What to do and where to call if the entrance smells of gas? algorithm of actions when a leak is detected

What should I do?

Despite the fact that everyone uses gas, it can simply cause poisoning. But the greatest danger to people lies in the possibility of it catching fire and exploding indoors. This situation can lead not only to the loss of property, but also to the death of people.

If you smell gas in your apartment or house, you should:

shut off the operation of all gas appliances;
open windows and doors in the house;
call emergency services;
inform your neighbors about this situation;
leave the premises and wait there for emergency services to arrive.

Such actions must be performed by every person who is faced with this situation. Of course, most people may not want to leave the premises. But in this case, you need to remember that a person’s life is at stake. Therefore, you should leave it with your children, parents and pets to a safe place. And just calmly wait for the emergency services to arrive.

It is important to understand when there is a smell of gas in the apartment, who to call? Let's look at the answer to this question

Who to call if a leak is detected?

When detecting a gas leak in a room, it is first of all important to remember that using the telephone is strictly prohibited. It is necessary to leave the premises, go out into the fresh air, and call the emergency gas service team at number 04.

Often, succumbing to panic attacks, people forget the most necessary things. Gas service telephone numbers for mobile operators that need to be written down and remembered: 104, 004 (Beeline), 044 (MTS, Megafon, Tele2).

Single emergency number: 112.

Services operate without breaks and weekends. All mobile operators provide free calls to emergency numbers. The emergency dispatcher is informed of the location and details of the circumstances of the incident. It is necessary to strictly follow the dispatcher's instructions.

It smells like gas. Where to call?

IT SMELLS GAS WHERE TO CALL?

If you smell gas, who should you call? This question interests many residents of large cities. The point is that it is better to be informed in advance about what to do if a leak occurs. Moreover, you need to react as quickly as possible, because the gas is extremely explosive, and even a spark that occurs when a light bulb is turned on can lead to ignition. If you need help from an emergency team, you must call 104 or 112 to call emergency services.

deals not only with the repair of household appliances (although this is our main specialization), but also with the identification of leaks and its further elimination

A few words about the reasons

Household gas is a volatile substance. In the central line, to which all household and water heating appliances are connected, it is under pressure, which allows it to be pushed into the burners. Therefore, when tiny cracks form in pipes and supply hoses, gas enters the room.

Another characteristic feature of household gas is that it tends to accumulate indoors. Being lighter than air, it collects under the ceiling, due to which in some cases it does not leave the room naturally (for example, collecting in niches). As a result, over time, a large cloud accumulates from one small leak in an unventilated room. It is, of course, invisible to the eye, but it is very easy to recognize by its characteristic unpleasant odor.

Danger and risks

Accumulated gas can ignite very easily. The combustion reaction occurs at lightning speed, releasing high temperatures. The shock wave can be unusually strong, it can demolish walls and contribute to the collapse of interfloor ceilings. Such cases occur very often.

Small amounts of accumulated gas may cause fire or serious burns. In addition, household gas is a toxic substance, and its long-term interaction with the human body leads to serious poisoning. In addition, oxygen deficiency is known to cause fainting. As a result, if the concentration of gas in the room is greater than oxygen, the person simply loses consciousness and becomes incapacitated. Further exposure is fatal.

Another factor that needs to be taken into account is backdraft. A clogged room (with closed windows and doors) does not have a natural outlet for air and gas masses. As a result, when the door is opened, the pressure pushes a certain amount of gas into the adjacent room. This can be felt by a sharp blow. In this case, gas and air vapors are mixed, and the gas quickly spreads throughout the room. The presence of open flames and sparks will inevitably lead to its ignition.

If you smell gas, where should you call and who can you turn to for help? The multidisciplinary team recommends that you first try to block the central highway. This is done by turning the shut-off valves to a horizontal position. If your home smells of gas, you should:

open all the windows wide open;
extinguish the fire (for example, blow out the candles and turn off the burners);
warn all household members not to turn on light bulbs and household appliances under any circumstances (gas penetrates through narrow cracks in the equipment, and a spark at the starting voltage leads to a fire);
bring children, women and the elderly to a safe place;
notify the rescue service; in Moscow it is by phone 104, in the region 112.
warn neighbors about the possible risk;
if necessary, organize evacuation;
escort the emergency crew to the site of the suspected leak and provide all the necessary information.

All this will help not only reduce the threat to life and health, but also ensure the safety of property. And yet the question remains: it smells like gas, who should I call?

guarantees you an emergency response to a call. We work in Moscow and the Moscow region. If you smell gas, our emergency team will rush to the specified address as quickly as possible. The technicians have all the necessary knowledge, skills and tools needed to fix the leak. In addition, it will help to repair a gas stove or water heating boiler. We have approvals for hazardous gas work. All employees are trained, certified and passed exams. We know all safety regulations

Signs of a gas leak

In order for gas lines to be safe, it is necessary to promptly detect and eliminate leaks of blue fuel. This especially applies to intra-house wiring, although communications laid underground and located close to an industrial or residential area also pose a considerable danger if they become depressurized.

Gas leaks are caused by corrosion of gas pipes, ruptures of welding seams when the capabilities of temperature compensators are insufficient, poor-quality welding, insufficient reliability of threads, flanges and the gas equipment itself.

Regardless of whether these are pipes inside the house or laid underground, leaking gas fuel first manifests itself with a specific “aroma.”

In order to avoid negative consequences, you need to know exactly how to check for gas leaks. The first and main sign is the presence of a sour, pungent odor. The reason household gas gives such an odor is that it should be easily detectable by apartment residents.

It is important to pay attention to the condition of indoor plants; they may acquire a yellowish tint. It is possible to detect gas leaks by ear. If you listen carefully, you may hear whistling or hissing sounds.

If you listen carefully, you may hear whistling or hissing sounds.

In addition, cloudy wave-like movements are observed at the leak site. When applying a soap solution to the suspected leak site, bubbles appear in the water.

When staying in a room with a gas leak for a long time, a person’s health worsens:

migraines and dry mouth appear;
the person feels nauseous and dizzy;
pallor of the skin is obvious;
the mucous membrane of the eyes turns red;
there is difficulty breathing.

All of the above factors indicate carbon monoxide poisoning. The victim should immediately consult a doctor.

