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The tragedy of living in a building without gas during a polar wave: what to do if a power outage occurs? - La Nacion Propiedades
Source:
www.lanacion.com.ar
July 01, 2025
Step-by-step instructions on how to handle a power outage, whether in the building's supply room, in common areas, or in departments.
By Silvina Vitale
The drama of living without gas for months in the middle of winter. EUROPA PRESS - EUROPA PRESS
In the midst of a cold snap , residents of a 17-story building in downtown Mar del Plata have been without gas for three weeks . The outage was allegedly caused by a false gas leak report filed by a neighbor. The situation is becoming critical in the current climate: a yellow alert for cold is in effect, with sub-zero temperatures and extreme wind chills. The lack of heating not only causes discomfort but also poses a health risk .
The protest by the building's residents seeks to highlight a common complaint in many buildings across the country: prolonged gas service outages , often due to inaccurate complaints or installations that don't meet technical requirements.
The arrival of cold weather causes gas consumption to rise sharply . Misuse of heating appliances or failure to properly turn them on can cause a leak that can lead to a complete power outage. This situation is especially common in apartment buildings . However, knowing how to resolve the problem and restore service as quickly as possible is key.
“For Metrogas, safety is one of the keys to the service it provides. Safety is non-negotiable , and if the service is cut off, it's because we're looking out for all the families living in that building,” explains Alejandro Di Lázzaro, the company's Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications.
How is it resolved? Metrogas reports that, in the event of a report of a suspected gas leak in a building , the company responds to an emergency inspection. If a leak is confirmed, the supply is shut off for safety reasons, as the facilities must comply with the technical standards defined and required by the National Gas Regulatory Entity (Enargas), the body that regulates and controls the distribution of natural gas through networks.
Once the defect has been verified, the claimant from the company that performed the inspection makes the cut and leaves Form F-1022 detailing what was found, whether in the room where the supplies are located, in common-use spaces, or in private spaces.
In homes, many appliances depend on gas: stove, water heater, range, boiler, water heater, among others.
The first step to begin reconnection is to contact a licensed gas fitter to inspect all installations and make every repair observed. Metrogas reports that, once the work to resolve the various problems that led to the outage is completed and, in accordance with current regulations, it is necessary to request an inspection from Metrogas after submitting the various required forms digitally.
Once the company receives this form, it has up to 96 hours to conduct a new inspection. It's important to note that the company emphasizes that the time it takes to call the licensed gas fitter and the time it takes to fix the observed faults are not attributable to Metrogas.
"It's important to keep in mind that registered users no longer have to go to the offices to submit forms and request reconnection. Everything is done virtually, significantly reducing the time. Not only that, but customers can also track the process using the number provided through the website," Di Lázzaro warns.
When the Metrogas inspector conducts an inspection of the facilities, he or she first inspects common areas, such as the meter room, the regulating plant, or the boiler room, among others. If the inspection is approved, the common areas are ready for use; otherwise, a new closure form will be issued. After these common areas are opened, the inspection focuses on individual common-use utilities, such as water heaters, boilers, and generators , among others, and those for individual use in each apartment, such as the kitchen, water heater, water heater, stoves , etc
If a gas supply was cut off by Metrogas in a building, to reconnect all common spaces and apartments must be inspected.Freepik
Please note that for each affected facility that is found to be out of compliance, a new closure form (F-1022) will be issued. This closure form will affect each owner individually. That is, anyone experiencing a problem in their unit will not be able to access gas until the problem is resolved. The company emphasizes that inspections of individual spaces will not necessarily be conducted on the same day as inspections of common spaces.
Furthermore, if the owner of one of the apartments is not present at the time of the inspection, the gas supply cannot be verified and, therefore, the property will remain without service. In this case, the customer must contact the Metrogas Call Center at 0800-333-6427 or WhatsApp at 11-3180-2222 to request a return visit. Gas service will not be turned on if no one is present at the property.
On its website, Metrogas clarifies that it does not charge any inspection fees. "Therefore, if someone claiming to be from Metrogas tries to charge a fee, we have the Transparency Program, which provides customers with a channel to report any dishonest actions. The person can call 0800-666-2646, which is an anonymous and confidential line," the company explains.
When it comes to cooking, Summa explains, the most common option is electric stoves and ovens , as well as the electric kettle , which is now commonly used in many homes. For hot water, electric water heaters are usually chosen , and for heating, there is a wide range of electric equipment to replace a gas stove, from fan heaters, convector heaters, and radiators , which are the most commonly used.
“However, all these changes that neighbors have to make when the gas is cut off in the building come at a cost that not everyone can afford ,” warns Miguel Ángel Summa, president of the Argentine Chamber of Horizontal Property (CAPH). He emphasizes that the situation also brings other inconveniences because the repairs to restore gas service may require breaking floors and walls, which damages elements that are not easily repaired, such as mosaics, ceramics, or wooden floors. “In buildings, it's always a good idea to have periodic checks with a gas fitter to ensure everything is in order. Otherwise, we all remember when the cutoff happens,” he concludes.
www.buysellba.com
Source:
El drama de vivir en un edificio sin gas en plena ola polar: ¿qué hacer ante un corte?
El paso a paso para saber cómo manejarse ante un corte, ya sea en la sala de suministros del edificio, en los espacios de uso común o en los departamentos
www.lanacion.com.ar
July 01, 2025
Step-by-step instructions on how to handle a power outage, whether in the building's supply room, in common areas, or in departments.
