Ways of handling gas in your home

Jun 02, 2017

"Ventilation cannot be guaranteed no matter how large the room is."

HOME MANAGEMENT

Natural gas is commonly used in homes for cooking and water heating. It is composed of methane, a highly flammable chemical compound.


Although it happens rarely, gas leakage sometimes occurs in a home. Alice Namatovu always gave the housemaid strict orders not to use gas for cooking. But when the maid had no option in the absence of her boss, she turned on the gas and started searching for a match box.

Shortly after, Namatovu arrived only to notice her daughter coughing endlessly. As she drew closer to the kitchen, a strong pungeant smell hit her nostrils, prompting her not to light the match. Had she done so, it would have been a whole different story.

Grave gas leaks are rare and it is not often that we hear people have perished because of a gas leak.

How to tell there is a leak

According to Solomon Muwayi, the operations manager at Ramco Company, natural gas is odorless and colourless yet to detect a leak one has to depend on their sense of smell.

"Ventilation cannot be guaranteed no matter how large the room is. It is very important to use hoses designed for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) when using portable gas appliances", he advises.

Herbert Senono, a gas supplier, says gas suppliers add a harmless matter called mercaptan which smells like a bad egg or a sulfur-based compound. "Other indicators include running short of breathe when it becomes too much, a hissing sound, foggy atmosphere when the leaks are severe."

He also says outdoor gas leaks are much harder to discover by simply using the sense of smell. Red flags of outdoor gas leaks are water puddles or ponds containing surface bubbles, chronic hissing noise and air blowing water or dirt.

"If you detect any of these signs in your backyard, evacuate your house and call the gas supplier," cautions Senono.

'Do not panic'

Many people panic when there is gas leakage. However, to effectively handle the situation, Johnson Kangave, a technician, advises that you should not to panic.

According to Kangave when you sense a gas leak, ask everyone to leave the house immediately. Make sure no-one uses a phone or operates any electrical appliances.

"These may generate an explosion. Turn off the gas metre, with expert instructions or stay away and wait for trained professionals to come and take care of the leak. Do not enter the house until it has been inspected and considered safe by the local fire department.

Health implications

According to online sources, exposure to low levels of natural gas is not harmful to your health. However, if a gas leak is severe, the amount of oxygen available for breathing could be reduced, which can lead to asphyxia (a condition of severely deficient supply of oxygen to the body).

Symptoms of asphyxia include dizziness, fatigue, nausea and headache.

Precautionary measures

Kangave says a gas leak is very dangerous and extreme care should be taken. "You must keep your gas appliances dirt free, well-ventilated, and often checked to guarantee their good working conditions".

He says turn off the gas nobs after cooking. Keep cylinders out of children's reach. Instruct the maid on how to use the gas or leave it hidden because some maids never listen. Have gas detectors.

 

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