Gas leak: where to call, what you can and cannot do if your apartment smells of gas

Unfortunately, tragedies caused by gas leaks are often accompanied by a large number of victims.Agree that no one is immune from troubles and misfortunes, even within the walls of their own home. That’s why it’s so important to know how to behave and what to do if you suddenly smell gas in your house.

In this material, we will take a detailed look at the reasons why the usual blue fuel turns into a deadly enemy, we will talk about ways to detect leaks and how to act correctly in an emergency.

Properties and features of domestic gas

In order to better remember the algorithm of actions in case of a sudden gas leak and understand why such an extreme situation is possible at all, it is worth understanding what the fuel that is so familiar to us is. Indeed, under certain circumstances, gas, even during an emergency leak, begins to ignite, but does not explode. What is the reason for this and what is needed for negligence or a technical malfunction to turn into an explosion?

In the gas supply systems of residential buildings and institutions there is natural gas, which has undergone extensive pre-processing. Unnecessary impurities are removed from it and enriched with special substances in order to maximize the efficiency and safety of use in everyday life.

In the composition of natural gas, the largest share of all substances is methane. It is flammable, has no color or odor, and weighs lighter than air, so if it leaks, it moves to the top of the room.

The ease of methane is one of the reasons why the ventilation system openings are placed at the top.With this location of the grille, gas and combustion products escape more easily into the ventilation system

To make it easier to detect the fact of an emergency gas leak, special odorant substances are added to methane, which give the mixture such a familiar smell. That's why identify leak This is possible not only with the help of a gas alarm, but also thanks to your own sense of smell. Often the jet of gas under attack produces a characteristic hissing sound.

In addition to methane, household gas also contains other substances: ethane, carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen sulfide, propane and butane. The last two types of gas are quite toxic.

Surprisingly, with incredibly powerful gas explosion, which can be compared in strength to the detonation of more than 10 kg of TNT, the volume of fuel leakage can be only a few liters. Why is household gas so destructive?

Gas detonation is in many ways reminiscent of the operating principle of a vacuum bomb, and the explosion itself is more appropriately called the burnout of the gas-air mixture, since only one spark is needed to start the process. The movement of gas molecules is chaotic. Depending on external conditions and the density of the gas, the speed of movement of its molecules can increase, tens of times higher than the wind speed during powerful hurricanes.

In the room, oxygen from the air binds with the fuel; in the gassed volume itself, a zone of very rarefied air is formed. At the moment of fire, the pressure drops almost instantly, causing the air to rush in one wave towards the discharged epicenter.

At the epicenter of the explosion, the air becomes too dense and rushes back to the periphery, forming a shock wave.Since the volume of the room is quite limited, as is the volume of air involved in the detonation, the force of the shock wave becomes incredibly destructive

In fact, gas detonation is possible when the methane concentration in the room is 5.3 - 14%. And for propane-butane, the range from 1.5 to 10% is explosive. If the concentration of explosive gas exceeds the upper limit, then instead of an explosion, a fire occurs, which is no less dangerous for consumers.

What to do if there is a gas leak?

If the room smells strongly of gas, then a completely natural reaction of the average person is panic. And in this state, it’s difficult to immediately figure out where to call and what to do if the apartment smells of gas.

But, taking into account the information presented above, it becomes clear that the person who discovers the leak needs to perform two main actions to prevent fuel detonation: prevent sparks from forming, which may cause an explosion and reduce gas concentration as much as possible in room.

To achieve these vital goals, you need to keep your cool and take the next steps.

1. Turn off all gas appliances and turn off the gas supply crane, if possible.
2. Open the windows to allow air to flow in and gas to escape outside. A strong draft is the main weapon against gas pollution, so you need to open the frames not only in the room where the leak occurred, but also in rooms located in the opposite part of the apartment.
3. Leave the home and, while at the entrance, turn off the power to the apartment by turning off the power in the panel.
4. Call the emergency gas service at 104 or 04 or the single emergency number - 112.

When taking these measures, listen to yourself and control your own condition.

If you just entered the entrance and heard the smell of gas, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with detailed algorithm of actions in the event of a gas leak at the entrance.

Gas poisoning can lead to loss of consciousness, so try to inhale less polluted air and leave the room as soon as possible

To prevent the formation of a fatal spark, you need to know what you absolutely cannot do if you smell gas.

