When your gas flame turns red: Essential safety checks
A gas cooker requires special attention. An annual professional inspection is certainly not enough. The condition of the burners should be monitored daily, and the best indicator of safety is the appropriate flame colour.
Most often you will see a stable light blue flame beneath the pot or pan. This indicates that everything is fine with your cooker. However, if you notice a change in colour to yellow, orange, or red, take action to restore the desired blue shade. Ignoring such signs can be dangerous and undoubtedly harmful to health.
What does a different flame colour on a gas cooker mean?
Yellow, orange, or red flames typically indicate problems with oxygen supply. Check to see if the burner holes are clogged with food debris. If they are, you can clean them with a brush or clear them with a toothpick. However, ensure the burner is no longer hot before doing so.
Once more, place the burner caps in the correct positions – misaligned caps can also obstruct the oxygen supply. Some cookers have manual air supply regulation, allowing you to check the settings where the equipment works best. Be sure to see if you have this feature.
Dangerous consequences of dirty burners
Do not delay cleaning the burners. Incomplete gas combustion can result in increased production of carbon monoxide, which is very dangerous to health and can be fatal at high levels.
The effects of uneven gas combustion are also felt in your wallet. You will be billed for the escaping gas even if you do not use it to cook food.
When should you call for help?
The first step should always be to clean the burners and check the nozzle clearance. If this does not help, contact your gas supplier and request a technical inspection. Although in most cases the problem lies with burner contamination, a change in flame colour may also signal larger issues with the gas installation.
What should you do when you see a different flame colour?
First and foremost, turn off the burner and open the window wide to ventilate the room. It's best to leave the kitchen for a while – this way you ensure your safety.
Return once the burners have cooled and check to see if the openings in them are blocked by food debris or dust. Then make sure the air supply is not obstructed. After cleaning the burners, place the caps in the correct positions and check the flame colour. If it is still not light blue, call for professional help.
Do not call the gas emergency services without reason. If it turns out that the issue is on your end, you will incur a charge of several hundred pounds for summoning a specialist.
