Short answer: A gas leak detector and a carbon-monoxide alarm are not interchangeable in a UK home. A combustible detector is intended to indicate combustible-gas conditions within its documented capability; a CO alarm is intended for the separate hazard of carbon monoxide from incomplete combustion. The HABOTEST HT601B+ product page identifies a combustible gas leak detector with a flexible probe, colour display, visual and audible alarms, and 0-9999 ppm / 0-20% LEL readouts. It does not claim CO detection, accuracy, certification or universal gas compatibility. Treat the categories separately and follow emergency guidance first.
Key takeaways
- Combustible gas leakage and carbon monoxide are different hazards with different detection jobs.
- The HT601B+ listing does not document carbon-monoxide detection or alarm certification.
- A strong gas smell or suspected leak needs emergency action, not a comparison test between devices.
Two hazards, two device categories
Fuel gas can create a fire or explosion hazard when it escapes and mixes with air. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous product of incomplete combustion and has no smell. HSE's carbon-monoxide guidance makes that difference clear. A device marketed for combustible gas should not be presented as protection against CO, and a CO alarm should not be presented as a leak locator.
The product page's wording matters here: it describes the HT601B+ as a handheld gas leak detector for combustible gas levels. It does not state a CO sensor, CO alarm function or a domestic alarm standard.
| Device | What this article can support |
|---|---|
| HT601B+ handheld detector | The product page states combustible-gas checking, flexible probe, colour display, visual and audible alarms, 0-9999 ppm and 0-20% LEL. |
| CO alarm | A separate product selected and installed for carbon-monoxide warning; the HT601B+ page does not make that claim. |
| Gas Safe inspection | Qualified inspection, repair or certification; neither product category creates that competence. |
What to do when gas is suspected
Do not use one device to decide whether an active gas smell can be ignored. National Gas says not to smoke or use matches, not to turn electrical switches on or off, to open doors and windows, turn off the meter control handle where appropriate, and call 0800 111 999. Leave the property if instructed or if it is unsafe.
Only after the emergency is resolved should a buyer think about a later tracing tool. That later decision does not change the need for a suitable CO alarm where fuel-burning appliances create a CO risk.
- Treat a fuel-gas smell as an emergency and follow National Gas instructions.
- Treat suspected CO exposure as a separate health emergency and do not rely on smell, because CO is odourless.
- Choose and maintain each detector category for its stated hazard; never infer cross-detection from the word gas.
What the HT601B+ does not establish
The listing confirms a handheld format, flexible gooseneck probe, colour display, visual and audible alarms, 0-9999 ppm / 0-20% LEL display and USB charging of an internal lithium battery. It does not specify CO detection, alarm certification, accuracy, calibration, response time, sensor life, probe length or environmental approval.
That distinction is important for household claims. Saying that a device has an audible alarm is not the same as saying that it is a certified domestic alarm for every relevant gas or that it will warn at a particular concentration.
A simple product-category check
Before ordering, write the hazard at the top of the requirement: combustible leak tracing or carbon-monoxide warning. Then compare the product's stated purpose, documentation and required approvals with that heading. If the required purpose is not written on the product page, do not manufacture a compatibility conclusion.
For rented homes, keep the device choice separate from landlord duties. GOV.UK places safe installation, maintenance and annual gas safety checks for supplied gas equipment with the landlord and a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Related guides and product details
The HT601B+ may fit a defined combustible-gas tracing task, but it is not evidence of CO protection, emergency clearance or Gas Safe compliance. Read Gas Sniffer for Boiler Joints: What It Can Show for related guidance. Read Gooseneck Gas Detector for Plumbers: Buying Checks for related guidance. Review the documented specification on the HABOTEST HT601B+ Handheld Gas Leak Detector product page before ordering.
Sources and safety context
- Supports the documented combustible-gas detector features and the absence of a stated CO function. HABOTEST HT601B+ product page.
- Supports the separate carbon-monoxide hazard and its lack of smell. HSE carbon monoxide awareness.
- Supports the emergency actions for a suspected gas leak. National Gas emergency contacts.
- Supports the landlord and Gas Safe engineer duties referenced. GOV.UK private renting safety responsibilities.