Gas ovens are a common sight in most household kitchens. Yet people who use it, especially older models, know of the troubles and frustrations that often result from trying to light the gas oven.
Some gas ovens need you to hold a small flame for them to start burning, and this difficulty in lighting a gas oven sometimes discourages people from using them. However, this article will guide you on how to light a gas oven properly.
Pilot Light
If you’re using a much older gas oven, this is one part of a gas oven that you need to be aware of. Modern gas ovens use an electric ignition system. In this system, electric sparks are used to ignite the burners. In most cases, this is simply done by pressing the ignition button.
Pilot light or flame was a common part of older gas ovens. It is a continuously burning flame located under the kitchen stove. The user simply has to turn the gas stove on and let the gas pass over the flame. This will ignite the burners. Pilot lights work independently and eliminate the need for lighting via match.
This is a much safer approach to lighting a gas oven that doesn’t involve the risk of gas leakages and the possibility of an explosion. For gas ovens that make use of an electric ignition system, as long as the ignition system is working fine, you won’t have difficulty starting up the oven.
Gas ovens that use a pilot light or flame, however, might have their flames snuffed out. This is the primary reason why you might end up finding it extremely difficult to get your gas oven on at times.
You could opt to replace a pilot light or relight it by taking apart the stove (make sure the stove is completely turned off). You can use a butane lighter for this or even a matchstick.
Safety Precautions You Need to Take
A gas oven can be extremely dangerous if you’re not careful. While over the years, there have been numerous safety features built into gas ovens such as safety valves that prevent gas leakage. One misstep can still spell disaster. Some precautions you should always keep in mind are:
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Ensure Proper Ventilation
Make sure the doors and windows in your kitchen are open. A lack of ventilation in your kitchen is bad as a build-up of gas will cause suffocation and is a massive hazard. A stray spark can easily cause an explosion. If possible, install an exhaust fan and keep your windows open. Proper ventilation is crucial.
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Check for Gas Leaks
You should regularly check for any gas leaks or if your gas cylinder is compromised anyway. The smell of gas is a warning sign, and you should never attempt to light anything when you smell gas. Open all your windows and try to fan out the gas making sure to stop the leak.
Keep your local gas company on speed dial for these types of situations. Always be careful and keep on the lookout.
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Make Sure Your Stoves Are off
Always keep your stoves off when they are not in use. They consume gas and can prove to be a hazard if you’re careless. Make sure the knobs are all correctly set to off (vertical position) and check if the flame has properly extinguished or not.
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Keep It Clean
Keep your stove and the area around your pilot light clean. Some grime can catch fire and damage the stove and hurt you. Use a spray cleaner for the best effects. Do not neglect cleaning the stove regularly as it can hamper performance.
Lighting a Gas Oven
How you light a gas oven primarily depends on what type of ignition system it has. Gas ovens with electrical ignition systems are simple in that they require just the press of the ignition button to start working.
The general procedure of lighting a gas oven is to light the ignition system. For an oven with a pilot light system, the process is explained below.
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Observe Necessary Precautions
Make sure all the safety precautions have been observed, especially make sure that there are no gas leakages and that any gas has been driven off.
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Ignite the Stove
In your oven stove, observe the knobs. There will be a flame symbol denoting ignition. This symbol might vary, so it might be useful to check your instruction manual to get the proper symbol. Turn the oven knob towards that symbol.
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Find the Pilot Hole
Locate the pilot hole. This is the hole through which the flame is emitted. It is usually located near the door of your oven. Open the door and look for a small hole at the bottom. It might be located at the back of some models.
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Light the Pilot Flame
For this step, it is recommended to use a BBQ lighter as it is the safest option. It is long and will prevent your hand from being too close to the flame. Use the lighter near the pilot hole to light the flame.
When the pilot flame has lit, make sure you keep holding the knob. This will let the flame heat up. Releasing it might cause the flame to be extinguished, and the whole process will need to be repeated.
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Regulate the Flame
Once the pilot flame has lit and is burning, close the oven and regulate the temperature.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has given you an idea of how to go about lighting a gas oven and the necessary precautions you should take beforehand.