Natural methane generally does not have the characteristic smell of gas that we smell, but for everyday use, a special substance is added to it, which gives the gas an aroma.

Due to the fact that the room stinks, the consumer can immediately determine that an explosive substance has leaked. Therefore, the main sign of the unwanted spread of methane or propane-butane is the appearance of a sharp unpleasant odor.

Leaks can also be detected by ear. All equipment that operates and supplies gas flows, including stoves and ovens, operate under pressure, so when household gas vents, a characteristic whistle or hissing will be heard.

Unknown air rising from the ground is another telltale sign that is often the cause of plant death. Green spaces that die for no apparent reason may disappear precisely as a result of gas escaping from the pipeline.

What to do if the entrance smells of gas? 2021

In Podolsk, cases of domestic gas leaks in houses have become more frequent. Last month, three people died from poisoning on Kirov Street, and just this week the gas was turned off in 20 apartments due to faulty equipment. The RIAMO in Podolsk columnist found out how to avoid tragedy and what to do if your home smells of gas.

The dangers of natural gas

Gas is quite convenient for everyday use, but it is very dangerous. Natural gas cannot be seen or smelled, since it leaves no traces and does not smell of anything, so in homes special impurities are added to natural gas, which have a characteristic unpleasant odor. As a rule, gas is used in stoves, but some houses still have gas water heaters.

The gas is highly flammable, and the combustion reaction occurs at lightning speed. The shock wave can be unusually strong, demolishing walls and contributing to the collapse of interfloor ceilings. Due to fire safety requirements, gas stoves are prohibited from being installed in houses above 10 floors. As a rule, an explosion occurs when there is a large volume of gas, but even with a small leak, the gas can cause a fire. Household gas is also a toxic substance; prolonged exposure to the human body leads to serious poisoning. Most often, when there is a gas leak in an apartment, people feel unwell and faint. However, further exposure to toxic substances can be fatal. Therefore, when using gas, you need to be careful and not neglect safety precautions.

What to do if there is a gas leak

The smell of gas is quite specific, so it is difficult to confuse it with something else. The reasons for the odor may vary. In any case, you cannot panic or remain inactive. First of all, you need to look behind the gas stove or water heater where the pipes are located to find the location of the leak. Do not use matches or a lighter. If there really is a gas leak in the apartment, even a small spark can cause a fire or explosion.

If quite a lot of gas has accumulated in the room, you can use a damp handkerchief to protect the respiratory tract. They need to cover the nose and mouth area. Then you need to close the gas supply valve, open the windows and doors. You should also immediately turn off the electrical panel and call the gas service.

It should be remembered that if electrical appliances were running in the apartment at the time of the leak, they should not be turned off. It is also prohibited to use doorbells to prevent sparks. All neighbors must be warned about the leak, and smokers must be asked to refrain from the bad habit.

If ventilation doesn't help

If the draft does not eliminate the smell of gas, its concentration is still high, you must leave the room and wait outside for the arrival of specialists. You should not move too far from the entrance, because gas service employees will need to be escorted into the apartment and be sure to tell them about everything that happened.

Gas workers will take an air sample and determine the cause of the odor themselves. Sometimes residents of apartment buildings confuse the smell of gas, for example, with acetone or the smell of ordinary caustic paint. In any case, it is better to play it safe for your own safety.

Smell of gas in the entrance

If the smell of gas is felt in the entrance, but there is no gas in the apartment, you need to immediately inform your neighbors about it. If the smell is strong, you should call the emergency gas service and wait outside for the gas workers to arrive. In this case, it is better to open the windows in the entrance and the front door. If an apartment building has an elevator, you should definitely notify the management company about the threat so that it can be turned off. Even a small spark can lead to tragedy.

Incident prevention

Severe gas leaks occur quite rarely. Most often, the cause of various incidents is the negligence of the residents themselves. As a rule, the smell of gas in an apartment is caused by various small incidents, for example, a burner that goes out or is left open. In this situation, it is enough to simply ventilate the room and, of course, turn off the gas supply to the stove.

It should be remembered that it is easier to prevent any incident than to eliminate its consequences. Therefore, if employees of the gas service or management company knock on the apartment to check the condition of the chimney or water heater, it is better to give them this opportunity. If you need to replace a water heater or stove in your apartment, you should call specialists to connect gas appliances.

Who to call if your home smells of gas

If you smell gas in your apartment, you need to react as quickly as possible. To call an emergency team, you can call the rescue service at 112. This number can be called from both a landline and a mobile phone.

Emergency numbers

"Podolskmezhraigaz" branch of the State Unitary Enterprise MO "Mosoblgaz"

Where: Podolsk, st. Kirova, 31a

Opening hours: 24 hours a day

Emergency service of MUE "Podolsk Heating Network"

Where: Podolsk, st. Gaidara, 11

Opening hours: 24 hours a day

Emergency service of MUE "Podolsk Electric Network"

Where: Podolsk, st. Oktyabrsky Prospekt, 6

Opening hours: 24 hours a day

Unified dispatch service

Where: Podolsk, st. Kirova, 4

Opening hours: 24 hours a day

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March 28, 2014 at 15:10 Andrey Gavron, photo by the author, Minsk-News

What do people confuse the smell of natural gas with, is it possible to make a mobile phone call in a gas-filled room and what should be done in general if a gas leak is detected, a correspondent of the Minsk-News agency learned while on duty with the emergency service team of the Mingaz Unitary Enterprise.

While waiting to leave, I am surrounded by maps, diagrams, and all kinds of instruments in the craftsmen’s room. My interlocutors are the head of shift No. 4, Vladimir Tretyak , and the foreman of the emergency repair service (ARS) of the Mingaz Unitary Enterprise, Pavel Makarov . It is with his team that I will have to promptly respond to telephone 104 notifications about a malfunction of the gas distribution and gas consumption system.

I'm getting to know the team. In addition to Pavel Makarov (in the photo below he is second from left), it includes driver-fitter Nikolai Antusevich (first from right) and mechanics Pavel Kashitsky (second from right) and Alexander Yanushkevich . Four of them have more than 60 years of experience at Mingaz. Moreover, most of the time they all work in SAVR. The service itself has four 12-hour shifts. They work day and night, ensuring uninterrupted and trouble-free gas supply to consumers in the capital and the Minsk region.

