Natural Gas Safety
Natural gas utilities across the country invest heavily in maintaining and monitoring the safety of their distribution systems. Through rigorous inspection, maintenance, and emergency response protocols, they work tirelessly to minimize risks and protect communities. Despite these efforts, undetected leaks inside the home remain a critical vulnerability in natural gas safety.
Natural gas alarms are an essential component of home safety, just like smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. By providing early warning of a potential gas leak, these devices empower residents with timely alerts that can prevent tragedy. When combined with utility safeguards, natural gas detectors create a comprehensive safety net that help to protect lives and property.
Natural Gas in the Home
Natural gas is a common and convenient energy source used in many homes to power heating systems, water heaters, stoves, and dryers. Its efficiency and reliability make it an integral part of daily life for millions of families.
Leaks typically occur due to appliance malfunctions, deteriorating or aging connections, improper installations, or accidental damage to gas lines. Because natural gas is highly combustible and odorless without additives, leaks can be difficult to detect. Even with added odorants, prolonged exposure can lead to odor fatigue, where the distinctive smell becomes less noticeable.
This silent buildup of gas poses significant dangers. Without early detection, leaks can escalate into explosive conditions, underscoring the vital importance of natural gas alarms as a safeguard within the home.
How Natural Gas Alarms Keep You Safe
Natural gas alarms are designed to detect methane, the primary component of natural gas, and alert you before a small leak becomes a serious danger. Unlike carbon monoxide alarms, which monitor for a different hazard, natural gas alarms are specifically calibrated to sense rising concentrations of methane near appliances, fuel lines, or other potential sources. Because natural gas rises, these alarms are typically installed high on a wall or near the ceiling in any room where gas-powered appliances are present, such as kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, and utility spaces.
Importantly, natural gas alarms provide a layer of safety that human senses cannot always guarantee. Although utilities add a strong-smelling odorant called mercaptan to help identify leaks, individuals may not notice the smell if they are asleep, have a diminished sense of smell, or become desensitized to the odor over time. Alarms work continuously and sound when methane levels become dangerous, offering critical early warning you can depend on when it matters most.
Did You Know?
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In Japan, nationwide adoption of gas alarms cut annual gas-related fatalities from over 120 deaths to nearly zero.
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Data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) indicates that from 2018 – 2022 an average of 4,566 home structure fires per year started with the ignition of natural gas, causing an average of 32 fatalities, 129 injuries and $88 million in direct property damage per year.
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Con Edison has installed more than 275,000 natural gas alarms in New York City and Westchester County that have detected over 5,000 leaks before they became dangerous.
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Natural gas alarms provide a critical early warning before leaks turn into fires or explosions, offering a proven layer of protection that can keep you and your family safe from disaster.
What to Look for in a Natural Gas Alarm
Choosing the right natural gas alarm is essential to protecting your home. Gas rises, so the best placement of a gas alarm is on the wall close to the ceiling within feet of each natural gas appliance. Therefore, battery powered alarms are the best candidate to achieve ideal conditions for detecting gas leaks early. Key features to look for include long-lasting battery power, high-sensitivity MEMS sensor technology, and loud voice or visual alerts that meet the needs of all occupants.
Importantly, the alarm should comply with all national safety standards for residential gas detectors, including UL 1484 and NFPA 715. Alarms that trigger at 10% of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL), long before gas reaches hazardous levels, offer significantly more time to evacuate compared to models with higher thresholds. Learn more about what to look for in a natural gas alarm.
Advancing Home Safety with DeNova Detect
We are grateful to DeNova Detect for their partnership and leadership in the movement to bring natural gas detection into the mainstream of home safety. As a sponsor of Concerned Citizens for Natural Gas Safety, DeNova Detect is helping to raise public awareness about the risks of undetected gas leaks and the life-saving potential of residential gas alarms.
DeNova Detect’s battery-powered natural gas alarms combine advanced sensor technology with thoughtful design to meet the highest safety standards for the home. With a 10-year battery and product service life, these alarms mount high on the wall to comply with NFPA 715 guidelines for optimal placement. Unlike traditional plug-in models, DeNova Detect’s devices use MEMS sensor technology to deliver faster and more accurate detection of methane gas leaks.
DeNova Detect alarms are engineered to provide 11 minutes more escape time by alerting occupants at a lower gas concentration threshold. This early warning capability has been validated by Fire & Risk Alliance. To further enhance usability, voice alerts in English and Spanish clearly announce the presence of a leak, and the system performs continuous self-diagnostics to ensure it is always functioning properly. The alarms are also ETL Listed to the UL 1484 Standard and have been shown to virtually eliminate false alarms from common household chemicals, an added reassurance confirmed by independent testing from GTI.
To support widespread adoption, DeNova Detect is offering a discount to individuals purchasing alarms for their homes. Visit DeNovaDetect.com and use the code SAFETYFIRST for $5 off your order.