Gas Leak Detector Reviews

If you're looking for something highly portable, consider the Techamor Y201. It features a handheld design and weighs less than 10 ounces, making it easy to carry around. This is a great item if you need to detect gas while on the job.

Also, it's highly adaptable. So, you can use it in a variety of conditions from safety checking appliances to bringing it to a construction site.

The detector on the Y201 is designed with a quick sensing response. Paired with high precision, you can find leaks faster and more efficiently. You'll know if there's a leak instantly as well thanks to the alarming bulb, and it can detect even the smallest amount of gas.

It takes around 10 seconds for this detector to warm up, so you can get to using it right away. It has an estimated 20-hour battery life under normal conditions. This item does not come with batteries though, and it will require three 1.5V AAA batteries.

This item has a 12 inch flexible probe that can be used to detect hard-to-reach areas. You can use this item to detect natural gas, coal gas, methane, alcohol, gasoline, ketone and more. This gas leak detector is one of the most affordable detectors on the market. 

#2 EG Air Propane/ Natural Gas Detector

This gas detector from EG Air will precisely measure the combination of combustible gas. Using updated scientific technology, this gas leak detector will detect and report the lower explosive limit (or LEL) form 0% to 20%. You can readily view the amount of gas before it reaches critical levels.

This product provides piece of mind for you in the comfort of your own home. This item can be plugged in and positioned near the stove or furance. It has an explosive gas leak alarm that sounds an 80 decibel siren and voice alarm to alert the residence to potential gas leaks. It will also signal with a flashing red light, which means that this product will alert you or your loved one, and even individuals who are hearing or sight impaired.

It does everything in its power to alert you of an incident whether you're looking at it or not. It plugs directly into the wall, yet it leaves a small energy footprint so you can leave it plugged in with no worry about raising your power bill.

This is also rather economical as well if you're concerned about pricing.

The Y201 Natural Gas Detector is an affordable yet powerful device that will keep you and your loved ones safe. At a low price, the Y201 provides tremendous value in a small package. 

This item can detect combustible and explosive cases, such as propane, ethane, alcohol and sewer gas. You can adjust the sensitivity of it as well, lowering it for larger leaks, raising it for smaller ones, and filtering out any false alarms.

This product is ready to use in 10 seconds. Once on, this product will provide you with visual and audio indicators for leaks that range between 10% to 40% LEL combustability. This way, you can't miss any alarms. There are six LEDs, while the detector also has an 85 decibel alarm. 

It is powered by three AAA batteries (that aren't included) and will run for six continuous hours. It's compact for easy carrying so you can use it outdoors and indoors. It also has a 12 inch sensor neck that can be bent to fit unique spaces for a more thorough detection.

This product also has a lifetime warranty and it comes with an eBook on household hazards and gases.

This RIDGID CD-100 Gas Detector offers a design that's both rugged for longevity and ergonomics. This item is handy enough to carry around and will stand up to on-site jobs. Even if something does happen to the device, it is backed by a lifetime warranty.

For reaching confined spaces, the RIDGID has a 16 inch flexible probe. This may help you get into areas like crawlspaces without straining yourself or the device. When using it, it has an automatic calibration and uses up four AA batteries (which come with the device upon purchase).

It has a detection range from 0-6400-ppm, while having an alarm sensitivity of 40-ppm. This detects a good deal of gases such as methane, propane, hydrogen, ethane, and ethanol, to name a few.

Now, this does cost a good deal compared to other products we've reviewed. If you want a product that's built to last, then it can be worth the price.

Another detector that is more expensive is the ET120. There are plenty of high-quality features though such as the wide detection range that goes from 50-10,000-ppm, the minimum being a low enough number to make this useful for HVAC professionals.

It has an 18 inch flexible gooseneck that can expand and reach out to many hard-to-reach places. When it comes to storage, it easily clips on the sensor so that it stays out of the way when not needed. You can tuck it in its storage pouch when you're finished.

This uses five LED lights to alert you of detection alongside an 85 decibel audible alert that continues to increase in sound with the level of gas concentration. While you're using it, it features a comfortable, over-molded body design.

You can get to use this right away when you receive it as it comes with the four necessary AAA batteries.

gas leak detector Buying Guide

We can't stress enough the importance of having a quality gas leak detector. Since gas leaks are often undetectable based on scent, you need to be able to detect if there is a gas leak for a variety of reasons, mainly staying up to code and ensuring your space is safe. Detectors can be purchased and plugged into the wall or operate as a handheld with flexible goosenecks.

There are plenty of other quality features to look for such as durability in its design, easy carrying if you need something portable, and accurate, fast readings so you can address the problem as soon as possible. Not only that, but something that has actual value, especially when associated with the retail price.

best gas leak detector

Y201 Natural Gas Detector is our go-to choice in this list. This retails at a low price, but the value doesn't decrease just because it's inexpensive. In fact, it offers everything you need from quick readouts, obvious alarms, and an easy-to-use method.

^^ Click Picture To Check Price & Reviews ^^

Commonly Asked Questions

What is a gas leak detector?

A gas leak detector is a device that discovers the unwanted presence of one or more harmful gases or associated chemicals inside of a structure. Gas leak detectors come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and receive power entirely via one or more batteries or direct electrical wiring or an electrical outlet with battery backup. You can find detectors that mount to countertops, walls and ceilings and handheld portable detectors that have long, flexible sensor wands that allow you to access hard to reach places, such as behind large appliances, under floorboards and behind walls.

What types of gases do leak detectors monitor?