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Natural gas itself is colorless and odorless. So that a person can smell it, ethyl mercaptan is added to blue fuel - a substance with a very specific and rich odor. A small concentration of it in the air is enough for it to be clearly felt.

People, according to Pavel Makarov, are wary of unusual smells. The odors of paints, fuels and lubricants, and the stench from spoiled products thrown into the garbage chute are also confused with gas. Sometimes vigilant residents are confused by the smell remaining after sanitizing basements. To play it safe, citizens call the 104 service. Mingaz always responds to such messages. After all, ordinary citizens are not specialists and they do not have special instruments to determine the presence and concentration of gas in the air.

Often elderly or drunk people forget to close the burner on the stove. The smell of gas penetrates through the ventilation into other apartments and into the entrance hall, causing justified concern among neighbors. The dispatcher must give instructions to the person calling the 104 service.

If you smell gas, under no circumstances should you use electrical appliances, for example, a doorbell - try to reach your neighbor. Do not turn off the light while it is on or flip the switch in an attempt to light the lamp. It is better to make calls from a mobile phone after leaving the danger zone. Also, if possible, ventilation of the gas-filled room should be ensured. It is a good idea to check that no one passing by is smoking or trying to do so.

At this moment, Vladimir Tretyak interrupts the conversation - it’s time to leave. A resident of a high-rise building on Slobodskaya Street reports that there is a smell of gas in the vestibule of the apartments. A couple of minutes later we are already inside the car. In its cargo compartment are the tools and equipment necessary for work. There are a lot of them, everything is in order and in its place.

Let's start. Pavel Makarov enters the desired address into the navigator. The devices purchased by the company make life much easier for emergency crews. The device’s memory contains all gas infrastructure facilities. There are approximately 500 gas control points in the capital and the Minsk region alone, and there are more than 2.5 thousand valves. You can’t remember where each facility is. And electronic maps are updated faster than paper ones.

If necessary, the crew can respond to calls related to the smell of gas, turning on the blue flashing lights and siren. Most drivers try to give way, although not as willingly as to ambulances or the Ministry of Emergency Situations. True, there are also those who are in no hurry to clear the passage. Some motorists even try to break away from the yellow-red Gazelle, only to become a hindrance again at the next traffic light. In general, when in a hurry, it is better to be careful and get to your destination a couple of minutes later than to get into an accident.

Along the way, Master Makarov says that the main difficulty in the work is the increase in the number of applications. The reason is the increasing number of gas consumers and the length of gas pipelines. The main burden on emergency crews falls on winter and the heating season. In the summer, more and more people decide to “dig a little” without the approval of Mingaz, but end up damaging the gas pipeline and running into a serious fine. But it’s worth calling a specialist for free and getting his permission for excavation work - and there won’t be a problem.

Arriving at Slobodskaya Street, we go up to the 8th floor. The vestibule door is open. A neighbor meets us. There is a characteristic smell in the room. It comes from the second apartment. The device shows a small concentration of gas in the air. The dog only barks when he knocks on the door. Apparently, there is no one in the house except the animal.

The team acts quickly: while one of the mechanics is opening the window in the entrance, the other is cutting off the gas supply through the riser. Then a special lock is attached to the tap. We leave a notice on the door to the entrance. It contains not only the reason for turning off the gas, but also guidance on further actions for residents.

We contact the control room and receive instructions to return to base. Makarov recalls one of his visits to the application. Three o'clock in the morning. The brigade was met by a man in a gas mask and stated that his family - members of the household were also wearing protective equipment - were being gassed by a neighbor. It turned out that it smelled like household chemicals.

However, not all cases are comical. Brigades also go to fires where there is gas equipment. Liquefied gas in cylinders, Pavel notes, is especially dangerous. It is heavier than air, and therefore, when there is a leak, it accumulates and cannot be removed by normal ventilation. In addition, some “craftsmen” heat up containers, creating excess pressure to make it easier to transfer gas to other cylinders. Such operations do not always end well.

So, a few years ago, one of the residents of Minsk filled a 5-liter gas cylinder from a 50-liter one, obviously overdoing it, and brought it into his own apartment. Due to overheating in the room, the container exploded, killing people. In another case, a man lost his legs while trying to transfer gas from automobile equipment into a 50-liter cylinder.

Continuing the story about the incidents, already in the foremen’s office, Pavel summarizes his experience of working at the enterprise and voices the golden rule of using gas equipment: it is impossible to leave operating equipment unattended. It’s acceptable to go into the next room and periodically check the stove, but you can’t go to the store and leave the soup to cook. Not all residents have modern equipment with gas monitoring systems. The same applies to gas boilers in private homes. They should not be left unattended for more than a day.

“Another gross mistake people make is using a device after it has reached all its reasonable service life and begins to malfunction,” adds Vladimir Tretyak. – Even after receiving an order from the gas workers to replace it, citizens wait until the last minute: maybe it will still serve. It is often for this reason that our neighbors, frightened by the smell of gas, call us. There is no need to be deceived by the external good condition of the stove - it is worn out inside. There are often no spare parts for older devices.

For violations, the subscriber may be disconnected from gas supply. If he tries to regain his blue fuel on his own, he risks running into a fine and losing the ability to use gas for a long time.

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My interlocutors continue to voice the ABCs of safe use of gas equipment. It is strictly forbidden to heat the room with such a stove or dry clothes over it. When using blue fuel, you should always open a window or vent. Often, residents install a hood above the stove and vent it into the supply ventilation, depriving the room of air. Operating gas equipment burns oxygen. What will happen to a person if he lacks it?

The following rule is vital for owners of geysers.

“Before each use of such equipment, you should check the presence of traction,” says Pavel Makarov. – Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless. Its lethal concentration in a room forms very quickly and unnoticed by humans. I had to go to places where people were poisoned like that. In one of the cases, a girl died. Her parents returned home and found her in the bathroom. As it turned out, the double-glazed windows in the apartment were closed, the hood was built into the supply ventilation, and there was no draft in the column.

“But previously, adults were already warned about existing shortcomings and were even cut off from gas supply,” adds Vladimir Tretyak. “However, people ignored the recommendations and arbitrarily resumed gas supply to the gas water heater. The result was a disaster.

