If you use gas for cooking and heating then you probably be using natural gas.  You have to be very careful with natural gas in your home because it’s flammable.  Natural gas doesn’t have any odour however the gas companies actually add in an odour to help you detect it in the event of a gas leak in your home.  To do this they add in a sulphur-based compound which smells similar to rotten eggs and most people don’t have a problem smelling it.  The problem lies when people have a poor sense of smell and therefore won’t be able to know that they have a gas leak.  This is why it’s still very important to have a natural gas detector installed in your home.

The confusion begins when it comes to trying to decide what kind of natural gas leak detector you want to buy.  If you have been looking then you’ll have noticed the wide range available on the market and they will vary by price, installation and features.  Some are pretty cheap to buy and can be fitted in a similar way you would with a smoke alarm.  Whilst there are others on the market that require professional installation.

You want your gas detector to alert you to when there is a gas leak.  What you don’t want is for it to be going off every 2 minutes because of cigarette smoke or humidity.  However you might want your detector to alert you to more than just natural methane gas, such as carbon monoxide or propane gas.

When you have a detector fitted in your home you really need to be careful about where you have it located.  It needs to be somewhere that you are likely to hear it’s alarm yet also close to where there is the most risk of having a natural gas leak.  When you buy a detector it will come with instructions on the best places to site it.  So make sure you have a read over these instructions and don’t simple fit just anywhere.  If you have different sources of natural gas in your home then you might find that a single detector isn’t sufficient.

When your detector detects gas you will either hear a sound or see a warning light.  Some models might do both.  Which type you buy really depends on you.  For instance if you are deaf then finding a detector with a flashing light is a better option.

Most of the natural gas leak detectors on the market are battery operated which means you need to be very careful about ensuring that the battery is in good working order.  Some systems work off the electrical mains but have a battery as a back-up which means you also need to ensure the battery is working well.  Every now and again it’s a good idea to press the “test” button to make sure the detector is working correctly.  Some units can even warn you if there is a problem with the power supply.

In the event that your alarm does go off to alert you to a gas leak you need to make sure you get out of the house straight away.  Then you need to phone the emergency services.  Please, don’t be tempted to phone from within the house because that can actually cause a spark which in turn can cause an explosion or a fire.  Also don’t turn any lights on or off or generally touch anything electrical.  Don’t ever try to get back into the house until the gas company has dealt with the leak correctly.

You’ll probably already know about carbon monoxide being a silent killer.  If not then you really need to understand what this is all about because so many people lose their lives needlessly.  Basically this gas can creep into your home without you even realizing is and can make you and your family very ill.  And if you don’t identify the problem quickly enough it can even kill.

Don't Underestimate Carbon Monoxide
When you go to work your employer by law has to make sure that you and your other colleagues are looked after and that you are working in a safe environment.  The problem when it comes to looking after the environment in our own homes we can become very lazy.  We simply think that carbon monoxide poisoning is something that happens to other people and so keep putting it to the back of your mind.

You Can't Smell Carbon Monoxide
Unlike other problems in the home such as a gas leak, you will have no idea that there is a problem with carbon monoxide in your home because you can’t smell it.  You also can’t see or hear it.  However there are so many different ways that it can get into your home such as appliances that use gas.  Also stoves that burn wood, charcoal or coal can be a source of this dangerous gas.  When it builds up in your home (or even a garage) and isn’t allowed to escape then this is where the problems begin.

Symptoms Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Mild symptoms of CO poisoning can actually be confused with flu and food poisoning and you could experience nausea, shortness of breath and also headaches.  If you or someone else is suffering from CO poisoning you need to get outside as quickly as possible to get some fresh air.  If this isn’t possible then all the windows and doors should be opened to get rid of the gas.  A hospital visit is also a good idea to be on the safe side.

Another scary thing is that when the CO gas gets into your bloodstream it actually is picked up much quicker than oxygen.  So the longer you are exposed to the gas, the more chance you have of becoming ill or even dead.  This is because the body replaces the oxygen in your blood with the CO gas.

How To Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
What is terrible to think about is the fact that this is all entirely preventable.  There a number of things that you can do to protect you and your family from this dreadful fate.  First of all you should have the gas appliances in your home checked by a professional.  This means you need to get stoves, water heaters and such like checked. 

Install A Carbon Monoxide Detector
Another very simple measure is to buy a carbon monoxide detector (also known as a carbon monoxide monitor).  They don’t cost a lot of money and can be purchased from many different home improvement stores.  Simply buy one for each level of your home, particularly in areas where there are gas appliances.  When any CO gas is detected you will be alerted to it in a similar way that smoke detectors do.  Have a look at the ones available from Kidde Nighthawk and First Alert.

Smoke Alarms And Carbon Monoxide Detetors
It’s important to make clear that if you have a smoke detector that this doesn’t mean you are protected from CO too.  They are two totally different devices and you shouldn’t get them confused.  However there are detectors on the market that and alert you to both smoke and CO.  So if you don’t have either of these detectors now is the time to buy one or more. 

Battery Operated Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Bear in mind that they usually need batteries to operate so make sure you don’t allow the batteries to go dead.  When they go dead you need to replace them straight away.  If you wish, you can also have systems installed that are wired so you don’t have to worry about changing the battery all the time.  However they often have a battery as a back-up just in case.

Carbon Monoxide In The Garage
Another important point to make is that if you are running an engine in your garage you should have some sort of ventilation installed along with a CO detector.

Hopefully this article will have provided you with a lot of knowledge on the subject of getting rid of carbon monoxide from your home.  It’s so simple really.  Get your appliances checked and install some detectors.  Why would anyone want to risk illness and even death over something so simple?