Anyone have any experience or recommendation about alarms for natural (explosive) gas?

Asked by cp54  |  Jan 3, 2012

I came home the other night to find the house filled with gas. Mother had turned on the stove and did not notice that the pilot light did not catch. She is 87 and could not smell the gas (I found several articles that noted that loss of smell is common). I was babysitting my grandchild and almost ended up staying overnight at my daughter's. If I had, mother and the dogs would have been dead by morning.
I have found a couple of alarms (First Alert and Kidde brands) that are specific for natural gas, but found mixed reviews on both. Does anybody have any experience with either? Or any suggestions of another brand?
Thanks.

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Carol72156

Give a Hug

Jan 9, 2012

The solution to this dilemma may not be a gas alarm. My Mom had similar problems with the stove when we first began to notice her dementia. We took the knobs off the stove and hid them so she couldn't turn it on by herself anymore. Then we made sure someone was at home to cook her meals and finally that led to hiring a private caregiver part-time.

At first, Mom was not happy about being banned from the stove. She didn't seem to understand how dangerous it was. We went through the phase of her looking and sometimes finding the knobs. It took a little for her to get used to someone else cooking in the kitchen but it's an adjustment that had to be made for safety's sake.

 
 

We have a natural gas alarm. It has never gone off, but when we test it, it is a very shrill, loud noise. We know what it is, but would your mother? It might just frighten her so badly that she would have a stroke. If she is so out of it that she didn't notice the smell, maybe she shouldn't have a gas stove, but an electric range/stove. I am saying this with love. I worry about my mother and her electric stove. One time my dad left the burner on melted the pan when it dried up. It had water in it before it went dry. but an electric stove seems better.

 
 

NancyH

Give a Hug

Jan 9, 2012

It's called a CO alarm. We have one for our propane heater on our enclosed porch.

 
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