Experts also strongly advise not to be lazy and train yourself to close the tap on the pipe that blocks the gas supply to the stove after each use. In this case, for example, children will not endanger others and themselves if they turn the knobs of the burners in a game or out of curiosity.

Gas is a source of increased danger that can not only cause damage to property, but also become a serious threat to human health. To avoid trouble, you should know what to do if you smell gas in your apartment.

The most common gases in use are hydrocarbon gas, which is delivered to consumers in cylinders, as well as methane supplied through gas pipelines. In nature, methane has no odor at all, but for household use, synthetic additives are added to it; the consumer could immediately detect a leak. Therefore, the first sign of gas spread is the appearance of a characteristic pungent odor.

Gas can also be detected by ear. All gas supply systems, including stoves and ovens, operate under pressure, so when there is a leak, a characteristic hiss or whistle will be heard. Even though the gas is invisible, the location of the leak can be determined visually. If you apply soapy water to the suspected location of methane release, it will begin to actively bubble.

Inhaling gas vapors causes headaches, dry mouth, and suffocation in a person, so if your health suddenly worsens, you should check all gas appliances in your living space for leaks.

If you detect the smell of gas in your apartment, do not panic in order to avoid rash actions. It is important to stop the gas supply as quickly as possible. To do this, you need to close the valve on the gas pipe. Every family member should know the location of the valve, as this will save time searching for it, thereby reducing the level of threat to life and health.

After the pipe is closed, all windows and balcony doors should be opened, ensuring maximum fresh air flow into the room. Regardless of the time of day, you must call the emergency service and leave the premises until specialists arrive.

Important! If the gas valve is closed, but methane continues to flow, it is strictly forbidden to return to the premises until the problem is resolved by a special service.

Who to call if you smell gas? There are several options for calling a special service: from a landline phone - 104, and from a mobile phone, depending on the telecom operator, the combination of numbers will be as follows:

MTS and Megafon – 040;
Beeline – 004;
Sky Link – 904.

Emergency calls are free.

If you detect the smell of gas in the room, it is prohibited:

Light matches, smoke, turn on lights and electrical appliances, as the slightest spark can lead to dire consequences. By the way, many people, out of ignorance or negligence, light a match and try to detect the location of a gas leak. Such actions are extremely dangerous; with a high concentration of methane, an explosion is inevitable.
Try to eliminate the causes of the leak yourself. Only specialists with special skills and knowledge in this field can work with sources of increased danger.

Attention! Natural gas has explosive properties and can cause damage tens of times greater than losses in a fire. There are cases when entire apartment buildings collapsed due to the careless behavior of one person.

The release of gas from pipes is caused by several factors, which can be divided into domestic and professional deficiencies. Household reasons caused by accidents:

incomplete closing of the gas burner;
fire extinguishing on gas appliances due to a draft or strong gusts of air.

Professional mistakes mainly occur when installing gas equipment. For example, leaky pipes, faulty gas stoves and water heaters. One of the common causes is improperly loose fastening of the gas supply hose.

The normal operation of gas equipment can be determined by the fire. If the flame is blue, then everything is working properly. If the fire is yellow or has a reddish tint, you should seek help from specialists, as this indicates a malfunction.

It is easier to prevent any situation than to eliminate the consequences. For prevention purposes, it is necessary to follow general safety rules:

Regularly talk with children about what gas is and how dangerous it can be.
Purchase only serviceable gas appliances that have a warranty period and relevant certificates. At the same time, do not do the installation yourself, but invite professionals in this field who have special permits for such types of work.
Store gas cylinders only in an upright position away from heating appliances. The cylinder should not be placed in a room with high humidity or in direct sunlight. After replacing the cylinder, it is necessary to check the tightness of the connections.
Constantly monitor the position of gas valves.
Avoid clogging the burners and clean them regularly.
When leaving the apartment, it is recommended to turn off the gas valve and disconnect all electrical appliances from the network.
Do not move far from the stove while cooking.

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A specialized gas service must systematically inspect the operation of the equipment. So in apartments with gas stoves, where there is a centralized gas supply, inspection is carried out once every 5 years, and in houses with gas heating - once every 3 years.

There is special equipment on sale that signals the presence of a gas leak. It is inexpensive, and its installation will help save lives.

In the modern world, the use of gas for domestic purposes is widespread. Life would be much more difficult in his absence. However, the level of danger when using gas is increased. It is necessary to follow technical safety rules and be vigilant in order to avoid emergencies related to the improper use of gas appliances.

In addition, cloudy wave-like movements are observed at the leak site. When applying a soap solution to the suspected leak site, bubbles appear in the water.

When staying in a room with a gas leak for a long time, a person’s health worsens:

migraines and dry mouth appear;
the person feels nauseous and dizzy;
pallor of the skin is obvious;
the mucous membrane of the eyes turns red;
there is difficulty breathing.

All of the above factors indicate carbon monoxide poisoning. The victim should immediately consult a doctor.

Single emergency number: 112.

If there is a smell of gas in the apartment, you must follow the instructions:

Calmly, without panic, stop the gas supply by closing the valve on the pipe;
Use a damp cloth or gauze bandage, holding it near the mouth to prevent gas vapors from entering the respiratory tract;
Open doors and windows, allowing fresh air to enter the room;
If the gas pipe is blocked, but gas continues to flow, you must leave the premises and call emergency services. Do not return to the premises until the incident is resolved;
Notify residents of neighboring apartments about the leak.

If a gas leak is detected, it is prohibited:

turn on electrical appliances and lights;
light matches, lighters, smoke;
turn off devices that are already turned on, as a spark may occur and, subsequently, ignite the gas;
use fire to locate the leak.

If there is a smell of gas in the entrance, the following measures must be taken:

Immediately ventilate the room, open windows and doors leading to the street;
Inform residents about the smell of gas in the entrance;
Notify emergency services about the incident;
If the smell continues to intensify during ventilation, all residents must leave the room;
Place an observer at the entrance until emergency services arrive.

Only specialists are allowed to turn off the gas supply and tighten valves on the common gas pipeline.

Possible causes of gas leakage are conventionally divided into two types:

professional shortcomings;
household reasons.

