If you accidentally left the gas stove on but there’s no flame, immediately turn off all the knobs on your stove.
Avoid turning on any lights or creating a flame. Get everyone out of the house, including pets, and call 911 immediately.
Do not open windows or use electronics. Acting quickly and calmly can help prevent dangerous gas leaks and keep you safe.
For your home safety and your own personal safety, it’s very important for seniors to know what to do if the gas stove was left on without a flame because it can prevent dangerous gas leaks in their home.
If they know the right steps to take, like opening windows and not using electronics, they can keep themselves safe from fires or breathing in harmful gas.
It’s all about making sure they can handle the situation calmly and safely.
My Personal Story
When I moved into my current home, the kitchen was equipped with a gas stove top. I never had one before.
One night, I tried to turn on the stove top but could not get a flame. I gave up after a few minutes only to realize several minutes later that the stove top was on without a flame!
I freaked out and left the house immediately and called the fire department. So, I learned a lesson. The key is to know ahead of time what needs to be done.
Eventually though, I will be looking into purchasing a smart stove!
Immediate Steps to Take
Here’s a list of the immediate steps to take if you accidentally leave a gas stove on without a flame:
- Stay Calm: Avoid panicking to prevent mistakes.
- Avoid Electrical Switches: Do not turn on or off any electrical devices or switches.
- Ventilate: Open windows and doors to disperse the gas.
- Turn Off Gas: Safely turn off the gas supply at the stove or main valve if necessary.
- Evacuate: Leave the area if the gas smell is strong or if you feel unwell.
- Call for Help: From a safe distance, contact your gas company or emergency services.
- Wait for Clearance: Do not return until professionals declare it safe.
- Check Detectors: Ensure carbon monoxide detectors are functioning.
- Prevent Future Incidents: Take steps to avoid similar situations, such as installing gas detectors.
- Professional Inspection: Consider a safety inspection of your gas lines and appliances.
IMPORTANT: Gas leaks can’t always be detected by smell, especially by an elderly person whose sense of smell may be impaired.
Whether you left your gas stove on without a flame for 30 minutes or 10 minutes or an hour, you should still follow the safety tips we give you in this article.
Gas Stove Safety Measures to Prevent Accidents
Below are a list of recommendations and safety precautions / tips to stay as safe as possible if you use a natural gas stove in your home.
- It’s a very good idea to have your gas appliances inspected every year. Some plumbing companies can do this.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector like the ones we mentioned above.
- Use the exhaust vent when using the gas stove.
- Only use pots and pans that cover the entire stove burner. An open flame should never come up the sides of a pot or pan.
- Never use cookware with handles or material that could burn to avoid a fire hazard.
- Keep oven mitts and other items away from the kitchen stove.
- Never cook while wearing dangling jewelry or loose sleeves or scarves or anything that could catch on fire from the stove’s flame.
- Do not leave a gas stove unattended while cooking.
- A smoke alarm should, of course, be installed properly nearby.
- To help keep small children and/or seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s safe we recommend the use of safety knobs on your gas stove.
- After the stove burners have cooled down, wipe off the top of the stove after every use (small food particles can catch on fire).
- Clean each burner cap and the grates of your gas cooktop at least once a week by soaking them in warm soapy water. Use a toothpick to remove any debris in the burner’s holes.
- If you detect a natural gas smell but did not leave your stove on, leave the house immediately. Once outside in the fresh air and at a safe distance away, use your cell phone to contact your local gas company to report the incident.
- Familiarize yourself with the safety manuals that come with your natural gas appliance. If you don’t have the printed manual you can contact the manufacturer or search for it on the Internet.
Is It Dangerous To Leave A Gas Stove On?
Yes – leaving a gas stove on can turn into a very dangerous situation.
This is especially true if the gas stove is left unattended – which, by the way, is the most common reason that kitchen fires get started.
If you arrive home and realize that you’ve left your gas stove on – follow these tips…
- The first thing to so is immediately gather your family and pets (if you have any) and leave the house, then call 911.
- Get to a safe place (a neighbor’s or at least to the other side of the street), then call 911. When the emergency responders arrive they will investigate the home and your gas line
- Do not turn on any type of electric devices (i.e. lights, etc.)
