I've had similar experiences—handhelds can be a bit finicky, especially the cheaper ones. I think part of it is sensitivity calibration...some models trigger easily from cleaning products or even cooking fumes. Personally, I settled on a combo: a plug-in detector in the kitchen (where leaks are most likely) and a handheld for occasional spot checks around gas lines or appliances. Feels like a decent balance between reliability and budget without relying too heavily on just one device.
Funny you mention cooking fumes setting them off... I had one of those plug-in detectors in my kitchen, and every single time I fried bacon, the thing would go berserk. I swear, it was like having a judgmental vegan roommate. Eventually ditched it for a mid-range handheld model—it's been less sensitive to my culinary sins so far. Honestly, calibration matters, but sometimes it's just about finding one that's compatible with your cooking style (or lack thereof...).
Those plug-in models can be overly sensitive, especially near kitchens. A lot of them detect hydrocarbons, which cooking fumes contain. If you position them a bit further away from cooking areas or opt for handhelds (like you did), you'll usually prevent false alarms without sacrificing safety.
Had a similar issue a while back with one of those plug-ins. Kept going off randomly, especially whenever we cooked something greasy or fried. At first, I thought it was faulty, but after checking around and testing it out, turns out it was just overly sensitive to cooking fumes. Ended up moving it down the hall away from the kitchen and haven't had a false alarm since.
Handheld detectors seem decent too—used one at work a couple times. They're handy for pinpointing leaks rather than just alerting you there's gas somewhere in the house. But honestly, for everyday home use, a properly placed plug-in has been enough for me. Just gotta find that sweet spot where it's effective but not constantly crying wolf every time you fry bacon.
Still skeptical about how accurate some of these cheaper models really are though... I've seen some pretty questionable readings on budget detectors. If you're genuinely worried about leaks, might be worth investing in something a bit higher-end or at least doing regular checks yourself. Better safe than sorry, I guess.
Had a similar scare last year—our detector kept going off randomly, and I was convinced we had a leak somewhere. Turns out it was just super sensitive to our eco-friendly cleaning sprays (ironic, right?). Ended up repositioning it away from the laundry room, and it's been quiet ever since. Agree about the handheld detectors though; borrowed one from a neighbor once—pretty nifty for peace of mind. Still, nothing beats good ventilation and regular checks... detectors can only do so much.