The first includes defects in the installation or fastening of gas equipment. Professional deficiencies also include the installation of low-quality or damaged equipment. Such equipment can be identified by the presence of reddish or yellow tints in the color of the fire.

Blue color of the light indicates working equipment.

Domestic conditions for the occurrence of leaks mainly include non-compliance with safety precautions and incorrect use of equipment, for example, heating using gas burners.

To prevent emergencies associated with gas leaks, it is recommended to take the following preventive measures:

It is mandatory to conduct preventive conversations with children about the dangers of playing with gas and fire;
monitor the serviceability of devices and the warranty period;
trust the installation of gas equipment, pipes, adapters and meters exclusively to specialists;
Do not expose gas cylinders to direct sunlight, observe the necessary storage conditions for equipment;
Clean burners and burners regularly to avoid clogging;
turn off the gas tap when not in the living room;
do not leave the burners burning for a long time while cooking;
ensure ventilation of the room in which gas appliances are used;
It is possible to install equipment that signals a gas leak, as well as a fire alarm.

When operating gas appliances, it is prohibited:

make major repairs or remodel the premises where gas pipes pass without permission from the gas organization and the housing office;
repair gas equipment without experience or special skills;
block the access of oxygen and close ventilation openings in the room where gas is used;
make changes to the design of gas equipment.

To prevent harmful consequences from a gas leak, it is important to use the equipment responsibly, observe all necessary safety precautions and follow the operating instructions for the devices.

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Possible consequences

A leak is detected if there is a smell of gas in the apartment. This threatens a possible explosion or fire. Cases have been recorded where apartment buildings were destroyed due to gas leaks. High concentrations of gas in the air can lead to poisoning of people.

You can avoid fire, poisoning and other undesirable consequences by taking reasonable preventive actions:

use appliances for their intended purpose - do not heat the room with a gas stove, do not dry washed clothes over lit burners;
regularly, at established intervals, call specialists for equipment maintenance;
keep the stove and other gas appliances clean;
constantly ventilate the room, ensure proper ventilation;
do not leave the apartment with the gas stove on;
instruct children to comply with safety requirements when using household gas;
operate serviceable devices, when purchasing equipment, require certificates confirming product quality and compliance with established standards;
Keep gas cylinders in a place specially designed for this purpose, separate from devices, excluding high levels of humidity and exposure to open sunlight.

The design of modern equipment takes into account safety requirements: the fuel supply is turned off in the event of a malfunction, thereby preventing a possible accident.

The frequency of maintenance of gas appliances by representatives of the gas supplying organization is at least once every five years for houses with centralized delivery of blue fuel, when using gas heating - every three years.

But, if necessary, you should call specialists at any time - the emergency service operates around the clock.

Remember that the occurrence of malfunctions during the operation of gas appliances poses a danger not only to those living in a separate apartment, but also to the entire house. The life and health of other people nearby depend on the correct actions in the event of a leak and timely response to a dangerous situation.

Preventing domestic gas leaks

The release of gas from pipes is caused by various circumstances, which can be roughly divided into household factors and professional miscalculations.

Household causes of leakage usually occur accidentally:

incomplete closing of the gas burner;
fire extinguishing on gas units due to drafts or strong gusts of air.

Professional defects often appear during the installation of gas appliances. For example, a leaky pipeline, faulty gas stoves, boilers, water heaters or ovens. One of the most common factors is a loose or improperly fastened fuel supply hose.

The normal functioning of the equipment can be determined by the flame. If the light is blue, then the device is working properly. If the flame is yellow or with a reddish tint, then this indicates a malfunction of the device, which means you need to call a specialist.

This information should definitely be remembered; everyone should know it.

The rules for using gas appliances should be strictly followed.
Gas appliances must always be clean and in good working order.
For systematic ventilation of the room, you can use ordinary window vents, periodically opening them for ventilation.
You should check whether there is good draft in the chimneys of heating stoves before lighting them and during operation of these devices.
The operation of the supply and exhaust ventilation should be checked.
It is necessary to demand from the heads of housing and maintenance offices (housing maintenance offices) that specialists check ventilation and chimneys at least once a quarter.
If there is no draft, it is prohibited to use heating and hot water boilers, geysers and stoves.
Large dishes with a wide bottom should not be placed directly on the burners of gas stoves, but on special burners with high ribs.
Do not allow children to use any gas appliances on their own.
Use gas sparingly.
Do not leave gas appliances turned on unattended, even for a very short time.
Always turn off the gas, electricity, water, and unplug household appliances before leaving the house.

It is strictly prohibited:

Independently carry out gasification of an apartment, house, garden house, as well as repair, replace and rearrange gas equipment.
Carry out redevelopment of premises where various gas appliances were installed.
It is also prohibited to make any changes to the design of gas appliances; it is also prohibited to change the design of smoke and ventilation systems (ducts). It is prohibited to seal ventilation ducts, wall up the “pocket” and hatches that are necessary for cleaning chimneys.
Turn off automatic safety and regulation devices.
It is prohibited to use gas with faulty gas appliances, as well as faulty automation devices, fittings and gas cylinders.

Always be extremely careful when using gas in an apartment or house, because this is the key to your safety and the safety and health of your family, loved ones, and neighbors!

The causes of gas leaks are conventionally divided into two groups: non-compliance with the rules for using gas equipment in everyday life and errors during installation, adjustment and maintenance of devices.

READ MORE: Why laminate flooring creaks after installation: the main reasons and methods for eliminating creaking

incomplete closing of gas burners after cooking;

the flame is extinguished by a draft or strong air flow.

Professional deficiencies that can cause gas leaks are poorly executed installation of devices that did not ensure the tightness of the connection, or incorrect configuration of the equipment. The result is a gas odor due to its accumulation in the air.

This is especially dangerous if liquefied fuel leaks, since its mass is heavier than air, and it is difficult to ventilate a room with a toxic mixture.

Expert opinion

Mironova Anna Sergeevna

Generalist lawyer. Specializes in family issues, civil, criminal and housing law

The normal condition of gas appliances can be easily determined by the color of the burning flame. When the color is blue, the equipment operates normally. If the fire turns yellow or acquires a reddish tint, it is necessary to call representatives of the emergency gas service.

