What to do and where to call if the entrance smells of gas? Leak detection algorithm

Household gas is an inexpensive fuel that is still used to create favorable living conditions in private and low-rise buildings. Thanks to gasification, townspeople can use stoves and ovens, and boiler owners never suffer from a lack of heating and hot water.

At the same time, gas is a source of danger, and if the norms for the installation or use of gas equipment are violated, property and the residents of high-rise buildings may suffer. One of the first signs of potential danger is an unpleasant, specific odor.

To prevent irreversible consequences, there are instructions for both residents and employees of Gorgaz. In this article, we will analyze in detail what to do if the entrance smells of gas, where to call and who to report the leak.

What should I do if I smell gas?

It is a mistake to think that blue fuel comes to homes directly from the bowels of the earth. In fact, on 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 is supplied to homes and businesses that is usable and safe for people.

The basis of the fuel mixture is approximately 75-80% methane, besides it there are carbon dioxide, propane, butane, hydrogen sulfide and water vapor.

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

Consider the reasons for the leakage of household fuel in a residential building and find out what actions are taken when there is a smell of gas in the entrance.

Causes of unpleasant gas smell

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 when leaking belongs to them, and not to natural gas itself, which almost does not smell.

Most often used as a marker for household gas methyl mercaptan - gas with the same disgusting odor as rotten cabbage. Even a small amount of this "flavor" is quickly identified by an ordinary user, and it is rather difficult to confuse it with something else.

In addition to methyl mercaptan, ethyl mercaptan, which also has a pungent odor and good volatility.

Unfortunately, too restless residents often confuse the smell of gas with other harsh "odors". Sometimes situations reach the point of absurdity: a spilled bottle of White Spirit or a leaked can of kerosene causes a call to the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

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

But not everything is so scary. If the call is recognized as erroneous (an old grandmother "overdid it" or a small child decided to save the house, not having dealt with the smells in the entrance), firefighters or representatives of the gas service will simply turn around and will leave.

It is clear that a person is not gas analyzer, therefore, cannot accurately determine the composition of substances in the air, therefore, experts urge to turn on the 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 just with the definition of the cause, difficulties may arise, because the smell can seep from three places:

• Street;
• apartment;
• basement.

On the street, gas pipes are most often laid underground and led out in front of the wall of a residential multi-storey building.

A hole in a pipe on the street is an extremely rare occurrence. Strong steel withstands storm-fallen trees and hammer blows. But if the tightness of the pipe is broken, the gas outlet in the free space is difficult to determine by smell. But you can hear a noise similar to a hiss with a whistle.

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

The easiest thing to do is to quickly alert neighbors of the suspicion. At this stage, it is not uncommon to find out that someone's house has been leaked due to worn out hose or a broken torch. Equipment can also break down in the basement if a boiler is installed there or a branch to the stove is laid (although this is prohibited by the installation requirements).

The reasons for the leak include the following:

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

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

Leakage of the joints can be checked in the traditional way: dip a sponge in soapy water and apply it to a suspicious place. If the soap foams, the emergency zone has been found.

We have considered in more detail methods of detecting a leak in this material.

First actions upon detection

The smell in the staircase most often penetrates from the apartments, so you need to try to find housing where the leak has occurred. The only thing that can be done in the corridor is to open wide the windows or vents. If they are closed tightly, you need to open the driveway doors, propping them up with a stone or a stick.

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

First of all, you need:

• Open all doors and windows as quickly as possible. If the smell is too strong, a protective cloth should be used.
• If there is a landline telephone in the room, disconnect it so that the bell does not sound.
• Shut off the cut-off gas cock and all the taps on the equipment.
• Leave the apartment, turning off the power supply on the switchboard on 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 house about the threat of an explosion and make sure that they also leave their apartments.

And now we'll find out where to call - if there is a smell of gas either in the entrance or in the apartment.

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

• Megaphone - 040
• MTS - 040
• Tele2 - 040
• Beeline - 004

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

The emergency service representatives act according to the instructions. Arriving, they must find the place of the leak, register this fact and take measures to eliminate the danger.

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

What should not be done in the event of a leak?

One wrong move - and the house can fly up into the air, so let's figure out what cannot be done if there is a smell of gas:

• light matches, use a lighter;
• enter a room with a burning cigarette;
• try to call from a polluted room;
• turn on the light or any electrical appliances;
• turn off switched on electrical appliances to avoid sparking.

It is also forbidden to return to an apartment or corridor where there is a smell of gas until the hazard is eliminated by specialists.

You cannot use the elevator because there is a risk of getting stuck there.

If the gas coming out of the pipe catches fire, it cannot be extinguished. As long as the fire is burning, there will be no explosion. You need to open the window and close the valve.

Preventive measures and rules

So that the unpleasant smell of gas does not bother the residents of the house, either in the apartment or in the entrance, a number of requirements must be met. And the most important of them is to use gas stoves and water heaters correctly, because half of the troubles occur precisely because of the irresponsible attitude towards equipment operation.

Apartment owners are obliged to:

• use serviceable equipment with an acceptable service life;
• use the technique strictly for its intended purpose;
• follow the schedule service (annual preventive examinations);
• repair pipeline elements or replace hoses on time.

The installation and connection of new equipment is carried out by representatives of the gas service.

If the owner of the apartment independently installed the hob or connected the oven, the gasman must check the tightness of the connections and document this. Otherwise, such a user is threatened fines.

In no case should you carry out welding work yourself or carry gas pipes to another place.

All measures for transfer, replacement must be agreed with the service organization.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Concise and clear instructions on gas leaks:

General tips for leak detection:

The smell of gas does not appear just like that - it is always a signal of danger, requiring concentration and utmost attention.

If you live in a multi-storey building connected to a gas supply system, be always on the alert and call the gas service at the first sign of a leak. Only specialists can determine the cause of the danger and eliminate it..

An extremely unpleasant smell has appeared in your entrance and do you suspect that its cause lies in a gas leak? Or are you in doubt if this is really a leak? Ask your questions to our experts and other visitors to our site with personal experience of leak detection - the feedback form is located below this publication.