How do I Choose the Best Home Gas Detector?

If you're looking for a home gas detector, you'll have to take certain things into consideration. First, you'll have to find a detector that checks for the specific gases about which you are worried. Where you live and how your house is built can inform your decision on what kind of detector to buy. You'll also have to look for gas detectors that have great alarm systems, good battery lives and easy calibration procedures, if needed.

The best home gas detector will be one that can identify several gases. Many consumers look for gas detectors that identify only dangerous levels of carbon monoxide are in the air. A multi-gas detector, however, has the advantage of alerting home owners about the presence of other gases that can be detrimental to their health.

If you live in an area where potentially dangerous gases are known to be, you should think about investing in a mult-gas detector. Homes that are located around or near refineries, landfills or power plants can be susceptible to unhealthy gases. Investing in a multi-gas detector can spare you many unwanted health problems.

A good home gas detector will know when even a small amount of a dangerous gas is present in your home. Great gas detectors can monitor all types of gases, both dangerous and not dangerous. If you're looking for a better-than-average gas detector, look for those that can measure sulfur dioxide, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, oxygen, hydrogen sulfide and radon in the air. You should be aware that inhaling even small amounts of some of these gases, such as radon, can do a lot of damage to your health.

Like carbon monoxide, radon gas is colorless and odorless. Unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide can occur in a home because of malfunctioning furnaces, fireplaces that have been blackened and enclosed areas such as car garages, but radon has a more natural source: the ground. Radon is a product of uranium breaking down in soil, it can be radioactive, and it also can lead to serious health problems, such as lung cancer. Dangerous levels of radon commonly are found in basements or other parts of a home that have direct contact with soil.

Battery life is an important part of any home gas detector. Before purchasing a particular home gas detector, check the packaging to see how long the battery lasts. Buy a detector that has been verified as having a long battery life. Look for a home gas detector that will alert you when its battery needs changing, either through a blinking light or an alarm.

Similarly, select a gas detector that will let you know when or if its sensors need to be replaced. Find out whether your gas detector needs to be calibrated, how often it needs to be done and how expensive the procedure will be. If your home uses natural gas or a hot water heater, you should be particularly concerned with finding an appropriate home gas detector.