What to do if the gas is turned off without warning?

According to the current legislation of the Russian Federation, the supplier is obliged to notify the consumer about the gas shutdown by registered mail. In this case, the letter should arrive twenty days before the shutdown. However, in certain situations, the gas may disappear without any warning.

In such a situation, you should not immediately write complaints and try to reach higher authorities. If there is no gas in the apartment, first of all you should call the management company and find out what is causing the outage.

Gas can be legally turned off without notice in the following situations:

There was an accident in the gas distribution network;
The tenant ignored two notices to pay the debt;
There is a gas leak;
There was a breakdown of intra-apartment or intra-house gas equipment;
During the inspection, it was revealed that the equipment was not working properly or created a risk of an emergency.

When the gas is turned off without warning for one of the above reasons, it is worth understanding that in these cases the service provider cares about the lives of the residents. In such situations, you will have to put up with a gas supply cutoff.

Emergency measures

If a gas leak is detected, you can breathe in a gas-filled room only through a damp cloth. In addition, it is necessary to turn off the gas taps in the room and close the burners. This stops the access of gas to the gas stove.

After this, you should notify your neighbors about the leak and call a special service. To remove excessive gas accumulation in the room, it is necessary to open all windows and doors and ensure normal ventilation. Under no circumstances should you turn on the light and, especially, use fire sources.

After all the measures taken, you need to leave the gas-contaminated room outside, but at the same time you need to carefully monitor the situation from the outside, and prevent unauthorized persons from entering there until a special emergency service arrives. It is worth paying attention to nearby cars, as they can become sources of sparks or interfere with the passage of special services.

The smell is not always found in apartments; sometimes it is present in the entrance hall or at the entrance to the house. This should not be ignored. It is imperative to call the special services. At the same time, you cannot use bells to notify neighbors, as they can also cause an explosion.

To spread information, you should go around all the apartments in the entrance, and just knock on the door. If there is no response from the apartment, you need to leave the premises, but notify the arriving rescuers.

What happens if you ignore the smell of gas?

Important! Please keep in mind that:

Each case is unique and individual.
A thorough study of the issue does not always guarantee a positive outcome. It depends on many factors.

To get the most detailed advice on your issue, you just need to choose any of the options offered:

Request a consultation via the form.
Use the online chat in the lower corner of the screen.
Call: Moscow region
Leningrad region

If you ignore the problem, the likelihood of a gas explosion and fire increases every minute. The scale of a possible disaster depends on the remoteness of the place where the gas leaks.

An explosion could cause all exits to the building to collapse, making quick evacuation of residents impossible. To prevent misfortune, you need to be careful.

What to do in case of carbon monoxide poisoning. What to do if you have carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide poisoning is a common problem, especially during the winter months when people close their windows to keep the cold out and use heaters that may be faulty. Faulty appliances and improper ventilation allow high levels of this toxic gas to accumulate in a room.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is formed due to the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels. Known as the "silent killer" as it cannot be seen or smelled. Small doses cause mild symptoms such as nausea and dizziness; large doses cause brain damage and even death. Each year, carbon monoxide poisoning claims 500 lives.

Sources and causes of carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide is created due to the burning of certain fuels in the absence of proper oxygen levels. Common sources of this gas inside a home or building include faulty kitchen appliances, water heaters, clothes dryers, non-working auxiliary heaters, oil, gas or coal furnaces that are not properly maintained, etc. Lack of proper ventilation also increases the increase in the concentration of the toxic gas in room. For example, not only does a clogged chimney reduce the supply of oxygen needed to produce carbon dioxide instead of carbon monoxide, it also traps carbon monoxide produced due to incomplete combustion of fuel.

Carbon monoxide poisoning - symptoms

Hemoglobin is the red pigment in red blood cells that carries oxygen to body tissues. However, carbon monoxide has a high affinity for the iron in hemoglobin, to which oxygen molecules attach as they are transported from the lungs to different parts of the body. When people are exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide, molecules of this gas attach to hemoglobin molecules more easily than oxygen due to their stronger affinity for hemoglobin molecules. The compound thus obtained is called carboxyhemoglobin. This compound is the main cause of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Poisoning can be detected by these commonly occurring symptoms:

Headache Dizziness Nausea Chest pain Shortness of breath Vomiting Abdominal pain Drowsiness Fainting Seizures

Treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning

If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, all affected persons should be evacuated to an area with sufficient fresh air. If someone stops breathing, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is required. Every person should be examined and given appropriate medical treatment.

Providing high doses of oxygen using a face mask. High levels of oxygen help carbon monoxide to be separated from hemoglobin. Consequently, hemoglobin can now freely transport oxygen to various cells of the body.

In case a person is severely poisoned, higher doses of oxygen can be given to him using a hyperbaric chamber. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is thought to speed up the breakdown of carboxyhemoglobin. Hyperbaric oxygen also directly provides oxygen to tissues.

There is no home remedy for carbon monoxide poisoning! The only way to protect your family from such danger is to keep all appliances in proper working order and maintain proper ventilation in your home.

How to check for a domestic gas leak to make sure it exists?

Sometimes pipes or a gas tap are located in such a way that they are hidden by kitchen furniture. How to check for gas leaks in such hard-to-reach places? You can use the method of pressure testing for residual pressure. First you need to open the burners to allow gas to pass through them. Then turn them off and close the valve on the pipe. This will cause the remaining gas to appear in the gas pipeline, not completely burned. It only takes a few minutes to tell if there is a leak. Then you need to open any burner, turn it on to the maximum position and try to light it. When there is no leak, the remaining gas will ignite and burn out to the end. If nothing happens and the gas does not ignite, it means that the rest of it has managed to escape at the damaged area.

If the gas pipes are not covered by the kitchen unit and there is access to them, then there is a way to check for gas leaks simply by touch. It is enough to run your hand along all the connections on the gas pipe. The leak can be felt as a thin cold stream.

You should know the trick on how to check with a soap solution. Gas leaks can be detected using soap suds or shaving foam. It must be applied to the gas pipe, as well as all joints. Soap bubbles will appear in areas where gas escapes. It is better to apply the soap solution with a brush or shaving brush.

