Many things can go wrong if you are just starting with your plumbing career. It's not uncommon to make mistakes that prove to be costly. That's why it's imperative to be careful as a beginner. For instance, gas leaks are some of the plumbing issues you may have to deal with in your plumbing career. They can also be among the most dangerous tasks you will handle. That's because gases can be flammable and even toxic. And while you may have all the protective gear needed to keep yourself safe, you need to act fast to keep others out of harm's way. Detecting gas leaks often requires the use of gas leak detectors. However, there's rarely one best option when it comes to gas leak detectors. Therefore, here is a guide to help you select the right one.

Gas Type

Gas leaks detectors are designed for different types of gases. Therefore, you must understand the gas types that the equipment can or cannot detect. Generally, gas leak detectors come in two primary options: single gas detectors and multi-gas detectors. As their names imply, single gas detectors can also detect the presence of one gas type. On the other hand, multi-gas detectors are designed to detect several gases. Therefore, you should evaluate your needs carefully before you select the equipment. For instance, a single gas detector should suffice if you are only interested in monitoring a single type of hazardous or leaking gas. This is usually ideal if there's only one known gas type in the gas lines.

On the other hand, a multi-gas detector will come in handy if you want to monitor several gas types. This is beneficial for applications that use several types of gases, especially in industrial settings. However, while multi-gas detectors are typically efficient for such applications, they tend to be more expensive than single gas detectors.

Response Time

Response time is another gas-detection metric to consider when selecting a gas leak detector. It refers to the time it takes for the equipment to measure a specific percentage of gas in the air. That's crucial because some gases can be hazardous at a given volume. Therefore, go for a gas detector with a faster response time. It is best to detect gas volumes as quickly as possible.

Working Environment

Where do you intend to use the gas leak detector? Knowing this beforehand is crucial because the functioning and efficiency of some gas leak detectors may be affected by several factors in the working environment. Therefore, think about aspects like electromagnetic interference, dust, temperature, wind speed and direction, humidity, other gases' interference, etc., and determine whether they will impact the efficiency and functioning of your gas leak detector.

Contact a gas leak detection company to learn more.