Catching a gas leak before it becomes a bigger problem is one of the smartest things you can do to protect your home and the people in it. “Gas leaks can escalate fast, and it's essential to have a reliable way to detect one early,” says Dan DiClerico, Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab director.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab, our engineers evaluate gas leak detectors for accuracy, reliability, ease of use, and smart features. Based on our testing and research, the Kidde Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide and Explosive Gas Alarm is our top pick, along with the other reliable detectors below.
Pros
- Detects both combustible gases and carbon monoxide
- Convenient mounting options
- Works even during power outages
Cons
- Must use extension to reliably detect natural gas
- Must buy multiple units to detect natural gas and propane simultaneously
| Alarm | 85-decibel alarm announces when carbon monoxide or explosive gas is detected |
| Item dimensions | 4 x 4 x 2 Inches |
| Item weight | 1 Pounds |
| Operating temperature | Up to 100°F |
Why we like it
The Kidde plugs straight into a standard 120-volt outlet and gets to work covering three threats at once: carbon monoxide, natural gas, and propane. Few detectors combine all three protections. This one covers carbon monoxide, an invisible and odorless gas, along with the natural gas and propane most homes actually store or burn.
The digital LED display is what sets this detector apart. Instead of a single indicator light, it shows the actual carbon monoxide level it's detecting or switches to a simple "GAS" readout when it senses combustible gas. Good Housekeeping Institute testers highlighted the display as a standout feature because it lets homeowners spot a potential problem before an alarm goes off.
That alarm is loud. Eighty-five decibels is enough to wake up a household, and the reset button is easy enough to reach that a false trigger from, say, a candle-heavy dinner party won't leave you standing on a chair fumbling with the unit at midnight.
The built-in battery backup is the other feature I'd call essential rather than nice-to-have. Power outages and gas leaks have an ugly habit of showing up together, especially during storms, and a detector that goes dark the moment the power does isn't much of a detector. Combined with its loud 85-decibel alarm, reliable performance, and straightforward operation, the Kidde offers the best mix of safety, convenience, and value for most homeowners.
Take note
One detail that matters more than people expect: the built-in extension cord. "I especially like the extension cord, which lets you plug the device into a low outlet but also mount it higher, where natural gas and carbon monoxide gas leaks rise," says DiClerico. Propane behaves the opposite way and sinks, so if propane is a concern in your home, you'll want a second unit mounted low.
Other gas leak detectors worth a look
This is the easiest gas leak detector to use, full stop. Its small pen form factor lets you hold it near a suspected leak, a pipe joint, or a hose connection, and it responds within seconds with an audible alarm and a visual LED warning. It doesn't detect carbon monoxide, and DiClerico notes that based on consumer reviews, it can have a harder time catching small leaks than more sensitive equipment. However, it holds up well against larger leaks like a stovetop burner or a water heater valve. Keep one in a kitchen drawer as a backup to a full-time detector, not a replacement for one.
Forensics Detectors 4-Gas Monitor by Forensics
Forensics Detectors 4-Gas Monitor by Forensics
This is the professional-grade option, built for anyone who can't afford to guess. It carries NIST-traceable calibration, keeping measurement error under 5 percent, and it detects carbon monoxide, oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, and combustibles from a rechargeable battery. It also claims waterproof, dustproof, and explosion-proof construction. Whether that level of precision is overkill for a homeowner is a personal call, but for anyone who wants a detector they can fully trust, it checks every box.
Digital air monitors are a newer category in home safety, and the Airthings View Plus is one of the best GH has tested, earning a Good Housekeeping Home Reno Award. It's battery-powered and tracks radon and carbon dioxide, along with particulate matter from cooking fumes and airborne chemicals from household cleaners. It does not monitor carbon monoxide and isn't a substitute for a smoke alarm. Everything reports to a phone app, which DiClerico says he appreciated for the air quality alerts alone, especially with young kids in the house.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
This roundup was last updated by Timothy Dahl, a contributing writer for Good Housekeeping who has spent the past two decades reviewing home improvement products, tools, and household essentials.
Dahl worked closely with Dan DiClerico, who has covered the home improvement market for more than two decades for brands like This Old House and Consumer Reports, before joining Good Housekeeping in 2022. In his role as director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab, he oversees the testing of all outdoor products, collaborating with our team of writers and product analysts.