Special gas analyzers can help identify leaks. Such sensors can be installed together with sound detectors. If the permissible gas concentration level is exceeded, the sensor is triggered and the alarm is activated.

It is important to know how to check for gas leaks safely for yourself and others. You should absolutely not use a burning match or lighter for this! It threatens to explode

Procedure for turning off the gas

The characteristics of the gas are known even to schoolchildren; it is a volatile substance. In the gas main it is always under pressure, because without pressure it will not be supplied to consumers. Sometimes natural gas leaks occur due to hoses, pipes, valves, and taps wearing out. As a result, you may notice an unpleasant odor.

You can read more about the service life of gas pipes in this material.

And there is another characteristic feature of household fuel - the ability to accumulate in a closed space

According to its characteristics, gas is lighter than air, so it initially accumulates at the top, which can end badly if you don’t immediately pay attention to the characteristic smell in the apartment

Shutting off the gas supply in an apartment building will be legal only if repair work is being carried out. Most often, company employees notify residents of the house about this

Natural gas is a highly flammable substance, and large quantities of the natural resource burn at lightning speed with very high temperatures. The force of the shock wave from one spark in a room with a large amount of gas can even demolish the walls of a house, collapse ceilings, not to mention the glass of windows and doors.

Leakage of natural fuels is often the source of various disasters: from the destruction of housing to the death of people. And that's not all, being in an apartment with a large amount of gas can cause poisoning.

The process does not occur immediately; the person first loses consciousness. This happens because there is not enough oxygen in the house. If there is no one nearby, this will lead to sad consequences - death.

Shutting off the gas supply in an apartment building will be legal only if repair work is being carried out. Most often, company employees notify residents of the house about this

Reverse draft is also an important feature that must be taken into account in critical situations when gas has filled the entire room and a fire has broken out in a sealed room. In this case, the gas has no natural outlet because all the windows and doors are closed. When the door is opened, the fire can escape into another room, which is life-threatening.

To prevent the sad consequences described above, before calling someone when the gas in the house is turned off, do the following:

Close all burners, turn off the boiler and water heater.
Close all gas valves in the house.
Warn your neighbors about the gas supply to your home being turned off.
Let them also turn off their gas taps and turn off their gas appliances.
If you smell gas somewhere, open the windows and doors for ventilation.
Do not use lighters, do not light a fire, do not turn on lights.

Only after taking these safe measures, call the gas service: 04, clarify the situation, why there is no gas in your house.

If the gas pressure in the pipe has dropped and gas does not flow into the apartment, then you need to notify not only the gas service 04, but also all the neighbors living in the house

According to the rules, gas network workers must eliminate all causes of breakdowns of gas equipment and pipes within two days. And the company must respond to the call as quickly as possible.

What to do if you smell gas?

It is a mistake to believe that blue fuel comes into homes directly from the bowels of the earth. In fact, along the way from the mine to the gas stove, it goes through several stages of processing. The composition of the gas is changed so that it reaches homes and businesses in a way that is usable and safe for people.

The basis of the fuel mixture is approximately 75-80% methane, in addition to carbon dioxide, propane, butane, hydrogen sulfide and water vapor.

The high pressure of the main gas, reaching 11 MPa or more, is not suitable for domestic use, so at the gas distribution station it is reduced to a working value of 1.2 MPa

Is it possible to get poisoned by methane at the entrance? Most likely no. But a high concentration of it in the air in a hallway or apartment can lead to an explosion or fire - but this is a real danger for a multi-story building.

Let's consider the reasons for the leakage of household fuel in a residential building and find out what actions are taken when the smell of gas appears in the entrance.

Causes of unpleasant gas odor

In order to prevent and protect people and buildings from the negative consequences of using explosive household mixtures, special substances are added to them - odorants . The unpleasant smell during a leak belongs specifically to them, and not to the natural gas itself, which smells almost nothing.

The most commonly used marker for household gas is methyl mercaptan , a gas with the same disgusting odor as rotten cabbage. Even a small amount of this “aroma” is quickly detected by the average user, and it is quite difficult to confuse it with something else.

There is no need to fear that foul-smelling toxic additives may be dangerous - their concentration in household fuel is quite low to cause harm to health

ethyl mercaptan is used , which also has a pungent odor and good volatility.

Unfortunately, overly restless residents often confuse the smell of gas with other pungent “odors.” Sometimes situations reach the point of absurdity: a spilled bottle of white spirit or a leaking can of kerosene causes a call to the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Do not forget that administrative sanctions - fines of 1-1.5 thousand rubles. And if this is a false report about a gas leak in a public institution, there is already criminal liability with all the ensuing consequences: either a fine of up to 200 thousand rubles, or a term of up to 5 years.

But it's not all that scary. If the call is recognized as erroneous (an old grandmother “overdid it” or a small child decided to save the house without dealing with the smells in the entrance), firefighters or representatives of the gas service will simply turn around and leave.

According to statistics, in Moscow about 150 applications are received daily with complaints about the smell of gas (10 years ago there were about 700-800). But only 5% of the total are confirmed, the rest are erroneous

It is clear that a person is not a gas analyzer, and therefore cannot accurately determine the composition of substances in the air, so experts urge you to use your mind and soberly assess the situation.

Why do domestic gas leaks occur?

It is easier to react at critical moments if the reason is obvious.

But at the entrance, it may be difficult to determine the cause, because the smell can leak from three places:

Street;
apartment;
basement.

On the street, gas pipes are most often laid underground and brought outside in front of the wall of a residential multi-story building.

Pipes and fittings of the gas main are installed in accordance with the requirements of GOST and SNiP, at a certain distance from the windows and doors of houses, in order to protect against accidental mechanical damage

A broken pipe on the street is an extremely rare occurrence. Durable steel can withstand fallen trees and hammer blows during a hurricane. But if the seal of the pipe is broken, the release of gas in the free space is difficult to determine by smell. But you can hear a noise similar to hissing and whistling.

If a crack or hole is located near the entrance door, then some of the gas will get inside the house - hence the possible smell from the street.

If a breakdown in a pipe on the street can still be noticed visually or determined by noise, then a leak indoors cannot be immediately found - locked doors will prevent this

The simplest thing you can do is to quickly notify your neighbors of your suspicions. At this stage, it is often discovered that someone’s home has a leak due to a worn out hose or a broken burner. Equipment can also break down in the basement if a boiler is installed there or an outlet to the stove is installed (although this is prohibited by installation requirements).

