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Detectors: which gas you need to detect
There is no such thing as a generic "detector." Every sensor is designed for a specific substance and does not detect others: a methane detector will not notice carbon monoxide, and vice versa. The first thing to clarify, therefore, is what you have at home. A boiler, stove, fireplace, water heater, or combustion barbecue produces carbon monoxide. A cooktop, boiler, or connection to the municipal gas network brings methane. To guard against fire, you need a smoke detector. Against flooding from a washing machine, dishwasher, or boiler, you need a water leak sensor.
Selection and positioning table
| Risk | Detector | Where it should be installed |
|---|---|---|
| Boiler, stove, fireplace, water heater | Carbon monoxide, EN 50291-1 certified | In the same room as the appliance, a few meters away, at breathing height or slightly above |
| Cooktop or methane gas connection | Methane gas detector, also available in WiFi versions | High up, about 30 cm from the ceiling: methane is lighter than air |
| LPG cylinder or system | Specific detector for LPG | Low down, near the floor: LPG is heavier than air |
| Fire | Photoelectric smoke detector, EN 14604 certified | On the ceiling, in the center of the room, away from corners and air vents |
| Flooding from appliances | Water leak detector | On the floor, under or next to the washing machine, dishwasher, or boiler |
| Complete coverage in one single point | Wireless combined carbon monoxide, smoke, and heat detector | On the ceiling, integrable into an alarm system |
Certification is the substance of the product
For these devices, the standard is not just a commercial stamp: it defines at what concentration and within what time the alarm must sound. Look for EN 50291-1 on carbon monoxide detectors and EN 14604 on smoke detectors. A device without certification may sound too late, and that is the type of savings that makes no sense.
The sensor also matters: electrochemical ones from recognized manufacturers, such as Figaro, have more reliable response curves and a lower tendency for false alarms.
Carbon monoxide cannot be smelled or seen
This is why it is dangerous: it is odorless, colorless, and does not irritate the respiratory tract. Symptoms of poisoning—headache, nausea, fatigue—resemble any general malaise and are often mistaken for the flu. The detector is the only way to notice it in time. If the alarm sounds: immediately open the windows, turn off the combustion appliance, go outside, and call for help. Do not re-enter to "check."
Expert advice. A point almost no one considers: these sensors expire. The electrochemical cell depletes over time even if it has never been triggered, and the replacement date is printed on the device. An expired detector is worse than no detector, because the green light keeps flashing and makes you believe you are protected. The weekly test with the button verifies the siren and battery, not the state of the sensor. Write the replacement date on the calendar the day you install it.
Frequently asked questions about detectors
Is one single detector enough for the whole house?
No, and not just because of the surface area: each type of detector serves a different risk and must be placed at different heights. The reasonable minimum in a home with combustion appliances is a carbon monoxide detector in the room with the boiler or stove and a smoke detector in the sleeping area.
Why does the methane detector go high up and the LPG one down low?
Because methane is lighter than air and rises toward the ceiling, while LPG is heavier and stagnates at floor level. Installing them at the wrong height means the alarm will sound very late, or not at all.
What is the difference between a smoke detector and a heat detector?
A smoke detector reacts to combustion particles and is the fastest for most domestic fires. A heat detector reacts to an increase in temperature and is used where smoke or steam are normally present, such as kitchens and garages, to avoid constant false alarms.
Are WiFi models really necessary?
They are useful if the house is left empty: the notification on your smartphone alerts you even when you are not there, and in versions that can be integrated into an alarm system, they can trigger other automations. When the house is occupied, the local siren remains the element that makes the difference.
Are they mandatory by law?
In private homes in Italy, there is no general obligation, but their installation is strongly recommended where there are combustion appliances. For hospitality businesses, public venues, and workplaces, specific fire safety regulations apply instead.
See also electrical equipment for the home.
