Domestic main gas is an inexpensive type of fuel that is still used to create favorable living conditions in private and low-rise buildings. Thanks to gasification, citizens can use stoves and ovens, and boiler owners never suffer from a lack of heating and hot water.
However, gas is a source of danger, and if the installation or use of gas equipment is violated, property and residents of high-rise buildings themselves may suffer. One of the first signs of a potential hazard is an unpleasant odor.
To prevent irreversible consequences, there are instructions for both residents and employees of Gorgaz. In this article, we will examine in detail what to do if there is a smell of gas at the entrance, where you need to call and to whom to report a leak.
What to do when gas odor is detected?
It is a mistake to assume that blue fuel comes directly from the bowels of the earth to homes. In fact, it goes through several stages of processing along the way from the mine to the gas stove. The composition of the gas changes so that it arrives in residential buildings and in enterprises suitable for use and safe for people.
The basis of the fuel mixture is about 75-80% methane, in addition to it there are 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 it is reduced to a working value of 1.2 MPa on gas distribution systems
Is it possible to get methane poison in the entrance? Probably not. But a large concentration of it in the air at the entrance or in the apartment can lead to an explosion or fire - and this is a real danger for a multi-storey building.
Consider the causes of 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 the use of explosive household mixtures, special substances are added to them - odorants. The unpleasant odor during the leak belongs to them, and not to the natural gas itself, which smells almost nothing.
Most often used as a marker for domestic gas methyl mercaptan - gas with the same disgusting smell as rotten cabbage. Even a small amount of this “flavor” is quickly determined by the average user, and confusing it with something else is quite difficult.
Fear that foul-smelling poisonous additives can be dangerous is not worth it - their concentration in household fuels is quite small to cause harm to health
In addition to methyl mercaptan use ethyl mercaptan, which also has a pungent odor and good volatility.
Unfortunately, too restless residents often confuse the smell of gas with other sharp “aromas”. Sometimes situations get to the point of absurdity: a spilled bottle of White Spirit or a leaked spray of kerosene cause a call to the Ministry of Emergencies.
Do not forget what kind of fake call are provided administrative sanctions - fines 1-1.5 thousand rubles. And if this is a false message about a gas leak in a public institution - it’s already coming 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 not everything is so scary.If the call is found to be erroneous (an old grandmother “overdid it” or a small child decided to save the house without understanding the smells in the stairwell), firefighters or gas service representatives will simply turn around and leave.
According to statistics, in Moscow about 150 applications are received daily with complaints of 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, therefore, he can’t accurately determine the composition of substances in the air, so experts urge to include the mind and soberly assess the situation.
Why do household gas leaks occur?
It is easier to respond at critical times if the reason is obvious.
But at the entrance, just with the definition of the cause, difficulties can arise, because the smell can seep from three places:
- Street;
- flat;
- basement.
On the street, gas pipes are most often laid underground and brought out in front of the wall of a multi-storey residential building.
Pipes and fittings of the gas main are mounted according to the requirements of GOST and SNiP, at a certain distance from the windows and doors of houses to protect against accidental mechanical damage
A pipe hole in the street is an extremely rare phenomenon. Strong steel withstands trees that fell during a hurricane 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, like a hiss with a whistle.
If a crack or hole is located near the entrance door, then part of the gas will fall inside the house - hence the possible smell from the street.
If a breakdown in a pipe on the street can still be visually detected or determined by noise, then a leak in the room cannot be immediately found - locked doors will prevent this
The simplest thing you can do is quickly notify your neighbors of suspicion. At this stage, it is often found out that someone had leaked at home due to a worn hose or a broken burner. The equipment may 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 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.
Mounting flaws can be identified by the color of the flames: instead of the "right" blue, they have a reddish or yellow hue.
The leakage of the joints can be checked in the traditional way: dip the sponge in soapy water and apply it to a suspicious place. If the soap has foamed, an emergency zone has been found.
More details on the methods of detecting a leak we have considered in this material.
First steps to discover
The smell in the entrance most often penetrates from the apartments, so you need to try to find housing where the leak occurred. The only thing that can be done in the corridor is to open wide the windows or windows. If they are closed tightly, you need to open the access door, propping them with a stone or a stick.
According to SP 2.13130.2012, the shutters on the windows in the entrance must be active - that is, it is easy to open and close. This requirement is dictated by fire safety regulations.
Since both pipes and gas equipment are in apartments, all further actions are carried out there.
First of all, it is necessary:
- Open all doors and windows as quickly as possible. If the smell is too harsh, use a cloth for protection.