The causes of leakage include the following:

installation of old or low-quality equipment;
violation of installation rules;
violation of operating rules;
untimely replacement of gas hoses, etc.

Installation flaws can be identified by the color of the flames: instead of the “correct” blue, they have a reddish or yellow tint.

The leakage of connections can be checked in the traditional way: dip a sponge in a soap solution and apply it to a suspicious area. If the soap foams, the emergency zone has been found.

We discussed in more detail how to detect the location of a leak in this material.

First actions upon detection

The smell most often enters the entrance from apartments, so you need to try to find the apartment where the leak occurred. The only thing you can do in the corridor is to open the windows or vents wide open. If they are tightly closed, you need to open the entrance doors, propping them up with a stone or stick.

According to SP 2.13130.2012, the shutters on the windows in the entrance must be active - that is, they can be easily opened and closed. This requirement is dictated by fire safety rules

Since both pipes and gas equipment are located in the apartments, all further actions are carried out there.

First of all you need to:

Open all doors and windows as quickly as possible. If the smell is too strong, you need to use a cloth for protection.
If there is a landline telephone in the room, turn it off so that the call does not ring.
Close the gas shut-off valve and all valves on the equipment.
Leave the apartment, turning off the power supply at the switchboard along the way.
Make a call to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, emergency gas or fire service.

Do not enter the house until specialists arrive and eliminate the danger. If possible, notify all residents of the building about the explosion threat and ensure that they also leave their apartments.

Now let’s find out where to call – if you smell gas either in the entrance or in the apartment.

A call from a landline phone is made to number 04, but it is better to call from a neighboring house. 112 is a universal number for the unified rescue service, valid even when the SIM card is blocked

For such cases, mobile operators provide the opportunity to make calls to emergency services even with a negative or zero balance:

Megafon – 040
MTS – 040
Tele2 – 040
Beeline – 004

Gorgaz employees insist that calls be made from the street, using a mobile phone. You should not call from a polluted entrance.

Emergency service representatives act according to instructions. Upon arrival, they must find the location of the leak, register this fact and take measures to eliminate the danger.

Image gallery

Photo from

Gas service vehicle

Emergency Service Tools

Gas analyzer for determining the concentration of substances in the air

The specialist makes a control measurement

Gas service employee opens the window

Gas pipes in the corridor

Repair or replacement of gas pipeline elements

Announcement for residents of the house

Usually there are several people working in a team at the same time, so all measures to eliminate a leak are completed quickly. After finishing the work, the foreman calls the control room, and the team returns to base.

What not to do?

If you smell gas, it’s now clear where to call. But you also need to know that there are things that are prohibited.

If there is a similar smell in the room, you should not:

smoking,
turn on electrical appliances,
use fire.

This means that if you smell gas in your apartment, you cannot turn off the lights and ring your neighbors’ doorbell. It is better to knock on them or call them on a mobile phone.

All this cannot be done, since the gas is highly flammable. And this, in turn, can lead to an explosion

Therefore, you should always remember such things and treat your actions with caution

Now, when you smell gas, everyone will know where to call and what not to do.

What to do if there is a gas leak in the apartment?

If there is a smell of gas in the apartment, you must follow the instructions:

Calmly, without panic, stop the gas supply by closing the valve on the pipe;
Use a damp cloth or gauze bandage, holding it near the mouth to prevent gas vapors from entering the respiratory tract;
Open doors and windows, allowing fresh air to enter the room;
If the gas pipe is blocked, but gas continues to flow, you must leave the premises and call emergency services. Do not return to the premises until the incident is resolved;
Notify residents of neighboring apartments about the leak.

If a gas leak is detected, it is prohibited:

turn on electrical appliances and lights;
light matches, lighters, smoke;
turn off devices that are already turned on, as a spark may occur and, subsequently, ignite the gas;
use fire to locate the leak.

Set of preventive measures

A number of preventive measures will help prevent gas leaks, associated extreme situations and other unwanted problems.

Rules mandatory for all household consumers:

when leaving the house, turn off all gas appliances, close the valves responsible for the gas supply;
do not connect or repair the equipment yourself or with the involvement of dubious specialists, and you cannot make any changes to the design;
monitor the proper functioning of the supply and exhaust ventilation, request a draft check from gas company specialists, regularly ventilate the premises;
do not use the stove for heating, drying things and other items made of flammable materials;
remember the correct sequence of turning on the appliances: first light a match, and only then open the gas;
do not leave the switched on equipment unattended, do not allow children and persons unfamiliar with the operating rules to access it;
When checking for leaks, do not use lit matches or a lighter.

As for gas cylinders, they need to be refilled exclusively at specialized points. Containers should be stored in well-ventilated areas, but not on balconies, apartments or garages. They should be in an upright position in the shade, since heating from the sun's rays is contraindicated for them.

Possible problems can also be judged by the color of the flame in the burners. It should be calm and have a deep blue color. Red, green and orange shades on fire are a reason to contact the gas workers

The most important rule is not to neglect the standards prescribed in the instructions for the safe operation of devices.

Gas equipment installed in the house must be in good condition, meet technical requirements, and undergo regular maintenance and inspection. The use of faulty devices is strictly prohibited.

Important Safety Precautions

It is necessary to strictly adhere to the relevant instructions and at the same time use gas fuel sparingly.
Remind the head of the housing office about the need to check ventilation and chimneys every three months.
Gas equipment must be kept clean and in good working order at all times. If a large container is placed on the burner, the ribs of the stand should be high.
The ventilation system must be checked regularly.
Prohibit children and persons unfamiliar with the rules of working with gas equipment from handling them.
Do not use garages, storage rooms and balconies for storing gas cylinders.
Refill gas cylinders only at designated points.
Do not independently connect and disconnect gas stoves at home.
Under no circumstances should you heat living spaces using gas stoves.
Do not disturb the sequence of ignition of gas equipment: first the match is lit and only then the gas supply is opened.
Before leaving the house, turn off gas appliances and shut off the supply of gas fuel stored in the cylinder using the valve.