We have two combination CO/explosive gas alarms in our house. The particular model we have has gotten mixed reviews; it has reviews complaining of false gas alarms, but it also saved the house of a close friend of mine when it detected a gas leak from their furnace before she could smell it.
Last night, ours went off in the middle of the night. We hadn't done anything recently that would have contributed to a false alarm, so although the one in the basement wasn't sounding, we headed next door, figuring we'd rather have left during a false alarm than stay and have problems. My husband had a cold, and it was the middle of the night so I couldn't think straight enough to really focus on what I was smelling, so we left. Luckily one of our next door neighbors was up with his newborn son, so we didn't wake anyone up.
A few things we learned from the experience and from talking to the fire department and the gas utility guy:
- There are a lot of things that can trigger a false gas alarm. Aerosol sprays, fragrances, and even methane (example: number two in the toilet or a diaper pail) can trigger a false alarm. So gas alarms should not be near a diaper pail or bathroom (which wasn't indicated in our owner's manual; it only warned against garages and right near gas appliances).
- If you have a gas leak, in general your CO alarm will display low levels of CO present. Low CO levels by themselves do not indicate a gas leak, nor will the alarm sound, but it can help identify a false alarm from a real alarm.
- If the alarm by the bedrooms is going off and not the one in an area closer to a gas pipe or appliance, it's a higher likelihood of a false alarm.
- If the gas is strong enough to be an explosion hazard, you'll smell it - more than just a faint whiff. (Note: I'm not advocating ignoring the alarm; however, it can be a little less nerve-wracking to know that it's likely a false alarm)
- The gas company has guys that just drive around in the middle of the night responding to gas alarms.
- Opened windows does slightly affect the gas level readings, if you have explosive gas present. However, if there's really a problem, the sniffers used by the gas utility and fire department will still be able to detect leaks. So if windows are already open, or if you have time to open windows on the way out, then do so. But DON'T turn on or off any light switches or cell phones, as they can create enough of a spark to ignite gas present.
Our toddler daughter has now slept through gas or fire alarms three times. Don't rely on toddlers to wake up! She slept through the entire experience - being carried across the lawn to the neighbors, laid on the couch, and staying on their couch while we waited for the gas company (which takes about an hour). The FD came right away and did essentially a safety check (no levels high enough to be a huge fire hazard) and left. The gas company comes when they can (our guy was in a nearby suburb doing a sweep, which led to the higher response time). Then the gas company came and did a more detailed sweep, using the sniffer near all gas lines and appliances. She slept through being taken back across the yard and laid in bed, and is still sleeping as I write this. My husband and I, on the other hand, had a huge adrenaline high that made it hard to sleep in the two hours we had left between when the utility guy left and when we had to wake up for work.
So, major takeaways and things to know about natural gas safety?
- We're getting a CO only alarm for the upstairs. If we have a gas leak, it'll be in the basement anyway.
- Don't mount an explosive gas alarm in kitchens, right near gas appliances, or near bathrooms or diaper pails.
- Never turn on lights, flashlights, or phones if you suspect a gas leak. Leave quickly and call 911 from a neighbors house.
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