Natural Gas Detector Frequently Asked Questions
The Natural Gas Detector is a safety device that monitors the air in the area where Orange & Rockland's gas service pipe enters your home or building, which should be in your basement near the gas meter. If levels of natural gas in that area indicate a potential leak, which could become dangerous, the Natural Gas Detector will sound an audible alarm (similar to a smoke detector) and also send an alert to us. Orange & Rockland will follow proper protocols to respond and investigate.
Orange & Rockland is installing Natural Gas Detectors as part of a program to help enhance gas safety in the communities we serve.
Building owners will receive a letter from Orange & Rockland several weeks prior to the estimated installation date. The Natural Gas Detector will then be installed in the area where the gas service pipe enters your home or building, which should be in your basement near the gas meter. The installation should take no longer than one hour and does not require your gas service to be turned off.
No. Orange & Rockland will maintain the device and will provide a replacement approximately every five years, at no cost to you.
No. The Natural Gas Detector will only detect the presence of natural gas. It will not detect fire, heat, smoke, or the presence of any other gases, including carbon monoxide (CO).
No. The Natural Gas Detector will only monitor the air in the area where Orange & Rockland's gas service pipe enters your home or building, which should be in your basement near the gas meter. Natural gas leaks could be present in other areas and/or floors of your home or building without reaching the Natural Gas Detector. As such, the Detector’s alarm may not sound in the event of a natural gas leak in a remote part of your home or building. Doors or other obstructions may also affect the rate at which natural gas reaches the Natural Gas Detector. You should install separate gas detectors as needed, which are commercially available, in other areas of your home or building where natural gas appliances are used.
Since the Natural Gas Detector will be installed in the basement of your home or building, people who are sleeping or otherwise awake on upper floors may not hear the unit’s alarm, once activated. People in basements may also not hear the unit’s alarm if the sound is blocked by distance or closed doors. Noise from traffic, stereos, radios, televisions, air conditioners, appliances, or other sources may also prevent people from hearing the alarm. The unit’s alarm is not intended for people who are hearing impaired.
In the event of a power outage, the Natural Gas Detector’s wireless alarm signal may not be transmitted by the unit or received by Orange & Rockland. During a power outage, however, the Natural Gas Detector’s audible alarm should still function since the unit is powered by an internal battery.
Yes, the Natural Gas Detector is approved for use by the FCC. There is an FCC label on the device.
If you have other questions, you can call 1-877-434-4100.