- If there is a landline telephone in the room, disconnect it from power so that the bell does not sound.
- Close the gas shutoff valve and all taps on the equipment.
- Leave the apartment by shutting off the power supply on the switchboard along the way.
- Make a call to the Ministry of Emergencies, emergency gas or fire service.
Do not go into the house until the specialists drive up and eliminate the danger.If possible, notify all residents of the house of the threat of explosion and make sure that they also leave their apartments.
And now we’ll find out where to call - if it smells of 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 the universal number of the unified rescue service, valid even when the SIM card is locked
Mobile operators for such cases 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. Do not call from a gas-covered entrance.
Representatives of the emergency service act according to the instructions. Upon arrival, they must find the place of the leak, register this fact and take measures to eliminate the danger.
Image Gallery
Photo from
Gas emergency service employees arrive at the call in a yellow company car. They are necessarily dressed in uniforms, often with the inscription or logo of the city or district service
In the company car is everything you need to establish the fact of leakage and repair of the gas pipeline and equipment: gas analyzers, spare hoses and taps, wrenches, cleaning tools
One of the main tools for determining the level of danger is a universal gas analyzer, with which you can accurately measure the doses of methane, carbon dioxide, propane and other gases
If the percentage of flammable gases in the air allows, Gorgaz employees take a number of actions, starting with checking the concentration of harmful substances using a gas analyzer
According to any instruction, opening windows and doors is necessary first. If windows are not amenable to use locksmith tools
In some houses, gas pipes pass through the corridor - in this case, a leak may occur due to depressurization or wear of the joints. This requires verification.
If a leak is found right in the corridor, the gas worker will repair or replace the worn item. Most often, gas leaks due to depressurization of the pipeline at the junction
Before starting work, experts block the flow of fuel into the staircase and post an announcement stating the reason for the gas shutdown and instructions for residents
Gas service car
Emergency Tools
Gas analyzer for determining the concentration of substances in the air
The specialist makes a control measurement
Gas officer opens a window
Repair or replacement of gas pipeline elements
Home Ad
Usually, several people are simultaneously working in the brigade, therefore, all measures to eliminate the leak end quickly. After the work is completed, the team leader calls the control room, and the team returns to the base.
What should not be done in case of a leak?
One wrong move - and the house can fly up into the air, so let's figure out what you can’t do if there is a smell of gas:
- light matches, use a lighter;
- go into the room with a burning cigarette;
- try to call from a polluted room;
- turn on the light or any electrical appliances;
- turn off the on appliances to prevent sparking.
It is also forbidden to return to the apartment or to the corridor, where there is a smell of gas, until the danger is eliminated by specialists.
The big mistake is to call neighbors by pressing the call button. It can also trigger an explosion. Knocking is recommended - it’s more effective since knocking is usually carried all over the porch
Do not use the elevator because there is a risk of being stuck there.
If the gas escaping from the pipe ignites, you must not extinguish it. While the fire is burning, there will be no explosion. It is necessary to open the window and close the valve.
Preventive measures and rules
In order for the unpleasant smell of gas not to bother the residents of the house, either in the apartment or in the staircase, a number of requirements must be met. And the most important of them is the correct use of gas stoves and columns, because half of the troubles occur precisely because of the irresponsible attitude to the operation of the equipment.
Apartment owners must:
- Use serviceable equipment with a valid life;
- apply the technique strictly for its intended purpose;
- monitor the maintenance schedule (annual preventive examinations);
- timely repair the pipeline elements or replace hoses.
The installation and connection of new equipment is carried out by representatives of the gas service.
If the owner of the apartment has independently mounted the hob or connected the oven, the gasman must check the tightness of the connections and document this. Otherwise, such a user will face fines.
Any violation is punishable by fines, but this is not the worst. The frivolous owner endangers the health and lives of his family and neighbors
In no case should welding be carried out independently or gas pipes to be transferred to another location.
All transfer, replacement measures must be agreed with the service organization.
Brief and understandable instructions for gas leakage:
General Leak Detection Tips:
The smell of gas does not appear just like that - it is always a signal of danger, requiring composure and utmost attention.
If you live in a multi-storey building connected to the gas supply system, always be on the alert and at the first sign of a leak, call the gas service. Only specialists can determine the cause of the hazard and eliminate it..
An extremely unpleasant odor has appeared in your staircase and you suspect that its cause is a gas leak? Or do you doubt whether this is a leak? Ask your questions to our experts and other visitors to our site who have personal experience in detecting leaks - the feedback form is located below this publication.