Gas Detectors for the Home

Answer 1

Most homes have smoke detectors, but home owners may want to acquire monitors for other gases present in the house. In particular, carbon monoxide monitors are a very smart buy. Hand-held natural gas detectors are also available for checking piping and furnace equipment for leaks.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that replaces oxygen in the blood stream. Breathing air rich in carbon monoxide will cause death by asphyxiation.

In the home, malfunctioning devices that burn any fuel, even natural gas, can produce enough carbon monoxide to cause the inhabitants of a building to die. When it happens, the inhabitants are frequently found in bed, having slept through the initial warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Those signs are mild headache, mild nausea, and shortness of breath.

Carbon monoxide detectors monitor the air in the home for carbon monoxide and give an alarm. Carbon monoxide monitors come in two types. Permanent monitors can be mounted like smoke detectors, or portable units can be plugged into a household outlet.

Some units come with digital readouts that report the level of carbon monoxide in parts per million. Others report the peak level reached since the last reset. Heart patients can be affected by levels as low as 30 parts per million so a digital unit is useful in a home where they live.

Hand-held gas detectors used to detect natural gas and propane leaks are useful for homeowners with older heating systems. Leaking natural gas or propane is a twofold danger, since fire and asphyxiation are both possible from the buildup of gas.

Gas detectors lose their effectiveness over time. Consumer Reports recommends the replacement of smoke detectors every ten years and the replacement of carbon monoxide gas detectors every five years. Keeping a record of the date of purchase and installation of the detectors will ensure that the owner knows when to replace the units.

Homes with functioning gas and smoke detectors provide the residents with peace of mind about the safety of their loved ones. Replacing them regularly keeps the units in top condition.