Detecting methane becomes all the more important when you take into consideration the fact that the same acts as an explosive and asphyxiant, and has the tendency to cause serious harm to your property and health.
Back in the 20th century, coal miners came up with a novice method of detecting the presence of methane in coal mines – they started using canaries, i.e. small passerine birds which derived their name from the fact that they were native to the Canary Islands. When entering the coal mines, these miners began to take a canary bird along with them. When there was a slight spike in the amount of methane in the atmosphere, this bird, being highly sensitive to it, used to choke and die.
The death of this bird would act as a warning signal for these miners, and they would take the necessary precautions to save themselves from the possible threats that this gas posed. While the problems with methane concentration in the atmosphere still exist, you need not resort to canaries to save your lives now. There exist quite a few simple methods and some highly efficient devices which can help you detect its presence in your surroundings.
Why is Methane Harmful?
Methane is known for its tendency to explode, and thus its presence in closed environment puts you at a constant threat. It is known to cause explosions in coal mines, wherein the gas that is trapped beneath the Earth’s crust is released as a result of mining. It is also known to cause fire in landfills, wherein it is produced by anaerobic bacteria in a process known as methanogenesis. Coming to our homes, methane forms an important constituent of the natural gas which we use for cooking. At the same time, the chances of naturally occurring methane slipping into your well and methane leaking from the sewer lines also increases your likelihood of coming in contact with it.
While the presence of methane in coal mines or at landfills may not put you at a direct threat of this gas, exposure within the closed walls of your home does – especially because of its tendency to replace oxygen in the atmosphere. Our lungs are programmed to function normally when the atmospheric concentration of oxygen is 21 percent, but when the same comes down as a result of the presence of methane in the surroundings, it can trigger asphyxiation i.e. the condition of being deprived of oxygen, and even result in the death.
How Can Methane be Detected?
As methane is odorless and colorless in nature, detecting it can be a bit difficult – and that makes its presence in your surroundings all the more dangerous. Resorting to commercially available methane gas detectors is by far the best method of detecting the presence of this gas around you. Most of these detectors are portable, which means you can easily carry them around in your kitchen or near the sewer lines to detect the presence of methane.
You can also resort to fixed gas detectors for detection of methane leaks. However, you need to make sure that you install the same at a considerable height – preferably close to the ceiling, as methane being lighter than air tends to ascend and escape from the atmosphere. In terms of cost, the lower end models cost somewhere around $50, while the higher end models cost somewhere around $200.
If you suspect methane concentration in your well, you can resort to the bottle test to confirm the same. You just need to fill a bottle with this well water till half way, and close it tightly with the cap. After sometime, you just have open the cap and hold a burning match stick to the mouth of this bottle. If your suspicion is right, you will see a rush of flame when you take the match stick close to the mouth of this bottle.
As methane escapes from water with ease, a contaminated well does put you at the risk of methane gas exposure. As methane is odorless, a small amount of methanethiol is added to the cooking gas you use in order to help you detect leakage of the same. Methanethiol – though colorless, has a strong smell which resembles the smell of a rotten cabbage or rotten egg. If there is any leakage of cooking gas, the foul smell of methanethiol will make it easier for you to detect the same.
Being on a lookout for methane exposure symptoms can also help you detect it. Some of the most obvious symptoms of such exposure include difficulty in breathing, suffocation, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision and increased heart rate. Taking a note of the seriousness of this issue, it is important to ensure that the methane levels in your surroundings never spike to an extent that they harm you.