Today, it is completely impossible to imagine our daily way of life without household gas

Today, it is absolutely impossible to imagine our daily life without household gas. The use of gas stoves and cylinders seems commonplace and familiar to us at first glance. However, incidents of household gas explosions still occur. And, as a rule, the main reason is the negligent attitude of the population towards the rules for operating gas appliances.

A household gas explosion can occur under the following conditions:

- simultaneous entry of a sufficiently large amount of gas mixed with air into the room volume;

- presence of an ignition source (burning cigarette, match, spark from electric heating appliances);

- sufficient airtightness of the room volume for the formation of an explosive concentration.

Compote left unattended on the stove resulted in 40% body burns for a resident of Gomel. The man went out onto the balcony for a smoke, and upon returning to the kitchen, found that the liquid had boiled away and the burner, of course, had gone out. He did not smell gas, so he decided to continue cooking. But an attempt to relight the stove ended in an explosion – the accumulated gas-air mixture ignited. The result of everything that happened was shattered balcony door glass and a torn-out frame, while the owner with numerous burns was taken to the hospital.

A resident of Novogrudok (Grodno region) also suffered from his own carelessness. He stored his gas cylinder, to which a blowtorch was also attached, in a shed – the room was heated with such a device. One day, the unsuspecting man entered the shed with a cigarette... Events then unfolded rapidly. The structure literally crumbled like a house of cards. Everything happened due to the depressurization of the gas cylinder, which in turn led to the formation of an explosive mixture of gas and air. Pieces of the scattered structures even ended up in neighboring yards. The owner himself was hospitalized in serious condition with 1st-3rd degree burns.

To prevent gas leaks, the following rules must be observed:

- check the tightness of hoses and threaded connections only with soapy foam, by smearing the alleged gas leak area with a soapy sponge; if there is a leak, soap bubbles will appear;

- to light a gas burner, first bring a lit match, and then smoothly open the gas valve;

- the flame in the burner should be even, and the color of the flame – deep blue. Yellow, red, or other flame colors, as well as the appearance of soot on pots, indicate malfunctions;

- do not leave gas burners on unattended;

- ensure that the liquid being heated on the gas stove does not extinguish the burner flame;

- if you notice an extinguished burner, do not try to relight it immediately – this can lead to an explosion. Close the gas supply valve, open the windows, and ventilate the room. Let the extinguished burner cool down and clean it;

- when lighting gas in the oven, make sure that the flame burns in all burner holes, and only then close the door;

- to prevent the accumulation of harmful, and sometimes deadly, products of incomplete gas combustion in the air – do not use lit burners to heat the apartment;

- do not keep the pilot light of a gas water heater constantly burning – this can lead to an explosion.

What to do if you detect a gas smell in the room:

- notify others of the danger;

- exclude the use of open flames, electrical appliances, and other probable ignition sources;

- stop using the gas appliance (close the tap on the stove, close the gas pipe);

- ventilate the room;

- to avoid poisoning, breathe through a damp cloth, leave the room.

In winter, in private residential buildings, it is necessary to periodically check ventilation ducts to prevent them from freezing and clogging.

It is forbidden:

- to leave operating gas appliances unattended;

- to allow children to use gas appliances;

- to use gas and gas appliances for drying clothes, heating premises;

- to use open flame to detect gas leaks;

- to store gas cylinders in residential premises;

- to independently replace empty cylinders with gas-filled ones, as well as gasify a house and repair gas appliances;

- to carry out redevelopment of premises where gas appliances are installed, without coordination with relevant organizations.

Household gas is an indispensable helper, but only when it is under human control. Otherwise, it can cause harm and lead to tragedy.