Gas natural gas leak detector if not detected quickly. Carbon Monoxide poisoning, which can have similar effects as a stroke or heart attack, is responsible for over 500 deaths each year in the United States alone, and even small amounts of natural gas will build up over time. The best way to know if there’s a gas leak is with one of these gas detectors. These detectors will give you a reading of combustible gases in parts-per-million (ppm) or percentage LEL (liquified explosive gas) and can be used to identify the exact location of a leak.

These devices typically use infrared, ultrasonic, electrochemical or semiconductor sensors to detect combustible gases. Some have an audible alarm that will sound if there is a significant amount of gas present. Others can send an electronic signal to a nearby monitor that will show a meter reading and warn the operator. Some devices have a thermal camera built in to visually identify potential leaks.

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If you suspect a gas leak, shut off all gas appliances, open windows and doors, and then check the meter. If you’re still smelling that garlicky, rotten egg odor, it’s definitely time to call the utility company and evacuate the area immediately. Natural gas in homes has an additive called mercaptan that gives it that distinctive rotten egg odor, but you can also tell by hissing sounds or seeing white clouds of dust. If you’re outdoors, a hissing sound or that rotten egg odor could mean that a pipe has burst.