Gas ovens have been in existence for many years now. They are not very complicated devices to use. However, anything that uses a gas supply should be used with the required amount of care.
When you start a gas oven and it gives out a gas-like odor, there are chances that you just started the oven. This unusual odor is completely normal because the gas will be combusted on the burner.
Oven Smells Like Gas When Preheating
As a result, there will be a gas-like smell but it will go away automatically within a few minutes. For the most part, this odor seems similar to the smell of rotten eggs. There are some cases in which the gas smell might not go away.
If that is the case then you can try the following steps:
- Clean
First of all, most odors are caused when you do not clean ovens on time. The ovens must be cleaned on a regular basis in order to ensure that no odors build up over time. The best practice is to clean the oven as soon as the food gets ready and the oven cools down.
This will simply eliminate the chances of building up a smell. Some ovens are designed with a self-cleaning function, so you can use that feature to ensure optimal cleaning.
With the self-cleaning feature, you must remove the accessories and racks so that a thorough cleaning can take place. The racks and accessories can be washed separately. As far as spot cleaning is concerned, you need to use specialized oven cleaners.
There are so many options available in the market that promise complete and thorough clean-up of the interior of gas ovens. These cleaners can fight even the toughest forms of grease.
As for the exterior sides, you can simply use a soapy water solution and a fiber cloth to clean up everything. Some people also use conditioners to bring out the shine but it’s not part of cleaning.
That being said, just clean up the oven on time and you will not have to struggle with gas odors. Do not use combustible oven cleaners for cleaning the ovens.
This includes alcohol-based cleaners which can leave behind a residue and cause a fire the next time when the oven is put to use.
- Leakage
If the oven is all squeaky clean from a recent cleaning spree, then it is highly likely that another reason behind the gas odor could be a gas leakage. This is actually very dangerous and you need to switch off the oven right away.
The next step is to turn off any gas pipelines that are leading into the oven. This is an additional step that can provide foolproof security until you check the source of the gas smell. Once the oven is switched off, open up all the windows for proper ventilation.
Now, call the gas supplier because they will be able to fix the gas connections in your oven. Some other way to confirm whether it is indeed a gas leak or not is to keep a check on any hissing sound of a gas leak coming from the vicinity of the oven.
This is a good check for those people who have a weak sense of smell due to sinus infections or other health reasons. Be careful to not light a match or use a lighter in the room where you suspect a gas leak.
On the other hand, if you are using electric ovens, be careful not to touch the electric switch because there is a risk of electrical shock.
- Packing Materials
If you have recently bought a new oven and it is giving off a gas odor, then it must be because there are leftover packing materials in the oven that you forgot to remove.
Consequently, when you switch on the preheating function, the packing materials will get hot and burn, resulting in such odors. Truth be told, this is an extremely dangerous occurrence and you need to switch off the oven right away.
This can cause a serious fire accident on a much bigger scale so always make sure that the oven is completely devoid of any packaging material before you put it to use for the first time.
Even more, some ovens are designed with protective oil coating which can lead to such odors as well. So, just clear up the oven properly before you switch it on.
- Connections
The gas connections to the ovens need to be extremely sturdy and tight to ensure gas does not leak out. This is a highly important step for the safety of the users of the oven.
If you have ensured the gas connections are foolproof and even then you start smelling gas odors, it must be because the connections are damaged and the gas is leaking out. To fix this issue, you must switch off the oven right away and call the technician to replace these connections.
This matter then needs an expert to deal with the issue of gas leakage and strengthening of the gas pipelines.
Additional Tips
In the case that you are able to find out the root cause of the odor and fix it, that is great news. However, if the odor does not go away even after following everything mentioned in the article, then you will need to replace the oven.
It is most likely a structural fault with the oven in that case. For future reference, we are sharing some safety tips for people who intend to use these ovens, such as:
- Install Carbon Monoxide Detector
You must install the carbon monoxide detector in the kitchen, so you can be alerted whenever there is a gas leak. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas and it can be extremely hazardous if it collects in a place with no ventilation.
It can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, which causes death.
- Call Protective Facilities
If you listen to the hissing sound, you need to call the protective facilities and evacuate the space right away. Since you are not an expert, you cannot judge the amount and volume of the gas leak that has already leaked and accumulated in the room.
It can very easily cause a bigger accident.
- Make Sure The Connection Is Turned Off
Always turn off the gas connection before going to sleep or if you are going to leave the house closed for longer periods like while you are away on a vacation.
- Do Not Repair On Your Own
Don’t try to repair anything on your own and call a professional. This goes without saying especially for situations where the matter at hand goes beyond your expertise.