Interior gas equipment requires special attention due to the explosiveness of the fuel used. At the slightest malfunction, it becomes a source of serious problems, therefore, the maintenance of gas stoves in apartments is regulated by law and is also strictly regulated.
Agree, if you have a hob connected to a gas pipeline, then you should study in advance the frequency and procedure for carrying out its checks. And then an unfamiliar master gasman will come, spin in your kitchen, and then, in the event of an emergency situation, you will remain to blame for everything, since you are the owner of the house. Next, we will tell you what should be included in maintenance and how often it is carried out.
The content of the article:
- Legal side of the issue
-
Maintenance of gas-fired apartment stoves
- Difference between VDGO and VKGO
- Frequency of regular checks
- Inspection order and procedure
- Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Legal side of the issue
Gas appliances in the apartment are the property of the landlord. It is he who bears full responsibility for the serviceability and proper maintenance of the gas stove. If an explosion occurs, then the owner of the home will have to answer for the damage caused.
Previously, gas stoves and water heaters were checked by law once every three years. But since September 2017, the maintenance procedure has been changed due to the increased frequency of fires and methane explosions in apartment buildings. Now, maintenance and testing of gas equipment must be carried out at least once a year.
The main document regulating the issue under consideration is the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 410 "On measures to ensuring safety in the use and maintenance of in-house and in-house gas equipment "
It is legally stipulated that the owner of the house is obliged to conclude with a specialized company contract for regular maintenance. Without this document, the gas supplier can and is likely to immediately refuse to supply fuel, cutting off the gas pipeline to the apartment. No one wants to be held responsible for your failure to comply with the laws.
Initially, all aspects of maintenance and inspection of gas stoves lay with the owner of the apartment. He himself was obliged to monitor the serviceability of all equipment and, as necessary, call a master or engage in repairs on his own.
However, this approach led to multiple emergencies, since most homeowners preferred to save money, leaving the maintenance of indoor appliances on gas for later.
The slightest malfunction in the gas stove or ventilation in the kitchen with it can lead to a pop of gas - as a result of destruction, they often cover more than one apartment
The gas supplier and the gas stove service company do not have to be the same company. However, most often the maintenance agreement is concluded with the resource supplying organization, so that there is less hassle.
Maintenance of gas-fired apartment stoves
Many people do not like the planned visits of gas workers. They take place during working hours, which often causes problems. In some cases, the approval check can be postponed, but this is far from always possible. Plus, not all service companies make such changes in the established schedule (especially if they are monopolists in some city).
The terms "maintenance" and "check" should be separated - they check the serviceability and operability of gas appliances, and MOT includes minor repairs and cleaning of equipment
Inspection by yourself or by an unauthorized company is prohibited. The master who came to check the gas stove, based on its results, draws up an appropriate act with a signature and a seal. Without this document, gas will not be supplied to the apartment.
On the other side - clean the burners and soot nozzles so that the flame burns evenly again - do it yourself. The main thing is that then the stove turns out to be serviceable and efficient.
If there is no experience and / or skills for such work, then it is best to delegate all maintenance operations to an experienced foreman. It will cost money, but it will be safer.
When checking gas equipment, gas operators will still identify problem areas and points of interference with equipment. And if they have any complaints about the health of the stove, then the gas in the apartment will be immediately turned off by shutting off the tap or by installing pipe plugs.
Difference between VDGO and VKGO
V Resolution No. 410 a clear division of the entire gas economy in an apartment building is made into intra-house (VDGO) and intra-apartment (VKGO).
For the first, the HOA or the UK is responsible, and for the second the owner of the apartment.
Pipes and appliances to the shut-off valve on the gas pipeline in the apartment are the common internal part of the house, and the gas stove, water heater, meter, etc. already belong to the landlord
Two contracts are concluded with gas workers for servicing VDGO and VKGO. In the first case, all interaction with the inspectors is undertaken by the company managing the house or the HOA. They conclude an agreement among themselves with the timing of inspections, their frequency and payment.
In the case of intra-apartment equipment, the owner of the apartment comes into play. Only with him can a contract for maintenance be concluded, and only he has the right to let in or not someone to check in his home.
At the same time, if you do not agree to an inspection and do not allow gas workers to reach the hob, then you can be left without gas. And here it is no longer important whether there are debts for it or everything has been paid in advance.
Frequency of regular checks
The laws stipulate that the gas stove in the apartment, according to a previously concluded agreement, gas workers are required to check at least once a year. But they can come more often.
There are unscheduled inspections (when gas explosions occur), equipment replacements, other events, and simply emergency calls. However, the owner of the house only has to pay for one scheduled visit and those inspections that are initiated at his personal request.
Scheduled inspections are not a panacea for all possible gas problems, they only allow gas workers to enter each apartment at least once a year to inspect the equipment standing there.
If the apartment has a gas stove, then they will regularly come with checks:
- Gasmen - annually and for a fee.
- EMERCOM employees or other persons authorized to monitor ventilation - quarterly, free of charge.
All mandatory inspections in apartments are aimed at improving the safety of using household gas appliances. The minimum frequency of checking gas stoves is strictly established at the level of all-Russian legislation.
Therefore, the owner of a dwelling in an apartment building is obliged to conclude a maintenance contract and allow inspectors to visit him at least once a year.
Inspection order and procedure
It is difficult to argue with the need for maintenance of VKGO. Most Russians are aware of their own security responsibilities. And for the rest there are laws and strict requirements.
It remains only to figure out what is included in the routine maintenance and check of the gas stove, because the correctness inspection is primarily the concern of the owner of the apartment, for whom the most important thing is the absence of problems with gas.
The master who came with the check must provide an identity document with a photograph, inspect, identify malfunctions and draw up an act on the suitability of the hob for further operation
When inspected as part of the annual maintenance, the gas master checks:
- Completely all VKGO for integrity and compliance with state standards.
- The presence of draft in the ventilation duct and the state of the chimney (if any).
- Availability crane and plates for emergency gas shut-off manipulations.
- The integrity of gas pipelines and cases where they pass through the walls.
- Tightness of threaded connections and serviceability of valves.
- Condition and integrity flexible bends.
- Gas pressure in the supply to the stove.
- Serviceability of automatic ignition.
- The performance of each burner, the smooth running of the taps and the correct flame adjustment.
- Serviceability of thermocouple and emergency gas shut-off valve.
- No mechanical damage to the hob grill.
- Reliability of fixing the oven door when closed.
The owner of the house and family members are also instructed on the subject of safe correct operation of gas appliances.
If, during the inspection, defects are found that cannot be corrected immediately during the maintenance carried out, the stove is disconnected from the gas until repair by the master or replacement.
All deficiencies identified during maintenance and recommendations for the consumer for their elimination are indicated in an act drawn up in triplicate.
One remains with the master, the second is given to the owner, and the third is sent to the gas supplier. And if there are problems, then the apartment will be disconnected from the gas supply immediately, until the shortcomings are eliminated.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
The video will talk about the mandatory maintenance of gas indoor equipment:
What the master must do during maintenance:
What we have to pay for during inspections and how we can save:
It is strictly forbidden to operate a faulty water heater or gas hob. However, an inexperienced person is not able to determine all the problems in them on his own. Therefore, it is highly discouraged to interfere with routine checks of the gas stove in your apartment. It's not even so much a matter of law compliance as personal safety.
If you have a positive or negative experience of communicating with gas workers or an interesting story related to the operation (repair) of gas equipment, write your comments in the block below. We are also ready to help you understand all aspects of inspections and maintenance of appliances using domestic gas.
