Actions if there is a gas smell in the boiler room: what to do if a characteristic odor is detected

Have you ever been in a situation where there was a suspicious smell coming from your gas boiler? If it seems, it doesn’t seem! Gas is widely used for domestic purposes.

More than once we have seen in news programs how its leakage caused poisoning, asphyxia and even explosions with victims. Correct actions when there is a gas smell in the boiler room will help you avoid the listed catastrophic and negative situations.

We'll walk you through how to identify a leak and pinpoint its cause. You will learn what to do if blue fuel is detected entering a confined space. Our recommendations for proper operation of gas equipment and leak prevention will ensure the safety of you, your household, and your property.

Signs and causes of gas leaks

The most commonly used gas is methane, which is supplied through a gas pipeline. Since natural methane is odorless, it is odorized - supplemented with gaseous compounds that do not affect “flammability” and flammability. But thanks natural gas odorants we can sense the presence of gas in a confined space.

A sharp, characteristic odor is the first sign of gas spreading throughout the room. Gas can be heard in some cases. Every gas supply system operates under pressure.If there is a leak, you may hear a whistling or hissing sound.

Natural gas has no odor. To be able to detect leaks, odorants are used - additives with a characteristic unpleasant odor of rotten eggs

The gas is completely invisible to human eyes. However, this will not be a problem for visually identifying the location of the leak. First you need to guess where the gas is coming from. If the intended location is chosen correctly, then when you smear it with soapy water, bubbles will appear.

Breathing gas vapors is harmful - your head immediately starts to hurt, your mouth becomes dry and you feel suffocated. That is why, in the event of an unreasonable deterioration in health, the first step is to check the gas equipment. It often happens that a gas leak is the real cause of poor health.

Gas leaking from pipes in most cases becomes the cause not of domestic, but of professional defects associated with poor-quality installation of equipment.

Let's look at the main reasons why a gas boiler may smell like gas:

• Incorrect operation of equipment.
• The internal connections of the boiler have become loose.
• The nut of the connecting gas hose has become loose or its thread has worn off.
• Crack in the rubber hose.
• The boiler installation technology is broken.
• The boiler is malfunctioning.
• The gas valve has already served its time, so the supply of blue fuel is not completely shut off.
• Worn sealing ring in the gas valve.
• The gasket in front of the gas hose is torn or loose.

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to repair a gas boiler on your own. Yes, if the malfunction is noticeable and simple, there are no questions.However, only a specialist from a gas supply organization, with which an agreement has been concluded for the maintenance and supply of gaseous fuel, can cope with a complex breakdown.

Determination of a leaky place

The method for determining the location of a leak is extremely simple. You just need to dissolve the soap in water and whip up the foam. Take a brush and apply the solution to suspected problem areas. First of all, the gas pipes, tap and connections between the boiler and the meter are checked.

The solution will begin to foam at the leak site. If there is a strong leak, there will be a lot of bubbles. If the bubbles inflate slowly and are small, look elsewhere gas leaks. Yes, there was a depressurization here, but all equipment needs to be checked. A characteristic whistle may be present at the site of depressurization.

At the point of leakage, the gas can ignite from the slightest spark. You cannot strike matches or a lighter, or even turn on the lights or just a flashlight - the gas will explode. If it is not possible to shut off the fuel supply, immediately leave the room and call emergency services

If there is an odor in the boiler room, you should definitely identify the malfunction of the gas boiler. If the pungent odor comes from the boiler itself, you will have to find out what is wrong.

If there is a strong smell at the back of the boiler, there may be a problem with the shut-off valve. If the boiler is turned off, but the smell is present, the source is most likely the hose and its connection.

If the smell intensifies when removing the boiler casing, then the problem is a possible depressurization of the internal gas pipeline.

Leak detected: what to do?

Natural gas can pose a serious threat. It itself has neither color nor odor, but is characterized by psychotropic effects.A person may not pay attention to the new smell and not take timely measures.

What to do if there is a menacing smell of gas from a gas boiler? The main thing is not to panic. Reckless, hasty actions can lead to serious, often irreversible consequences.

Plastic windows contribute to the rapid accumulation of gas. Their seals, which ensure tightness, interfere with the natural flow of air from the street. When leaving home, be sure to leave the windows ventilated.

Basic procedure in case of gas leak:

1. Shut off the gas supply if possible.
2. Open all windows and doors to ventilate the room.
3. Do not use electricity or open fire in a gas-filled room.
4. Leave the danger zone.
5. Inform about the danger gas service.

People should be removed from the building and pets should also be taken care of. Only after leaving the danger zone can you call the emergency service.

Shutting off the gas supply

Your actions depend on where the gas is coming from. If the reason is an extinguished fire and an open gas supply valve, this is the simplest option. You just need to turn off the gas supply. If the pipeline is damaged, the valve through which gas enters the pipeline is closed.

Mandatory room ventilation

The boiler room should be quickly ventilated to prevent the formation of an explosive mixture. If an explosion does occur, open doors and windows will help reduce the damage.

