Mistakes when using gas for cooking

Not turning off the gas cylinder valve after use, using a rusty stove or one with a lot of food residue... are mistakes that pose a risk of fire or explosion.

Although Thanh Ha's family (Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City) often uses a gas stove to cook food, everyone in the family has a habit of not tightening the gas cylinder valve immediately after use. "Partly because I'm lazy to reach under the cabinet to turn the gas valve, and also because I think that as long as I turn off the stove, the gas won't escape, so it's probably not dangerous," Ha explained.

As for Ms. Trang (Dong Nai), although not as "sloppy" as that, because of saving money, she could not bear to replace the old stove and gas line that she had used for nearly 7 years. Many days while sleeping, she smelled gas, worried and wanted to replace the stove but thought "maybe the fire has not come to my house yet" so she stopped. "Since then, there has been no incident so I have not replaced it yet. Besides, I have checked and found no signs of leakage or scratches," the young mother justified her decision not to replace the stove and gas line.

Illustration: ehow.

According to Nguyen Quang Tung, an expert on liquefied petroleum gas in Ho Chi Minh City, due to the small area of ​​townhouses, most households in the city place gas cylinders in the airtight corner of the kitchen. This is the most common mistake, because most dangerous accidents occur when using gas stoves and gas cylinders in closed rooms.

"If the gas in the tank leaks, the gas will spread, pushing all the oxygen out, easily causing suffocation. Furthermore, in case of fire, CO2 gas generated in a closed room can easily cause the victim to suffocate before dying from the fire," he commented.

With nearly 10 years of experience working in the field of safe use of liquefied gas, Mr. Tung recommends that people should follow some safety principles when using cooking gas as follows:

- Choose to buy gas cylinders from reputable companies and agents. Avoid buying gas equipment and gas cylinders from "unknown" stores because they may be illegally decanted products. New gas cylinders must be filled with the correct weight stated on the cylinder, not more than 0.1 kg more or less. Observe with the naked eye, the cylinder must be intact, not scratched, rusted or dented.

- Place the gas cylinder in a well-ventilated area. Gas is heavier than air, so when it escapes, it will spill onto the ground. Therefore, the area under the kitchen cabinet where the gas cylinder is placed should be kept ventilated. The gas cylinder must be placed 1 to 1.5 meters away from the stove. Even if the house is narrow, the gas cylinder should not be placed directly under the stove. The door of the cabinet where the gas cylinder is placed must always be open, or removed completely for easy observation, to avoid mice from making nests or chewing on the pipes.

- The stove base should be made of non-flammable material. It is recommended to place the stove at least 15 cm from the wall, 1 to 1.5 m from the ceiling, and 1.5 m from electrical equipment. Do not place anything, including the stove base, on the gas pipe.

- After using a gas stove to cook, you should close the valve at the top of the tank first to let the gas in the pipe burn out before turning off the stove. Some people have the habit of not turning off the stove after cooking, but need to close the gas tank valve immediately. In fact, there are many cases where the gas tank valve is not closed, gas is always overflowing in the pipe, after a long time or overnight the pipe is bitten by a mouse, the gas will leak out, and when there is an electric spark, it will cause a fire that the homeowner cannot handle in time.

- Clean the stove and gas appliances regularly. You should replace the stove with a new one if the old one is rusty or of poor quality. Usually, the cause of gas explosions occurs when gas leaks due to punctured cylinders, loose valves, or wires being bitten by rats... In particular, the gas pipe is a "sensitive" part that is prone to leaks, so it is best to replace it after 3 to 5 years of use.

- Periodically check gas equipment, you can use soapy water to apply to the tank shell, valve,
.gas pipe, if you see unusual bubbles rising, there may be a leak.

- Gas is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, but during production, people mix in additives with a foul odor to help users easily recognize if there is a gas leak. When smelling this characteristic smell, especially at night, people often have the habit of turning on lights or lighters to check the gas tank. However, fire safety experts warn that because gas is very flammable, turning on lights, fans, and cell phones can create sparks, which can easily cause a fire when exposed to gas. Therefore, what needs to be done in this case is to open the doors for ventilation so that the gas can escape naturally, reducing the concentration of combustible gas in the kitchen. If the smell becomes stronger, you should notify the gas dealer for immediate advice on how to handle the situation.

- Do not use refillable gas cylinders. Do not use pots that are too large when cooking with a mini gas stove because the fire can cover the cylinder, which is potentially dangerous.

- If possible, install a small gas leak detector in the kitchen cabinet near the gas tank and accessories, 25 cm from the floor. The price of this device on the market ranges from 200,000 to 400,000 VND per unit.

In case of fire, people should stay calm and follow these steps:

- Turn off the gas source immediately.

- If there is no fire extinguisher, use a thick cloth or blanket soaked in water to cover and extinguish the fire.

- If the fire continues to spread, call 114 for timely response from the fire police force.

According to Vnexpress - PC