mysterious gas smell on Lordship Lane

[devs]

Has anyone noticed the smell of gas that comes and goes around the Plough area? We have also noticed it strongly in our ground floor flat. Called out a gas engineer who could find no leak on our system. Also rang the gas leak emergency number. A man came round from Southern Gas Networks. He said that he had been called out quite a few times to investigate in this area of Lordship Lane, esp outside Sainsburys. Apparently when the road was dug up over the summer to replace the old gas pipes, old Victorian gas fumes that had seeped into the surrounding soil were released. Unfortunately they are also being released into our flat. The fumes are called 'weasel' and are apparently not flammable. However they are very strong and we have to sleep with the window open. Has anyone else heard of 'weasel'? Or had a similar experience?

[peckhamboy]

My wife was complaining about a strong smell of gas in the bedroom this morning. I blamed the baby but next time I'll make sure I blame the weasel too. Bad weasel.

[steveo]

Funny peckhamboy

[huncamunca]

stink pipes

[devs]

Got the spelling wrong. Its 'weissel' not 'weasel'!

[Tarot]

If you smell gas, then call the gas company. They will be helpful.

[Dickensman]

In severe weather there is more ground movement as the frost penetrates deeper into the ground, when this happens fractures occur the gas often follows the outside of the pipe causing the smell where ever the gas escapes.

This can be dangerous if the gas goes all the way into the dwelling.

The cure is to dig down to where the pipe is and leave an air gap all around the pipe so that the pipe appears to "bridge" the hole to allow the gas to vent to atmosphere.

[Tanza]

How interesting, I have often noticed that gas smell exactly at that point in Lordship Lane. Glad to hear it's nothing serious but it is seriously unpleasant.