By Silvina Vitale
The drama of living without gas for months in the middle of winter. EUROPA PRESS - EUROPA PRESS
In the midst of a cold snap , residents of a 17-story building in downtown Mar del Plata have been without gas for three weeks . The outage was allegedly caused by a false gas leak report filed by a neighbor. The situation is becoming critical in the current climate: a yellow alert for cold is in effect, with sub-zero temperatures and extreme wind chills. The lack of heating not only causes discomfort but also poses a health risk .
The protest by the building's residents seeks to highlight a common complaint in many buildings across the country: prolonged gas service outages , often due to inaccurate complaints or installations that don't meet technical requirements.
The arrival of cold weather causes gas consumption to rise sharply . Misuse of heating appliances or failure to properly turn them on can cause a leak that can lead to a complete power outage. This situation is especially common in apartment buildings . However, knowing how to resolve the problem and restore service as quickly as possible is key.
“For Metrogas, safety is one of the keys to the service it provides. Safety is non-negotiable , and if the service is cut off, it's because we're looking out for all the families living in that building,” explains Alejandro Di Lázzaro, the company's Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications.
How is it resolved? Metrogas reports that, in the event of a report of a suspected gas leak in a building , the company responds to an emergency inspection. If a leak is confirmed, the supply is shut off for safety reasons, as the facilities must comply with the technical standards defined and required by the National Gas Regulatory Entity (Enargas), the body that regulates and controls the distribution of natural gas through networks.
Once the defect has been verified, the claimant from the company that performed the inspection makes the cut and leaves Form F-1022 detailing what was found, whether in the room where the supplies are located, in common-use spaces, or in private spaces.
In homes, many appliances depend on gas: stove, water heater, range, boiler, water heater, among others.
The first step to begin reconnection is to contact a licensed gas fitter to inspect all installations and make every repair observed. Metrogas reports that, once the work to resolve the various problems that led to the outage is completed and, in accordance with current regulations, it is necessary to request an inspection from Metrogas after submitting the various required forms digitally.
Once the company receives this form, it has up to 96 hours to conduct a new inspection. It's important to note that the company emphasizes that the time it takes to call the licensed gas fitter and the time it takes to fix the observed faults are not attributable to Metrogas.
"It's important to keep in mind that registered users no longer have to go to the offices to submit forms and request reconnection. Everything is done virtually, significantly reducing the time. Not only that, but customers can also track the process using the number provided through the website," Di Lázzaro warns.
When the Metrogas inspector conducts an inspection of the facilities, he or she first inspects common areas, such as the meter room, the regulating plant, or the boiler room, among others. If the inspection is approved, the common areas are ready for use; otherwise, a new closure form will be issued. After these common areas are opened, the inspection focuses on individual common-use utilities, such as water heaters, boilers, and generators , among others, and those for individual use in each apartment, such as the kitchen, water heater, water heater, stoves , etc
If a gas supply was cut off by Metrogas in a building, to reconnect all common spaces and apartments must be inspected.Freepik
Please note that for each affected facility that is found to be out of compliance, a new closure form (F-1022) will be issued. This closure form will affect each owner individually. That is, anyone experiencing a problem in their unit will not be able to access gas until the problem is resolved. The company emphasizes that inspections of individual spaces will not necessarily be conducted on the same day as inspections of common spaces.
Furthermore, if the owner of one of the apartments is not present at the time of the inspection, the gas supply cannot be verified and, therefore, the property will remain without service. In this case, the customer must contact the Metrogas Call Center at 0800-333-6427 or WhatsApp at 11-3180-2222 to request a return visit. Gas service will not be turned on if no one is present at the property.
On its website, Metrogas clarifies that it does not charge any inspection fees. "Therefore, if someone claiming to be from Metrogas tries to charge a fee, we have the Transparency Program, which provides customers with a channel to report any dishonest actions. The person can call 0800-666-2646, which is an anonymous and confidential line," the company explains.
Recommendations:
- Repairs always require the intervention of a licensed gas fitter.
- There is no commercial relationship between registered gas installers and MetroGAS.
- The relationship between the client and the registered person is one of free agreement between the parties.
- Reconnecting a supply without the intervention of the distributor is not only risky, but also constitutes an illegal connection.
- It is recommended that the remaining installations be inspected by a licensed installer before Metrogas performs the verification prior to restoring the supply. If necessary, repairs can be made to bring them up to current standards.
Electrical solution
When gas service is interrupted, building residents often turn to electricity to replace household appliances that can no longer be used due to the outage. This includes stoves, water heaters, and heating.When it comes to cooking, Summa explains, the most common option is electric stoves and ovens , as well as the electric kettle , which is now commonly used in many homes. For hot water, electric water heaters are usually chosen , and for heating, there is a wide range of electric equipment to replace a gas stove, from fan heaters, convector heaters, and radiators , which are the most commonly used.
“However, all these changes that neighbors have to make when the gas is cut off in the building come at a cost that not everyone can afford ,” warns Miguel Ángel Summa, president of the Argentine Chamber of Horizontal Property (CAPH). He emphasizes that the situation also brings other inconveniences because the repairs to restore gas service may require breaking floors and walls, which damages elements that are not easily repaired, such as mosaics, ceramics, or wooden floors. “In buildings, it's always a good idea to have periodic checks with a gas fitter to ensure everything is in order. Otherwise, we all remember when the cutoff happens,” he concludes.
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