The TIF combustible gas detector is outstanding!
I'm a third generation HVAC installer and service technician. I've had one of these units for about 12 years now and it is every bit as accurate and reliable as the day I bought it.
It is capable of measuring tiny gas leaks with astounding accuracy. The probe is flexible, which is extremely handy (and pretty much a necessity).
I laughed when I saw this one on Amazon because it looks identical to the one I bought 12 years ago. I would have imagined they would have updated it. Then again, if something isn't broken why fix it?
It is durable, easy to hear and holds a charge for a very long period of time. It is adjustable and can be set for small or large gas presence.
For professional or DIY use this is the meter to buy.
The only downside is the battery pack. They are not common and cannot be bought at your local hardware store. You'll have to buy them online. They cost around $20 for the battery pack. They last about 5-6 years with constant use. They are rechargeable, but like all batteries they eventually need to be replaced.
Just received this detector from Amazon and turned the unit on outside to set the sensitivity and started testing the gas lines in my house. Five minutes later I found a natural gas leak in the basement!
Background:
We have two of the wall plug-in type CO / Gas detectors. Occasionally one will sound its alarm. The other one doesn't. Then they reverse which one alarms. They do this days, weeks, even months apart. It seemed so random, plus no smell, that it seemed to be false alarms. Still, there was that nagging feeling. That's why I ordered the TIF 8800A.
The TIF 8800A did not indicate any gas in the house in general. The sniffer tip had to be placed right next to a fitting to get an increase in the warning level, but it did go right up the scale quickly when by that fitting. I suspect the leak is very, very small and that the other two alarms really were giving false alarms. I will have the leak fixed, of course. The alarm level drops to zero even two inches from the fitting.
I highly recommend this detector for anyone with gas to their house. There really is no other way to tell for sure if you have a leak (the bubble test doesn't always work).
Buy TIF Instruments TIF8800A Combustible Gas Detector With Visual Leak Size Indicators Now
This is a very effective sniffer for natural & propane gas. We use many of them in our gas business and thay work so good, I bought my own.
Read Best Reviews of TIF Instruments TIF8800A Combustible Gas Detector With Visual Leak Size Indicators Here
This unit is build to last, as long you do not drop it, the tif 8800A is very sensitve to gas, it detected the gas fume under my house from the side vent. I love this unit, if you need to locate a small leak under the house, like I did, this unit will find it. I like the tif 8800A because it has a light indicator in addition to the beeping sound.
Want TIF Instruments TIF8800A Combustible Gas Detector With Visual Leak Size Indicators Discount?
I bought this because I was installing my own gas water heater and I've learned long ago that having the right tools is the key to success.
I researched this model 8800A over the others and went to the manufacturer website and decide this was the exact model to get.
This paid for itself the first time I used it because I found a small leak upon completion and re-teflon taped a fitting and checked again, and all was well. When it comes to combustible gas, you want to be perfect, not close-enough.
I've also used this in the attic to check shutoff valves near the gas furnace, etc.
Recently I moved a large, multi-sectioned stainless steel propane grill from one house to the next. It was so large and so heavy we had to take it apart in pieces, which meant disconnecting lines.
What a great peace of mind to know that when we finally got it to the new house, we could check for gas leaks. We were fine, but my friend wasn't convinced. We turned the gas on briefly without lighting and tested the detector and it worked like a charm. We let the air clear and all was well. I was only then comfortable knowing that all of the fitting, fasteners, adapters, lines, everything was leak-free.
I recently saw a home improvement show on the Network channels and saw the same signature red Tif Instrument gas detector being used by a professional house inspector and I felt good knowing that I was using the same equipment a professional would choose. The only downside is that your friends want you to check their houses, too!
Update 2/28/2011:
====================
I still love the peace of mind of this device. We recently purchased a stone gas fireplace set (with grate, burner, stone logs, etc). I was able to use this to ensure that all connections were indeed leak free, etc. I also used this for a portable propane heater that sits on top of a propane tank and verify the connections were also leak free. I plan to build an outdoor built-in grill/patio and this will again come in handy.
Save 29% Off
I purchased the solar panel to charge the batteries on my travel trailer. The plastic connector box on the back of the unit was debonded when I received the unit. The vender gave me a choice of returning it or gluing it back on myself for a partial refund (twice the shipping cost). I purchased some silicone adhesive and successfully glued it back on. The HQRP 10 amp controller was also purchased. Special MC4 connectors are required to connect to the panel. I purchased a 30 ft MC4 extension cable from another vender which I cut in half. This provided enough wire to connect from the trailer roof to the controller and then to the battery. The controller would not accept the Number 10 wire, so I had to break off three strands to make it fit into the connector. I also purchased 4 brackets to mount the panel to the trailer roof. The unit was sufficient to make my trailer batteries last for a week while camping at Lake Tahoe. The controller showed charging current as soon as it was light in the morning until dark.
