A natural gas explosion causes destruction in your home, almost as if a bomb had been dropped on it; This may result in loss of life and property. However, as one might expect, this does not happen on its own; Neglects and carelessness can trigger an explosion.
As we enter the winter months, we have witnessed the news of a natural gas explosion almost every month. Let’s face it, this is both a very sad and scary situation. However, even the smallest precaution you take can save your life, your home and your property. But first, let’s tell you how these explosions occur:
Unfortunately, a natural gas explosion occurred in Küçükçekmece district of Istanbul the other day. In this incident, 1 person died and 2 out of 5 people were seriously injured.
So how exactly does this terrible event happen?
We have heard many times before in schools or on the internet that natural gas does not actually have an odor, and that odor is injected for safety reasons. Although this smell generally resembles the smell of rotten eggs, it has a very distinctive feature.
Since natural gas has the property of collecting in the air, it can be triggered by the slightest spark or fire, creating an explosion effect. Since we use it a lot, especially in the kitchen area of our home, we can say that it is useful to ventilate the kitchen by opening the windows from time to time.
The gas released into the air during a leak mixes with the air. When the mixture reaches a ratio of 5-15, natural gas can become tightly compressed and explode even in the event of a static electric spark. Leakage may be caused by the device or equipment, or it may be due to lack of maintenance.
The main reasons that can cause a natural gas explosion:
- When a natural gas stove, stove or any natural gas-powered appliance is used incorrectly,
- When devices are installed incorrectly,
- The natural gas line extending to the house is old, damaged or rusty,
- In case of malfunction of any device running on natural gas,
- When devices are not maintained properly,
- Faulty propane tank tubes or valves
All the above causes can cause death. In other words, it is beneficial to have the natural gas device or valve you use maintained at least once a year. Maintenance of such works is already quite common, especially in countries like ours that use natural gas frequently.
Any danger that may occur may not only hurt you, but considering that you live in an average apartment, the entire apartment may be seriously damaged by this situation. “So how can we avoid this situation?” We hear you say, here are some precautions you can take:
- There are gas leak detection devices that you can buy at a reasonable price on e-commerce sites. In this way, you can take early precautions against leaks and have your device serviced as soon as possible.
- Regular maintenance: This is one of the essential steps to minimize this risk. You can call an authorized maintenance service and have your natural gas pipes and devices checked.
- Earthquake sensor: In case of any earthquake, it beeps and warns, and cuts off the natural gas flow by informing the solenoid valve placed at the entrance of the building.
- Be sure to find out whether your chimney device has a safety sensor, if not, replace it with a hermetic combi boiler or chimney.
Nowadays, when everything is expensive, even though maintenance fees are expensive, it is worth paying when it comes to life. In case of any emergency, do not forget to call 187 Natural Gas Emergency Hotline.
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