After making sure that gas no longer flows, it is enough to ventilate the room for 30 minutes. This time is enough to replace the air with clean air.

Do not ignite electricity, do not allow sparks

Even an electric spark can become a source of ignition.This is enough to ignite the gas in the room, followed by an explosion. To prevent this scenario, after detecting a gas leak, you should not only turn on, but also turn off electrical devices and pull out the plug from the socket.

Household gas explodes if its concentration in the room reaches 5-15%

Please note that every time you turn it on or off, small sparks appear at the contact points. If the light is on in a gas-filled boiler room, it is safer to leave it on than to turn it off. Turning it off may cause sparks.

Such situations can occur in kitchens, since wall-mounted gas boilers are often installed here. From an electrical point of view, the refrigerator poses the greatest threat. The fact is that the compressor turns on and off periodically. The process is accompanied by a spark. The safest thing to do is turn off the electricity to the entire house or apartment.

Informing the alarm center

When informing the alarm center, the following information should be provided:

• What happened (smell, explosion, visible damage).
• Where the smell of gas was noticed or where the accident occurred (in the basement, indoors, in the boiler room).
• Availability of taps to shut off the pipeline leading to the leak.
• What electrical equipment is running indoors?
• Presence of open flame sources (stove or fireplace).
• When the leak was discovered.
• Your contact details.

If, after shutting off the gas supply and ventilating the room, the gas concentration has not decreased, it is necessary to urgently evacuate people from the house.

The gas valve (yellow), which shuts off the supply of blue fuel, is usually located immediately next to the boiler.Your task is to close it as quickly as possible, and not to look for a leak+

No matter how strange it may sound, there are many people who, due to negligence or ignorance, light matches. They justify their actions with the desire to discover the place where the gas is coming from. If the concentration of methane is too high, even an explosion is possible.

It doesn't matter when you discovered a gas leak day or late at night - call emergency services. If the valve is closed, but gas continues to flow, all people must leave the premises until emergency personnel arrive.

The damage from a gas-related accident is hundreds of times more critical than from a fire. Unconscious actions of one person have more than once caused the destruction of apartment buildings.

Eliminating the problem and further threats

Only a competent gas technician certified to work with gas equipment should work with gas equipment. It is not recommended to repair a gas boiler with your own hands. Depending on the location of the depressurization, a method for eliminating the leak is selected.

Defects in gas pipes cannot be corrected yourself. Using the tool can create a spark and cause an explosion.

In case of leakage at a threaded connection, it should be unscrewed, the remaining sealant, gaskets and windings should be removed. Old gaskets and rings are replaced with new ones.

After assembling the connection, a test is carried out using a soap solution. If a leak is found in the hose, it must be replaced.

Standard boiler faults

The smell of gas appears when it is not completely burned. There may be several reasons:

• Incorrect installation of jets (yellow or red flame).
• The air supply adjustment is broken (yellow or red flame).
• The fan operation sensor is faulty (boiler operation is blocked).
• Fan operating speed is too low (boiler operation is blocked).
• The heat exchanger is clogged (operation is blocked or the heating is too low).

When repairing a gas boiler with a gas leak, any manipulations with parts and components should be carried out with extreme caution.

Prevention for safety

Incidents must be prevented, otherwise the consequences will have to be eliminated later.

Compliance with the rules of prevention is the key to safety:

1. All gas appliances should be purchased in good working order with a warranty from the manufacturer. The equipment must be accompanied by appropriate certificates.
2. If you need to install or configure a gas boiler, always contact a gas specialist, with whom you should enter into an agreement for equipment maintenance and gas supply. Craftsmen must have access to this type of work.
3. The technician servicing the unit must periodically inspect the gas equipment.
4. Gas equipment must always be clean.
5. Check the condition regularly gas boiler chimney and operability of the smoke removal system.

To prevent leaks, purchase a gas leak alarm device. The gas analyzer instantly reacts to the appearance of a toxic substance in the surrounding space.

Household gas analyzers are distinguished by sensitivity equal to that of gas workers. The assortment presented to the consumer includes stationary and mobile devices, devices with sound and light alarms

The gas analyzer is installed in the boiler room itself or in the kitchen next to the gas water heater or boiler.More expensive models are equipped with a function to automatically shut off the fuel supply when the gas concentration in the room is exceeded. The slightest leak is detected by sensors, after which the gas supply to the combustion chamber is blocked.

The owners of the gas boiler are responsible for the general condition of the equipment. They can clean all components from carbon deposits; to care for them, you do not need to disassemble the housing. You cannot replace the devices yourself; all work must be carried out by mechanics and gas workers from the gas supplying organization.

Owners are responsible for safe operation between scheduled maintenance of gas appliances. Maintenance should be carried out every 36 months. For equipment that has spent the period covered by the warranty, maintenance is recommended to be carried out every year.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

An effective way to detect gas leakage:

Even if you have at least the hundredth boiler, always study the operating instructions. Perhaps the manufacturer came up with something new. The best way to repair it is to call a gas technician. Jokes with blue fuel are bad. Don't skimp on qualified service. Excessive frugality can backfire.

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