Natural Gas Detector
When it comes to the very important aspect of you and your family's safety, you simply cannot take any chances with natural gas.
If there is a gas leak somewhere in your home, then you need to know about it so you can call the authorities to send someone out to fix the leak.
The old fashioned method of testing for leaks was done by holding a lit match to gas pipes. It sure found the leaks all right and usually ended up blowing half the house into the sky in the process!
A safer and more convenient way of checking for leaks is by using a natural gas detector unit that you can buy at hardware stores or DIY stores or over the Internet. Here is some useful information that you should know about the dangers of natural gas and the ways in which to safely detect a leak.
Natural Gas Dangers
There are several dangers with this energy source in your home that you should know about before you go searching for suspected leaks somewhere in the system.
Natural gas in its natural state is odourless and tasteless, although providing companies add a sulphurous compound to make it easily detected by smell as it is quite pungent. It is highly explosive and if enough of it gets into an enclosed room, a spark can easily ignite it and cause an explosion.
So if you smell the pungent odour that warns you to its presence in a room, open all doors and windows and allow the danger to escape from the room and then leave the house.
What to Do if the Gas Detector Alarm Goes Off
There are certain things that you will need to know to do in case your alarm does happen to go off at any time. Here is a summary of the actions you should take:
- Leave your house immediately.
- DO NOT use the telephone. Phones can produce a spark which could cause an explosion or start a fire. Contact your gas utility company from a phone outside.
- DO NOT light a match or turn any light switches on or off.
- DO NOT plug or unplug electrical appliances as this can produce a spark that could cause an explosion.
- Never re-enter your house until after the power company gives you the all-clear.
It pays to be safe even if it is a false alarm. Remember, it may or it may not, but would you want to take the risk with your family's lives?
Types of Detector
One of these devices can be a highly important detection tool to help in the protection of you and your family.
Natural gas detection units can vary enormously in terms of their price, features and their ease of installation. It should be noted that some types of detector must be installed professionally and in some cases may be connected directly to your household security system if fitted.
Some brands can resemble simple smoke detectors and these are quite easy for most people to install themselves.
It is important that other elements in the home do not set off the detector's alarm function, such as smoke from cigarettes or tobacco, humidity levels or wind. Most detectors are capable of responding to dangerous emissions in a room's atmosphere as well as natural gas, for instance propane or butane or the emissions given off by unburned or partly burned fuel.
What is the LEL?
The LEL is the Lower Explosive Limit which is the lowest level of natural gas that can cause an explosion. These detection devices come with a level of LEL that will cause the alarm to trigger.
For example, if a detector is rated at 15% of the LEL, when it senses this lower level of the noxious vapor in a room it will warn you more quickly than detectors with higher level ratings.
Where is the Best Place to Put One?
When it comes to the placement of the detector, the distance between the device and any potential leak sources is important. These devices also need to be installed where their audible warning will be heard.
The installation instructions should help you there. It might be the case where you need two or more detectors if there are several areas in the home that are at risk.