Gas leaks and leak detectors: all you need to do to prevent the silent killer

Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas that spreads rapidly in a poorly ventilated environment. If inhaled, it combines with haemoglobin in the blood and prevents oxygen from reaching the organs, causing death. Symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, tiredness, weakness, chest pain, palpitations or loss of consciousness occur beforehand.

If the gas in the air reaches a level of 1%, it can kill a person within minutes. If it concentrates to 0.16%, it can kill within an hour. And if it reaches 400 parts per million, it is life-threatening in three hours.

As I’m sure you’ve noticed, gas leaks can kill a life in a matter of moments. And the worst news is that carbon monoxide has no smell, no colour, no taste and no irritation to the nose or eyes. In other words, it is basically imperceptible. That is why there have been so many deaths from gas inhalation, especially in winter when the heating is on and doors and windows are kept closed.

But don’t worry, there is a virtually foolproof solution to prevent fatalities and detect leaks: gas detector. Learn more about them in this article.

How does a gas detector work?

Electrochemical gas detectors are the most common and work as follows: they have two electrodes divided by an electrolyte layer (gel, solid or liquid). If gas enters through the membrane, a reduction-oxidation reaction takes place which generates an electric current. The latter is proportional to the gas concentration.

So you see: making a carbon monoxide detector takes a lot of scientific knowledge and they are almost foolproof.

What are the types of gas detectors?

There are many gas detectors on the market. One of the most popular is the portable gas detector, which have rechargeable batteries, perfect for use in different locations. There are others with Wi-Fi technology, which send reports to the person of the CO2 level or even advice on how to reduce it. There are also infrared or LoRaWAN data transmission, among others.

What to do when the gas detector senses a leak?

If the gas detector’s light and sound alarm goes off, you should open all windows and doors and move outdoors. Turn off anything that is burning or burning (such as cookers, burning plastics, gasoline, charcoal, ovens or ranges), as carbon monoxide is produced from incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials.

If the inhalation was brief, the symptoms should disappear soon after you go outside. But if they persist, you should go immediately to a health centre, clinic or hospital so that they can apply the indicated measures, such as giving you oxygen.

Carbon monoxide is a dangerous thing, but with a gas detector, you have nothing to worry about.