Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2024 June 29

= June 29 =

Narwhal courtship
Hey, I would love to know the courtship behavior of this weird yet incredible creature. Wolverine XI  ( talk to me ) 08:35, 29 June 2024 (UTC)
 * The article on Narwhal is assessed as a "Good Article", but it is rather weak on their courtship. Abductive  (reasoning) 09:44, 29 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Yeah, I bought this book called "Sex in Cetaceans" from Amazon about a month ago; I'll let you know if I find anything. Wolverine XI   ( talk to me ) 10:17, 29 June 2024 (UTC)




 * Although much of what we know about their courtship and mating habits is based on indirect evidence and speculation, perhaps size matters.
 * See:
 * --136.54.106.120 (talk) 18:07, 29 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Then that means the article is comprehensive, since we already mention the tusk stuff under description. Wolverine XI   ( talk to me ) 21:31, 29 June 2024 (UTC)
 * --136.54.106.120 (talk) 18:07, 29 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Then that means the article is comprehensive, since we already mention the tusk stuff under description. Wolverine XI   ( talk to me ) 21:31, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Safely moving a gas appliance
OK, it's getting close to that time again when I have to clean my dryer duct (which requires me to move my gas-powered dryer away from the wall, disconnect the duct, install a mesh guard and reconnect the duct prior to cleaning the duct from the outside in while running the dryer to blow the lint out (mostly all over my face and clothes until I end up looking like Dick Van Dyke the chimney sweep in the film Mary Poppins), and then perform the same operation in reverse and push the thing back into its normal position after completing the cleaning). Last time I did this, though, it caused a big problem: pulling the dryer out from the wall went without a hitch, and for the most part so did the cleaning (except that I got all dirty like I already said above, and I got blisters and cuts on my hands from forcing the brush in, because the lint was hard-packed in places) -- but when I pushed the dryer back in, the fitting connecting it to the (supposedly flexible) gas hose "popped" in a way I've never seen before (and hope to never see again), completely disconnecting the hose from the dryer, and causing gas to start pouring in full blast from the still-open hose (fortunately I managed to shut off the main gas valve before the gas could reach its lower ignition limit, or this could have been a real disaster!) So, for next time, are there any tips for me how to pull the dryer out and push it back in without risking this happening again? 2601:646:8082:BA0:DC11:A4D3:D067:7B8E (talk) 23:37, 29 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Have you considered hiring a professional? Sometimes saving money can be expensive. --136.54.106.120 (talk) 00:27, 30 June 2024 (UTC)
 * This is a reference desk, not an instruction guide. In any case you should not take advice on maintaining gas appliances from random people on the internet. Get a professional to do it. Shantavira|feed me 08:59, 30 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I'd expect a shut-off valve between the fixed pipe coming out of the wall and the supposedly flexible hose connecting it to the the dryer (there was one for the gas hob where I used to live; I now live gas free), but if there's none, there's only the main gas valve. I suggest closing it before moving the dryer, just to be sure. PiusImpavidus (talk) 09:14, 30 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Yes, there is indeed a shut-off valve for the dryer, which I will consider closing before moving the thing (hopefully it will run in "air fluff" mode even with the gas shut off?) My question, though, was about how to move the appliance in such a way as to avoid the risk of rupturing the gas connection??? 2601:646:8082:BA0:DC11:A4D3:D067:7B8E (talk) 23:28, 30 June 2024 (UTC)
 * You obtain from the hardware store these little discs called "furniture sliders", some are felt and some are hard plastic, and put them under the feet of the dryer. Have a potato ready to jam in the gas line should it rupture. Abductive  (reasoning) 06:40, 1 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Thanks! Or maybe I'll put a rug under it, and use that to pull it out and back in -- would that help reduce the risk of rupture?  And maybe I'll pull out the washing machine as well, to make it easier to reach the valve in case the hose lets go again! 2601:646:8082:BA0:DC11:A4D3:D067:7B8E (talk) 21:49, 1 July 2024 (UTC)
 * My guess is that the hose was already halfway off after the first part of the procedure (moving the dryer away from the wall); being unaware of the risk of it slipping off you didn't notice it. Was the hose secured to the fitting with a tight hose clamp? This reduces the risk of accidental unintended disconnection. --Lambiam 08:50, 1 July 2024 (UTC)
 * No, it was not secured, and it still isn't (the person who installed the new hose didn't bother with a clamp) -- I'll make sure to fix that before attempting to clean the duct! Also, FYI, the old hose was at least 10 years old (and probably at least a couple years older than that -- God knows how long the previous owners lived in my house before I bought it from them, and from all the signs they didn't bother to do any maintenance to any of the appliances, they didn't even bother to flush the water heater, whereas I flush it every fall) -- so I think corrosion might have been a factor too! 2601:646:8082:BA0:DC11:A4D3:D067:7B8E (talk) 21:49, 1 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Everywhere I've seen in the US, the "gas connector"--the segment of gas-line from the permanent house infrastructure (near appliance shut-off valve) and the appliance itself is flexible metal with flared threaded connectors, or occasionally rigid metal like the house piping itself. I haven't seen anything that would have a hose clamp in decades. There is an older vs newer style of flexible metal tubing, with the newer ones (CSST: "corrugated stainless steel tubing") apparently designed to overcome how easily the older ones broke (older ones do not meet current code if I recall). So first order of business is make sure what you now have is up to code as far as type of connector and material. I'm not a plumber though, so best to check with one, or at least read product literature carefully at your local supply store. DMacks (talk) 16:07, 2 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Right -- and to clarify, last time it was actually the connector (presumably of the flared threaded type as you describe) which "popped", i.e. separated circumferentially into 2 unequal parts, thereby completely disconnecting the tubing from the appliance -- not the tubing itself! (Which is why I think corrosion probably played a part -- there's no way I can see such a fitting doing this unless the threads were rusted through, and with the thing having spent well over 10 years exposed to high humidity, car exhaust, chemicals, etc., this does sound plausible!) 2601:646:8082:BA0:DC11:A4D3:D067:7B8E (talk) 23:51, 2 July 2024 (UTC)

There are a gazillion instructional videos on youtube about stuff like this, if it helps. I've used them to fix various issues on cars, computers, and more recently a washing machine. Anyway, this is Wikipedia and I like to think that taking knowledge into our own hands (with some common sense precautions) is a good thing. 2601:644:8501:AAF0:0:0:0:9BB0 (talk) 03:23, 6 July 2024 (UTC)