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Dangerous gas leaks like carbon monoxide are invisible and undetectable to our senses and to ordinary devices like a smoke alarm. They’re also colorless and odorless, and can cause symptoms such as memory loss, shortness of breath, even death in the most extreme cases. Having a designated detector at home is a small financial investment for something that can be life-saving in the long run.
What Are the Most Common Harmful Gas Leaks at Home?
Carbon monoxide and radon top the list. Though they’re both common and dangerous in differing ways, they each require a separate detector for the most accurate readings.
Carbon monoxide can stem from appliances like boilers, central heating systems, water heaters, cookers, and anything that uses gas, oil, coal and particularly the smoke from burning wood in a fireplace with a closed flue. It’s near impossible to know if something is emitting CO, but if an appliance has a yellowish-brown stain around it, it’s a bad sign, and all the more reason to get a good detector and call your gas company.
Propane, though less common, can be just as problematic if you’re using things like heaters and stoves that are fueled by tanks.
How Do I Detect Harmful Gas Leaks at Home?
Having a specific detector is the best, if not the only, way to be alerted if these leaks are occurring in your house. While the symptoms of carbon monoxide show up as soon as you’re exposed, radon poisoning, for instance, could take years before any signs of illness start. There’s no medical test to show if you’ve been exposed to radon, making it extra important to catch it early by installing a reliable detector.
The good news is that once you find out if there’s radon at home, it’s possible, with the help of professionals, to fix the problem and install proper ventilation.
What Are the Best Gas Leak Detectors?
These four detectors cover carbon monoxide, radon, propane, methane and smoke, and are designed to be on guard 24/7 to alert you if there’s a leak.
