode, it definitely has the potential to melt or catch fire if it gets too hot. I recommend scraping out as much of the foam as you can, then sealing the gap with a fire-rated material like furnace cement or high-temperature caulk. It's important to deal with it to avoid any fire hazards!
Somebody told me that what I used isn't really an oven pipe and shouldn’t get too hot. But I’m still feeling anxious about it. If you’re willing to help, I can share a pic if that's useful!