Gases Different Four Gas Monitors Can Detect

by George Henry Publisher

Simple monitors that only detect one gas are fine for homes and even some businesses. But, in settings where there are many potential hazards from gases, you should have a four gas monitor. Different four gas monitors may detect different gases. And sometimes, despite the name, four gas monitors may be able to detect more than just four gases.

CO

Carbon monoxide is a potential hazard in any building. It's produced by the burning of fossil fuels. Carbon monoxide deprives your blood of oxygen, potentially causing death. Since it's odorless, colorless, and tasteless, a detector is the only way to know if there's too much of it in the air.

CO2

Carbon dioxide is another odorless, colorless, tasteless gas. It's naturally found in the atmosphere and is what we breathe out, but that doesn't mean too much of it isn't dangerous. Too much carbon dioxide in the air can cause sickness and even death, just like carbon monoxide.

O3

Ozone is extremely useful for oxidation. This usefulness also makes it harmful to humans. Unlike carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, it has an odor and a color. Ozone smells somewhat like chlorine. It's also a pale blue color. But, since ozone is used so often as an oxidizer, the presence of it doesn't necessarily mean there are dangerous amounts of it in the air. This is why having a gas monitor that detects ozone is so important if you use it.

H2S

Hydrogen sulfide is found in a variety of different places. It's produced by decaying organic objects and is also found in natural gas. It's poisonous and can cause a wide array of symptoms ranging from mild to life-threatening. It's colorless but it does have a very strong smell: the scent of rotten eggs. Hydrogen sulfide is also extremely flammable.

SO2

Sulfur dioxide is another gas that does have a scent. It smells like a burnt-out match. Like all these other gases, sulfur dioxide can make you sick or even kill you. It's released into the air by burning fossil fuels that contain sulfur.

All of these gases can cause harm if unsafe amounts of them are in the air. No matter what precautions you take to keep these gases out of the air in your workspace, there's always the possibility of dangerous amounts of them getting into the air. That's why it's so important to have a four gas monitor. You need to be able to detect as many of these potentially deadly gases as possible.