Is it OK to smell a little gas from oven?

Author: Elisa Goodwin V  |  Last update: Friday, April 25, 2025

Discovering your new oven smells like gas may catch you off guard, but rest assured that it's sometimes normal for a new oven to give off some odors. While you break in your oven, protective coatings and new parts often release unpleasant smells that usually dissipate after the first few uses.

Is it normal to smell gas from the oven?

It's normal to smell gas when a gas oven or stove starts up. Every time it lights, a little bit of unburned gas will get through, which is what you smell. Your nose is very good at smelling even tiny amounts. Ovens these days generally use electric spark igniters (much safer), not a pilot light.

Is it bad to smell a little bit of gas?

Just getting a whiff of gas doesn't pose a health risk. The mercaptan odorant used is in very small concentrations, and the gas itself, mostly methane, won't make you sick in small volume.

Is a slight gas smell normal?

It's normal for a faint odor to remain after lighting a stove or if the pilot light in a hot water heater, gas fireplace or other appliance goes out. Nonetheless, any possible leak must be taken seriously, especially if the odor is strong, persistent, or accompanied by a hissing sound.

Is it normal for a gas oven to hiss?

Yeah totally normal the burners are firing, you should hear a whoosh then the hiss.

Smelling Gas From Your Oven This Is Why

How do I know if my gas oven is leaking?

Some common signs of a gas leak around the stove are as follows:
  1. The gas flames on your stove are yellow, not blue.
  2. You can smell gas near your stove, even if it's turned off.
  3. If you touch the oven door, it's hot to the touch.
  4. You can hear a hissing noise near your stove.

Should my gas oven make noise?

If your gas oven is functioning properly, it should not be making noises. If you can hear buzzing or a clicking sound, it is a sign that there is a faulty or loose component inside the oven that needs to be repaired.

Is it normal to smell a little bit of gas around your gas meter?

Gas Meters:

The meter outside you houses a regulator on it which helps control the flow of gas into your home or business. There are times it will normally bleed-off or "burp" small amounts of gas to keep the pressure from building too high in your home. This is normal. So if you are near a meter you might smell it.

Should I worry about a small gas leak?

A natural gas leak in a house can cause potential fires, and inhaling the gas can cause natural gas poisoning. As with electricity, gasoline and other potentially dangerous energy sources, natural gas exposure must be handled with care.

What if I smell gas but no leak?

If your home smells like gas, but there's no apparent leak, here are steps you should follow: Ventilate the house by opening all windows and turning on ceiling fans. After this, if the smell is persistent, evacuate your home. Put out any materials that can create a flame or cause a spark, such as any open flames.

What happens if you randomly smell gas?

Here's what you should DO if you smell gas: DO leave the home, building, or area of the suspected leak. Get to a safe area as quickly as possible. After leaving your home, DO call the 24-hour emergency number for Peoples at 1-800-400-4271, or call your local emergency response number.

How long does it take for a gas leak to harm you?

Severe leaks can cause this problem in just five minutes. The EPA states that exposure to concentrations of nine ppm or more for eight hours is enough to produce harmful health effects for at-risk individuals. Exit the property and call 911 if you suspect your home has a gas leak.

What does a small gas leak smell like?

Rotten Egg Odors

Natural gas and propane have a distinctive smell for a reason. For safety purposes, utility companies use an additive called mercaptan that gives colorless and odorless gases a smell that is hard to miss. Most people describe this smell as something like rotten eggs, sewage, or sulfur.

Will a carbon monoxide detector detect a gas leak?

No, carbon monoxide (CO) alarms cannot detect natural gas leaks. They are designed to detect the presence of carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas formed during incomplete combustion of fuels like oil, gas, propane, and wood.

Is it normal for a gas oven to smell like gas on Reddit?

Once you have ignition, you shouldn't be able to smell it but you may still smell the unburnt gas that escaped when you first turned it on (before it was lit). By design, the smell is quite noticable. This could explain why you smelt it further away from the stove...it's simply dissipating.

Are gas ovens safe?

New studies have also linked gas stoves to increased rates of childhood asthma and have shown that using a gas stove can produce elevated levels of benzene on a par with those from secondhand tobacco smoke, or more tiny toxic particles than the exhaust of a diesel-powered vehicle.

Can a gas leak smell come and go?

Natural gas leaks are particularly likely to cause smells in small, enclosed areas where gas can build up. If the leak is outside, the smell may seem to come and go as the breeze blows it away. The other big sign to look out for is a strange noise.

How much of a gas leak is OK?

The acceptable leak rate does vary depending on whether the source is domestic or commercial, but a leak rate of 0.000 5 m3/h per m3 of space is generally acceptable in well ventilated areas.

Is it normal to have a slight gas smell in house?

The presence of a gas odor can indicate a potentially dangerous gas leak, which should be taken seriously. If you suspect a gas leak, immediately evacuate your home, call the gas company or emergency services, and do not attempt to fix the issue yourself.

Is it normal to smell a little gas outside?

Outside gas odors should be reported right away - do not try to locate the source yourself. If you smell or hear escaping gas: Don't position or operate vehicles or powered equipment where leaking gas may be present.

Can a gas leak be intermittent?

Additionally a problem with metal lines, and why it may be intermittent, is that it could be due to thermal expansion/contraction. Basically, a line/fitting gets hot and expands, then it cools down and contracts and gives the gas a place to channel through.

Is it normal to smell a little gas when using oven?

WHY DOES MY OVEN SMELL LIKE GAS WHEN PREHEATING? Preheating a gas range triggers a combustion of gas at the oven's burner, which can cause a gas smell as it heats up. If your gas oven smells like gas, then the smell should dissipate after the first few minutes of preheating.

How do I know if my oven is leaking gas?

Some of the ways you can perform a gas leak detection from the stove are:
  1. Listen For Hissing Or Whistling Sounds. If you notice hissing or whistling sounds from your stove, it might call for help. ...
  2. Smell Of Natural Gas. ...
  3. Discoloured Flame. ...
  4. High Gas Bills. ...
  5. Conduct The Soapy Water Test.

Is it normal for a gas oven to click?

When you turn your oven on for the first time after a long period, this air needs to be cleared by the gas and this can sometimes cause a clicking sound. To get rid of this sound, you may need to turn the ignition on and off a few times – by which time the air should be cleared and the clicking sound should vanish.

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