NTSB urges homeowners to install natural gas alarms

Last Thursday, 21 News aired an in-depth 101 West report digging into natural gas explosions.

In that report, federal experts urge homeowners to install methane detectors or natural gas alarms, but homeowners may be unaware of the technology.  

"Methane detectors are available. They detect natural gas in advance of it becoming a problem," National Transportation Safety Board Member Tom Chapman said in a sit-down interview, "They're increasingly affordable and increasingly effective."

For decades the NTSB said it has pushed for the requirement of these alarms in homes and businesses. Since then, technology has continued to develop.

NTSB Pipeline and Hazmat Investigator Rachael Gunaratnam said there's no reason to wait.

Gunaratnam said the device works by detecting enough of a concentration of natural gas before an explosion or ignition occurs.

"Natural gas alarms are very different from fire alarms. Fire alarms are detecting only smoke and fire which means something has ignited already," she said, "Natural gas alarms are very important to catch that gas leak before it ignites, and so that it won't cause an incident like a major explosion in your home. So, it alerts you well before ignition."

Before installing both the NTSB and Pipeline expert Richard Kuprewicz said that placement of methane detectors matters.

The NTSB recommends consulting with your gas company on how best to install methane alarms on your property. Kuprewicz added if you have a basement, that may be a good place to start, as well as near gas appliances.

"We're losing too many homes to catastrophic explosions," he said, "If you're at a higher risk area where you might have a gas leak coming into your house, you're a candidate for a methane detector."

Although natural gas has a manmade odor, Gunaratnam and Kuprewicz said the odor can't be relied upon.

The prices of alarms vary. Gunaratnam points out there are affordable options online or at home improvement stores.