Retail gas leak detectors discover various levels of common harmful gases that are invisible and/or odorless. These gases include ammonia, benzene, butane, ethane, methane, natural gas, pentane, propane and radon. High-quality detectors can also monitor for gas leaks related to lacquer and paint thinners and refrigerants. Detection with the latter two types is also important because fumes from stored lacquer and paint thinner cans are highly combustible and some refrigerant gases can harm the planet's ozone layer.

What causes gas leaks inside a structure?

Gas leaks happen whenever gas-related pipes, storage containers or other equipment experience a breach from a part defect, age or damage. Natural gas pipes corrode over time and leak or experience pin hole leaks at their seals from normal sealant deterioration, and construction activities and ground movement/settling near a home crack pipes. As seen with radon from the ground and carbon monoxide from burning fuel, gases can also "leak" from natural sources and build up in an enclosed space that has poor interior air flow because of a closed air vent or a chimney blocked by an animal/insect nest, snow/ice or structural debris.

How does a gas leak detector work?

Sensors and microprocessors in a gas leak detector monitor air quality and detect small, medium and large leaks. The amount of gas detected depends on the detector's design and might appear as information on a digital display, warning lights and/or sounds or all of the above. For example, you might see the name of a particular gas and the level of the leak on a display as an air quality alert with a graphic or parts per million report, a yellow warning or red emergency light and/or hear an alarm.

Why do I need a leak detector when gas smells awful?

Natural gas is normally odorless and only smells awful because gas companies add a chemical called methanethiol, also known commonly as methyl mercaptan or mercaptan, to the product to give it a rotten egg or sulfur scent. Although you can also smell other types of gas, such as gasoline and paint thinner fumes, many of the most dangerous gases are odorless. You might also not be able to smell a tiny natural gas system pinhole leak, especially if you're congested or have problems with your sense of smell.

Can my carbon monoxide or smoke alarm detect a natural gas leak?

Carbon monoxide buildup can occur from burning natural gas, but the majority of home carbon monoxide detectors aren't built to detect natural gas without this byproduct, which means that a standard retail carbon monoxide or smoke alarm won't provide you with information or warnings about a natural gas or other leak. That said, some natural gas detectors contain sensors for other gases like carbon monoxide. An alternative to all of these options is a whole-home, multi-gas leak detection system linked together to a single smart alert panel and/or remote notification app.

Where should I mount a gas leak detector?

Although you should keep all gas leak detectors away from extreme heat and cold, direct sunlight and humidity, placement of gas leak detection equipment also depends on the gas type and device design. For example, natural gas leak detector manufacturers usually recommend that you install their products above doors and windows or near appliances that use natural gas like gas cooking appliances and water heaters. They usually recommend that you place radon detectors in living areas approximately two to six feet above the floor away from any extreme air flow spots that can disperse the gas in only one area of a room, such as near a door, window, air vent, air conditioner or ceiling fan, or near a spot with naturally high radon levels like basement foundation cracks and ground-level drains.

Why do I even need a gas leak detector?

You've probably used natural gas or other types of fuel that can produce harmful gases for years without a detector. For example, carbon monoxide gas is a byproduct of burning any type of fuel, including coal, bio- and petroleum-based oils and waxes, gasoline, natural gas, propane and wood. Yet, even a few small, undetected leaks from either of these gases can cause symptoms associated with low blood oxygen or hypoxia, including breathing difficulties, eye and throat irritation, fatigue, headache, nausea, vision problems and loss of consciousness.

Why is radon gas more dangerous than other gases?

Radon is a radioactive gas produced from the natural decay of a gray-colored radioactive metal called uranium that is found in rocks and soil. According to the World Health Organization, up to 14 percent of all lung cancer cases worldwide have likely resulted from radon exposure, and the risk increases for people who already have lung damage from smoking or exposure to high levels air pollution. When you're outdoors, the exposure to radon is often reduced by the natural flow of air, but indoors the gas builds up as it seeps through cracks and crevices in walls and foundations into enclosed living spaces, such as basements, cellars and any tightly sealed room that has a soil embankment against a wall.

How can I reduce harmful gas levels in my home?

If you discover one or more harmful gas leaks, always improve air flow immediately by opening windows and doors and then contact a certified professional, such as a plumber with related expertise, a gas company technician or an EPA-licensed radon remediation expert to help find and seal the leaks. Professionals use a variety of methods to prevent further exposure. For example, if your gas leak detector for radon picks up a higher-than-recommended concentration in your home, a specialist might install under-floor ventilation with air filtration or a radon sump pump system in the basement or under a solid, ground-level floor, apply sealant to floors and walls and advise you to install other systems that improve whole-home air flow and ventilation.

How often do I need to replace a gas leak detector?

The lifespan of a single gas leak detector depends on a variety of factors, including the design of the product, the type and quality of materials used in its construction and the manufacturer's recommendations. Replacement time frames also depend on environmental conditions near a device that can hasten deterioration, such as prolonged exposure to extremely high or low temperatures, moisture and humidity. Since sensors are highly susceptible to failure with the passage of time, most detectors don't last more than three years.

How many gas leak detectors do I need?

As with smoke detectors, you should install at least one gas leak detector per floor or in each room depending on the layout of your home. It's important to install at least carbon monoxide detectors in sleeping areas to prevent accidental injury and death from exposure while asleep, especially if you heat your home with forced air from a fuel-burning furnace. Additionally, place gas leak detectors anywhere toxic gases might build up, such as in low ventilation and tightly sealed, enclosed areas like garages and sheds.

Related Product Reviews