How to Detect a Gas Leak in the Home

Gas leaks are one of the greatest risks in households and are responsible for many serious injuries, significant property losses, and fatalities each year. If you have gas appliances in your home, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the options for preventing gas leaks. How can you safely recognize that gas is leaking in your home or another space?

Gas Leak: How to Recognize It and What It Can Cause?

Depending on the type of gas, a leak can pose a risk of explosion, poisoning, or suffocation. Therefore, you must first know what gases can leak in your home and identify possible sources of leakage. This will then determine the methods of protection against unwanted leaks. So, which dangerous gases pose the greatest risk in households?

When is there a risk of natural gas and propane-butane leaks?

Natural gas, also known as methane, and propane-butane are flammable gases commonly used for cooking or heating water in boilers. A leak of these gases poses a risk of explosion. You can most often recognize a leak of these gases by their characteristic smell. However, it is not advisable to rely on smell alone, as you may not detect it, for example, if you have a cold or if the leak occurs in a room you do not frequently use. Often, a natural gas leak can only be detected thanks to alarms with detectors.

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Carbon Monoxide Leak

Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced during incomplete combustion, meaning it leaks in the home mainly due to insufficient sealing of the boiler or a blocked chimney. It is poisonous to humans and can lead to suffocation, but it is neither visible nor detectable by smell. Each year, dozens of people die in the Czech Republic from carbon monoxide poisoning; this gas is extremely dangerous even at low concentrations. At higher concentrations, it causes loss of consciousness, brain damage, and death. A carbon monoxide leak can only be detected thanks to alarms. 

Carbon Dioxide Leak

Carbon dioxide (formerly carbonic acid gas, CO₂) is a common product of respiration but also arises during combustion and other biochemical reactions. It is thus a regular component of the atmosphere, but if there is not enough oxygen supply in a room and the concentration of carbon dioxide is high, suffocation is a risk. Carbon dioxide is also neither visible nor detectable by smell, but if it arises during combustion, smoke can be smelled.

How to Protect Against Gas Leaks in the Home?

There are five main ways to protect against gas leaks, and it is important to combine them appropriately depending on the type of dangerous gas. Never rely on just one of the mentioned methods. Familiarize yourself with all the procedures, as adhering to them minimizes the risk of leaks and subsequent explosions or poisoning.

1. Proper handling of gas appliances: Faults in gas appliances are most often caused by improper handling, which can loosen connections or extinguish the flame.

2. Regular inspections of gas appliances, boilers, and pipelines: The manufacturer determines the intervals for regular inspections of individual gas appliances, and for boilers, such inspections should occur annually. The obligation to conduct regular inspections is also regulated by law, and if the interval is not adhered to, the insurance company will not recognize your claim in the event of an insurance incident.

3. Gas leak detectors: These are a very simple and affordable solution. You may not always detect leaking gas by smell, but a gas detector will alert you with an alarm.

4. Knowledge of emergency procedures: In the event of detecting a flammable gas leak, it is necessary to immediately turn off gas appliances, the boiler, and the main gas valve, and ventilate thoroughly. Do not handle fire or electricity due to the risk of explosion. From a safe place, call the emergency service at 1239.

5. Ventilate regularly: Ventilation ensures a sufficient supply of oxygen, thereby reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in the room.  

Honeywell Natural Gas Leak Detector

How to Choose and Install a Gas Detector in the Home?

Select gas detectors primarily based on the type of dangerous gas. You can also choose from a range of combined natural gas and CO2 detectors. For a safe home, choose gas leak detectors from trusted brands Honeywell and Evikon. Models with displays will also always show you the current values of dangerous gas concentrations in the room. 

Is there a risk of gas leaks? Don't forget the detector

Install detectors in all rooms where there is a risk of leakage. For use in the bathroom, toilet, or technical room, the detector must have IP 44 protection. Follow the manufacturer's instructions when installing gas detectors.

Detectors should be placed so that leaking gases can flow freely to them, allowing the detector to safely and promptly detect them. However, installation should be away from areas with increased air flow (windows, doors, extractor fans, etc.) – in such cases, a draft could reduce the gas concentration, and the detector might not detect the risk in time. Moisture and dust can clog sensors and reduce the sensitivity of detectors. Therefore, avoid places where such contamination is likely during installation.

Where is the ideal place to install detectors?

The installation of gas detectors in homes also varies depending on the type of gas they are intended for. Carbon monoxide detectors are placed 1-3 meters from the boiler or water heater (or another appliance where there is a risk of leakage) under the ceiling, and in other rooms approximately at eye level. Natural gas leak detectors are placed under the ceiling, as this gas rises. Conversely, propane-butane sinks, so the gas leak detector in this case is placed a few centimeters above the floor. At the same time, these detectors should not be in close proximity to appliances, as they could trigger the alarm during normal use, such as cooking.

Evikon Air Quality Panel. 

How to Service and Calibrate Gas Detectors

Calibration of gas detectors, i.e., setting the gas concentration values at which the alarm is triggered, is performed during manufacturing. Therefore, detectors should not require any further calibration during their lifespan.

Service inspections are not legally required

Service inspections of gas detectors for home use are not legally required. In the event of a fault, contact an authorized service center. Detectors operate on batteries, so remember to replace them regularly. With proper placement and installation, no further maintenance is needed, and after their lifespan, home detectors are disposed of.