Comments on: I smell gas

Question: I smell gas

jules1651 — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:40:16 -0800

We just moved in to a new apartment with a gas stove/range. When we run the oven, even though the pilot light is lit and it heats up, there is a strong gas smell. We freaked out and turned it off but is this dangerous? Is it possible that it just smells of gas right away but it would dissipate in a few minutes? I would call the landlord right away but we already called with a laundry list of problems today so I'd like to avoid a follow up if at all possible.

By: troybob

troybob — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:45:41 -0800

Mine does this as well...for a few minutes there is a gas smell and then there are clicking sounds, and then--whoosh--it lights.

By: Etaoin Shrdlu

Etaoin Shrdlu — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:00:52 -0800

Call the gas company and tell them you smell gas. They'll send someone over right away to let you know if it's OK.

By: SpecialK

SpecialK — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:03:01 -0800

My oven does that too. my GF moved into a house with her first gas stove, and when I lit it the first time, she freaked out from the gas smell and ticking sounds ... while I thought it was perfectly normal.

By: ericb

ericb — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:20:14 -0800

Be sure to check the pilot lights for the stove-tops. Most stove/oven's have two-pilot lights on top -- each "serving" two surface burners. If either one is out, you'll smell gas.

As others have mentioned regarding the stove, when you turn it on there is often a slight delay before the ignitor (pilot) lights the 'oven burner' and 'flame spreader'. Thus you will likely smell gas for a short period -- before the gas has been ignited and 'burned off' by the stove elements.

If the smell persists, by all means call the gas company as Etaoin Shrdlu suggests.

By: theora55

theora55 — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:21:49 -0800

Figure out what it has to light the oven. Old gas stoves had a pilot light always on. Newer ones like mine have a glow bar that glows red hot and ignites the gas. If it clicks, there's a sparker that ignites gas. I get a brief gas smell before the glow bar is hot enough.

By: Liosliath

Liosliath — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:45:56 -0800

Make sure all the pilot lights are actually lit. When I moved out of my last apartment, I turned off the gas valve to the stove for safety, and my idiot landlord called me up wanting to know why the "oven doesn't work!"

I had to walk him through lighting 1 oven + 2 stovetop pilot lights.

By: YoungAmerican

YoungAmerican — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:16:04 -0800

I'll second calling the gas company. They'll send someone out who will even light the pilot for you if neccesary.

By: lunalaguna

lunalaguna — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:08:23 -0800

Have you looked at the pilot light? Sometimes you'll get a build up of white powder or residue around the pilot light. When you turn the stove on, this residue burns, and you get the funky smell.

By: achmorrison

achmorrison — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:47:52 -0800

I will echo the others who say to call the gas company if you are unsure of it. If you've never cooked with gas, it can take a little while to become comfortable with how gas stove tops/ovens work.

That being said, the most dangerous situation is when the oven/stove is OFF and you smell gas. You say the pilot light is on, so I doubt that you are in any real danger. Any excess gas is going to be burned off by the light. I would run the oven for 20 minutes and see if the smell of gas is still there at all.