Had a similar scare last year—gas leaks are no joke. Ended up getting one of those combo detectors (CO and gas) after that. Agree on battery backups, but honestly, the false alarms drove me nuts at first. I cook a lot, and even steam from boiling pasta set mine off sometimes. Switched to a model with adjustable sensitivity settings, and it's been way better since.
Also, placement matters more than you'd think. Had mine too close to the kitchen initially—rookie mistake. Moved it further out into the hallway, and now it only goes off when there's an actual issue (or when I burn toast...).
If you're looking into detectors, I'd recommend checking out models that clearly specify sensitivity adjustments and have solid reviews for fewer false alarms. Costs a bit more upfront, but saves you from constantly climbing chairs to silence the thing. Plus, fewer false alarms mean you're less tempted to unplug it—definitely safer in the long run.
Interesting point about adjustable sensitivity—but honestly, I'm a bit skeptical. Isn't lowering sensitivity kinda risky? I'd worry about missing an actual leak, especially since gas leaks can be subtle at first. I've stuck with the standard sensitivity model and just learned to live with occasional false alarms. Annoying, sure, but I'd rather deal with a few interruptions than risk missing something serious...
You're right to be cautious—gas leaks aren't something to mess around with. I've installed plenty of detectors over the years, and honestly, the standard sensitivity models are usually fine. Sure, false alarms can be a pain, but better safe than sorry. Had a customer once who dialed down sensitivity to avoid interruptions, and ended up missing a slow leak for days... luckily nothing serious happened, but it could've been bad. Trust your gut on this one—you're doing the smart thing.
