Is It Normal to Smell Gas When Using a Gas Oven?

Ventilate the Room

• Open all nearby windows and turn on any fans if you detect a strong smell of gas. The dispersal helps eliminate the risk of fire. While a faint gas smell may not indicate anything is wrong when the oven is in use, a strong odor usually means the oven is malfunctioning somehow. Before you start examining the oven, turn it off and ventilate the room entirely. This also reduces the risk of excessive gas inhalation, which is also hazardous.

Check the Burners

• The burners of a gas stove often have a small blue flame that burns even when the stove is off. This is the result of a small amount of gas that continues to flow, keeping the burners ready for use. When you turn the dial of the oven, more gas goes into that flame, which makes it bigger and useful for cooking. If you smell gas, check the burners. If one or more are out, the small amount of gas is still being pumped into the room with nothing consuming it. Ventilate the room entirely until the smell is gone and then relight whichever burners aren't working.

Use Detectors

• Natural gas detectors alert you to the presence of higher levels of natural gas before you may be able to detect it yourself. Natural gas inhalation causes an assortment of health problems over time such as nausea and difficulty breathing. If you're concerned about your oven, install a natural gas detector in the kitchen. It is designed to go off with high levels of gas, but the normal amount used by a functioning stove should not set it off. This lets you know if the stove is malfunctioning and if you should be concerned.

Call for Assistance

• Any doubts about the safety of a gas oven should be answered by a qualified repairman. Have the oven checked annually if you're unsure about its performance and stop using it if the scent of gas is strong. Notify the gas company if you suspect a leak and it will send someone as soon as possible to verify it and fix it if necessary. This ensures your oven is only using the gas it needs and that extra is not being spewed into your home and putting you at risk.