These manipulations will help reduce the level of gas concentration in the apartment:

1. Do not use matches or a lighter in or near a gas-filled area.
2. Do not turn on lights or household appliances.
3. Do not turn off appliances that are already running. A spark is produced at the moment the current flow begins and at the moment it stops. Therefore, unplugging a working TV from a socket in a room with a gas leak is a completely dangerous act. A light bulb already lit is less likely to cause an explosion.
4. If the leak area is on fire, do not try to extinguish the flame under any circumstances.
5. Do not try to locate the leak yourself. Firstly, this will not give anything, since the gas service should be responsible for restoring the network and preventing an accident. Secondly, being in the apartment at this moment is dangerous.

It is also important not to call the hotline from a gas-polluted home: using a mobile or landline phone can also become a source of spark. Use your smartphone already on the street.

It is important to install gas leak detectors in rooms where gas equipment is used.Such a sensor will notify homeowners about an accident even before the gas concentration reaches dangerous levels.

If there are unconscious people in the apartment, the algorithm of actions will be slightly different. Speed ​​remains vital: no one should remain indoors for long periods of time.

Remember that methane is not very toxic. However, when it ignites, carbon monoxide is produced, poisoning with which is very dangerous and can be fatal.

The algorithm of actions in the presence of unconscious victims is as follows:

1. Before entering the apartment, while on the landing, take a deep breath and hold your breath.
2. Enter your home and do not close the front door.
3. Open the windows, then quickly take the victim out of the apartment. During the cold season, warm clothes may remain in the hallway; try to take the victim’s outerwear with you.
4. Take your loved one out of the entrance, call the emergency gas service and an ambulance for your loved one. If necessary, perform resuscitation measures.
5. If you smell a strong gas smell in the entrance, open the front door and windows. If the latter do not open, they can be broken to create the necessary level of thrust to accelerate the release of gas to the outside.
6. If there is someone else left in the apartment, catch your breath and, having filled your lungs with as much air as possible, return for your relative.

When helping a loved one, do not forget about yourself. If you feel unwell and lose consciousness, leave the apartment immediately, entrusting the rescue of your loved one to professionals.

In an unconscious state, you will not be able to help anyone and will only aggravate the tragedy by not having time to notify the emergency services about what happened.

Safe use of gas equipment

It is easier to prevent an irreparable situation than to survive its consequences. Sometimes carelessness and negligence become the causes of death.

It is necessary to provide timely access to the apartment to gas service specialists, who must annually check the condition of equipment and main pipes

That’s why it’s so important to follow the basic safety regulations when operating any gas equipment.

1. Repair, adjustment and modification of gas equipment can only be entrusted to a certified specialist. Independent interference with the operation of devices is unacceptable.
2. Any malfunction of the equipment is a reason to refuse to use it until the breakdown is repaired by a representative of the gas company with which you have an agreement. contract signed on TO.
3. The gas pipe brought into the apartment cannot be used as a fastening. Even a clothesline tied to the main line can cause a gas leak.
4. The ventilation system is the key to the safety of all household members. Check the traction level regularly and report to the appropriate services if it has decreased.
5. Limit children's access to gas equipment.
6. Do not leave operating equipment unattended.
7. Do not use stove burners or ovens as a heating source.
8. Keep the burners clean and regularly remove combustion products from them.
9. When using gas cylinders, comply with their requirements. placement and operation.
10. Always turn off the gas valve if you plan to be away from home for a long time.

To detect a leak in a timely manner, you should not rely only on your own sense of smell.

Gas alarm installation or gas leak sensor will help identify gas leaks at the initial stages and contact emergency services in time.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The author of the following video talks about the places where leaks most often occur and methods for detecting leaks:

A video from the Department of Civil Protection of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia briefly describes the actions during a leak and symptoms of gas poisoning:

Timely detection of a domestic gas leak and correct actions in the process of eliminating the accident are the key to ending the incident without casualties and serious damage.

Do not neglect safety rules when operating gas appliances, periodically ventilate the premises and always provide gas service workers with access to the home to conduct routine inspections of the equipment and ventilation system. Remember that not only your life and health, but also the people around you depend on your consciousness.

Do you have any questions about the topic of our article? Or would you like to share your own experience of detecting a leak and successfully resolving the situation? Write your recommendations, ask questions to our experts and other site visitors - the comment form is located below this article.