Imagine this: you’re cooking burgers on the grill, the sun is going down, when all of a sudden you smell something strange. Is the smell coming from the neighbor’s cologne or did your propane tank go bad? We shouldn’t take a chance. People add the smell of propane gas on purpose, like rotten eggs on a bad day, since otherwise it would be a sneaky, odorless evil. Even though they smell bad, leaks don’t make a big deal out of it. That’s when a propane gas leak detector comes in handy.

Have you ever seen those little gadgets plugged in near burners or hidden beneath grills? They aren’t simply for looks. They are your first signs of trouble. Propane detectors can find harmful leaks long before your nose can. Some models beep so loudly that they wake up the neighbors. When trouble is found, some light up like a birthday cake. You might avert a not-so-festive calamity because of either of these.

Let’s look at how these things work. There are two primary types: those that plug in and those that run on batteries. Battery-powered solutions keep working even when the power goes out. Put the detector close to the ground. Why? Propane is heavier than air, therefore it stays in low places. A sensor on top of the fridge? Not very useful, like socks on a rooster.

Some people are worried about false alarms that are annoying. These won’t go off if you burn toast, but cleaning sprays might. Just follow the directions and keep the detector away from the spray area. Even the greatest gadgets need new batteries or a way to receive electricity. A detector that beeps but doesn’t have any power is essentially a fancy dust collection.

But don’t think that “out of sight, out of mind” means you don’t care. Once a month, give your detector a quick test. Press the test button and wait for the loud beep. No sound? Time to get a new one.

Do you have kids or pets at home? You owe them that extra safety. And if you rent, talk to your landlord. A lot of municipal rules state that rentals must have leak detectors already installed.

There are stories of people utilizing one of these little sentinels to find leaks before they cause a lot of damage. Sheila in Pennsylvania, for example, discovered that her oven valve wasn’t tight. Her detector’s loud noise might have saved her turkey and her house on Thanksgiving.

You may get an excellent detector online or at any store that sells home improvement supplies. Prices range from $20 to more than $100, but peace of mind is worth more than money. Think of it as a cousin of the smoke detector that doesn’t get enough credit.

So don’t worry the next time you use your propane-powered appliances. While you cook supper or daydream about it, a propane gas leak detector discreetly buzzes in the background. It doesn’t have to be hard or dull to be safe. For your family’s safety and the air quality, sometimes all it takes is one simple gadget.