When it comes to you and your family's safety, you cannot take 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 gas 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 gas 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 natural gas 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 gas companies add a sulphurous compound to make it easily detected by smell as it is quite pungent. Natural gas 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 gas in a room, open all doors and windows and allow the gas to escape from the room and then leave the house.

What to Do if the Gas Detector Alarm Goes Off

• 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 gas company gives you the all-clear.

Types of Natural Gas Detector

A natural gas detector can be a highly important detection tool to help in the protection of you and your family.

Natural gas detector 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 simle 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 natural gas detector, such as smoke from cigarettes or tobacco, humidity levels or wind. Most detectors are capable of responding to dangerous chemicals as well as natural gas, for instance propane gas.

Gas detectors come with a level of LEL that will cause the alarm to trigger. The LEL is the Lower Explosive Limit which is the lowest level of natural gas that can cause an explosion. For example, if a detector is rated at 15% of the LEL, when it senses this lower level of natural gas in a room it will warn you more quickly than detectors with higher level ratings.

When it comes to the placement of the detector, the distance between the gas detector and any potential leak sources is important. Gas detectors 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 gas detectors if there are several areas in the home that are at risk.