Natural Gas Detector: Frequently Asked Questions

The Natural Gas Detector is a safety device that monitors the air in your basement, typically in the area where the gas service pipe or other utilities enter your home or building. The Natural Gas Detector will sound an alarm if levels of natural gas in that area indicate a potential leak.

When the Natural Gas Detector alarms, it will beep loudly and say, “Danger – Gas leak explosion risk. Evacuate, then call 911.” The unit will also send an alert to Con Edison, and Con Edison and often the Fire Department will then respond and investigate. The alarm will continue to sound until Con Edison arrives and silences the unit.

Never ignore any alarm. Gas leaks can become very dangerous, sometimes causing fires or explosions potentially resulting in serious injuries and property damage. Be sure to read and follow the Important Safety Information & Warnings and manufacturer’s User’s Manual for the Natural Gas Detector.

Con Edison is installing Natural Gas Detectors as part of a program to help enhance gas safety in the communities we serve.

Yes, please reach out to our trained Con Edison contractors:
Bronx: 1-347-514-9133
Westchester: 1-833-243-4520
Queens: 1-855-217-3409
Manhattan (excluding 10025, 10026, 10029): 1-866-483-2341
Manhattan (10025, 10026, 10029): 1-855-217-3409

Building owners will receive a letter from Con Edison several weeks before the estimated installation date. The Natural Gas Detector will then be installed in your basement, typically in the area where the gas service pipe or other utilities enter your home or building. This area may be near Con Edison’s gas meter but will vary depending on the location of the meter and the layout of your basement. The installation should take less than an hour and there is no need to turn off your gas service.

No. Con Edison will maintain the device and will provide a replacement approximately every five to seven years, at no cost to you. However, a yellow blinking light on the front of the Natural Gas Detector indicates that the unit may not be functioning properly or that its battery may be running low. Contact Con Edison immediately at 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633) if you observe a yellow blinking light.

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). You should install other commercially available smoke and/or CO detectors as needed in other areas of your home or building for early warning of those conditions.

No. The Natural Gas Detector will only monitor the air in the area where Con Edison’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 in other areas of your home or building where natural gas appliances are used.

Since the Natural Gas Detector is installed in the basement of your home or building, people who are on upper floors, or in other rooms or areas, or sleeping, may not hear the unit’s alarm, once activated. People in the basement may also not hear the unit’s alarm if the sound is at a distance and/or blocked by closed doors, walls and/or other obstructions. Noise from traffic, stereos, radios, televisions, air conditioners, appliances, or other sources may also prevent people from hearing the alarm. The Natural Gas Detector’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 Con Edison. 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 more questions, you can call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633).

You can choose to not have the natural gas detector installed. However, the detector can provide valuable early warning of a gas leak emergency before it develops into a more serious situation, possibly involving a fire or an explosion. This could result in property damage, serious injuries, or death. By declining a gas detector, you and others, including your family members, tenants and visitors, might be without such early warning in the event of a potential gas leak. For these reasons, and because your safety is our top priority, we strongly encourage you to have a gas detector installed in your home or building.

If you still don’t want a natural gas detector installed in your home or building, please call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633).

If you change your mind, you can call Con Edison back at 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633) to have a natural gas detector installed in your home or building for free.