Gas!!

[Scarlett]

I Just went into the kitchen, and noticed a really quiet hissing. I nearly ignored it, but then realised it was coming from my gas hob. For some reason, a couple of the knobs were slightly turned, and gas had been escaping. I have no idea how long this have been happening – and now I’m slightly freaked. I couldn’t smell it.

I opened the kitchen window, and have left it. What should I do now? How long should I wait before going in the kitchen or using the hob again?

[davebro]

I did similar a while back - cleaned the gas hob before going out for a shop. Must have turned one of the taps on inadvertently. When I got back the flat was filled with gas!!!!!!!!
I turned it off & opened all the windows wide for an hour. If there had been a spark the whole block would have blown up - PHEW!

[Atheist]

Modern gas hobs should be set up to turn out the gas if gas is flowing but there is no flame. My hob doesn't have this, but I think it obligatory nowadays. Apart from leaving the knob slightly open, it can happen that a low flame blows out from a draft or is extinguished by a boiling over. The modern cooker in my French chateau was dirt cheap, but has flame-loss protection.
If you can't afford a new hob, then you need to be careful how you twiddle your knobs, don't leave a nearby window ajar, and leave the lid slightly open if you are simmering stuff that might boild over (e.g. milk)

[Hopkirk]

Light up a fag and relax.

[Atheist]

More seriously; if the room smells of gas, plase don't operate anything that might create a spark - don't turn on or off a light switch for example.

[naomi24]

I would call the gas company and ask their advice.

[gingejbee]

Has Putin been around your way?

[DTCwordfan]

1648 Aetheist is spot on - have you had covid?

LPG is more heavily stenched with mercaptan than natural gas...the problem, with the Irish accident, is that in being heavier than air, it explodes around your feet......

[Buenchico]

If you couldn't smell any gas then (unless you've lost your sense of smell, of course) there can't have been very much present.

Simply leaving the window open for 5 minutes or so should be all that's needed here.

[BTW: Seeing a post entitled "Gas!" appearing in 'Body and Soul' made me think that you'd got a completely different kind of problem!]

;-)

[DTCwordfan]

so did I a discussion about the Beaufart scale.....

[Scarlett]

Thanks All – I phoned Bulb, for their advice, and they sent round a man. He did various tests, and said it was fine. Thankfully I think it was only on for a few seconds.

Weirdly, even though I’ve been really careful, the knob has turned itself again since then! Maybe I have a gassy poltergeist?!

[bobbinwales]

If you accidentally turn the knob on- if its like ours no gas will come out unless you allso press the button in for a second

[calmck]

Do you have a cat? Did you clean the stove top and flick it with a cloth?

[Buenchico]

My parents lived for several years with no fewer than four gas leaks in their home for all that time!

See my post here:
https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1710039.html

[Scarlett]

Bobbinwales- usually you have to push the button down and twist it for the gas to come out. It takes some force.

That’s why it’s so weird that it seem to have just come on without me barely even being close to it!

[Scarlett]

Buen- that sounds frightful! I think maybe they should put more smell into gas? I think the reason I didn’t react to the hissing is because I have such bad tinnitus that I am used to hearing hissing all the time! So it wasn’t even that obvious :/