- Do not turn on any type of gas item (i.e. gas fireplace)
- Do not even turn on or off a light switch
- Do not open or close the windows
- You should not even turn the car on in the garage or in your driveway
Can You Die From Leaving The Gas Stove On?
Leaving a gas stove on can kill you several ways…
- the toxic fumes from the carbon monoxide emitted can suffocate you to death
- if the flame on the stove top is burning and something happens to fall on that fire (i.e, an oven mitt) then a fire could erupt and that could be your death
- leaks can occur in the gas lines (whether the stove is on or off) so having a carbon monoxide detector, as we mentioned above, is your best preventative tool
Of course, many cooks will leave a gas stove on while they are simmering a pot of stew or tomato sauce for hours on end while periodically checking the pot. That should be fine as long as the room is well ventilated.
If there is a problem with the carbon monoxide level in your home, your CO detectors should sound the alarm.
But we caution you to NEVER leave a gas stove on unattended (i..e. working in a different room / floor of the home, leaving the gas on overnight, or if you are away from home).
How Long Can You Leave A Gas Stove On?
Your goal should be to never leave your gas stove on if you’re not cooking something. There’s no set “number of hours” that is safe.
The dangers are that carbon monoxide is being emitted which can make you ill or even kill you. The second danger is the risk of fire if a pot of food was left on the stove.
If a pot was left on the burner unattended, eventually whatever was in that pot will either boil over or burn and THAT may end up causing a fire.
The bottom line is PLEASE do not leave a gas stove on unattended!
Do Gas Stoves Turn Off Automatically?
Some gas kitchen ranges do have an automatic shutoff device which turns off the supply of propane to the appliance.
I recommend you check with the manual for your particular model or contact the manufacturer.
If your gas stove does not come with an automatic shut off device, you can purchase them separately and install them to keep your family safe.
How Long Does It Take For Natural Gas To Dissipate?
There are two types of natural gas and each one dissipates differently.
- Propane gas dissipates in about 2 hours
- Natural gas dissipates in about 1 hour
Because it takes an hour or two for the gas to dissipate – the safety recommendations are to never turn on any electric device or spark a flame (i.e. light a candle or cigarette) if you are in a house with a possible gas leak. It’s also the reason to leave the house until it has been cleared by the first responders.
How Long Should I Let My House Air Out If I Left My Gas Stove On?
It can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours for the smell of gas to go away. It just depends on how much gas was released and for how long.
If you left your gas stove on and can smell the gas fumes, you would think it would be a great idea to open the windows, but you are wrong!
Don’t open the windows! Once natural gas makes up between 5 to 15 percent of the air in a space, it can ignite. Opening a window adds oxygen and can actually make your kitchen more unsafe than it already is with the gas in it.
What you SHOULD do as I mentioned above is simply to gather your family and pets and leave the house immediately and call 911. After all, they are experienced in gas leaks and fire hazards.
Can Leaving A Gas Stove On Cause Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Yes, leaving a gas stove on can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. All gas stoves emit carbon monoxide. That’s why it’s recommended to always turn on the exhaust vent when your gas stove is on.
How Long Does It Take To Get Carbon Monoxide Poisoning From A Gas Stove?
The answer to this question depends on the level of concentration of carbon monoxide that is being spilled out. If the amount of carbon monoxide is high, it can kill you in just a few minutes!
Can A Pilot Light Cause Carbon Monoxide?
You may be wondering, “Can a pilot light cause carbon monoxide?” It’s not as far-fetched as you might think.
A pilot light is like the ignition system in your furnace or water heater. If the pilot light is out or doesn’t work properly, these appliances won’t ignite either.
If you notice that the flames from your gas stovetop are yellow or orange (instead of blue or bluish-green), that could indicate that it is producing carbon monoxide.
A stove’s pilot light may cause carbon monoxide if it doesn’t distribute the gas properly. This can happen when a vent pipe is blocked or restricted, or when there isn’t enough air to react with the gas.
If you’re smelling gas in your home, leave the house immediately. Contact your local gas company or 911.
Signs Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
If you or others in your home begin experiencing nausea, dizziness, headaches or general malaise like a flu – these may be signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.
I would also tell you to watch out for your pets because they may experience symptoms before you do. So look for signs of vomiting, uncoordinated movements, irritable behavior and drowsiness in your pets. You can read more about this here.
If you suspect any signs of carbon monoxide poisoning leave the house immediately and call 911.
