If you are wondering how to fix an orange flame on a gas stove, we have four simple methods to get your stove back to the safe blue flames it should be emitting.
An orange flame on a gas stove is not a good sign. When there’s an orange flame coming from your burners, something is wrong with your stove, which can be harmful to your health and cookware.
In fact, orange flames can cause health issues and reduce the effectiveness of your stove. Plus, the longer you wait to fix the problem, the worse it will be.
If your gas stove has an orange flame and you want it gone, you’re in the right place. We’re going to take you through the causes of this problem and how to remedy it. Read on to learn everything you need to know about orange flames on gas stoves.
What Makes a Flame Orange?
Flames become orange when there is incomplete combustion, which is the result of carbon monoxide being present. Elevated levels of carbon monoxide cause flames to burn at uneven temperatures, which can extend cooking times and lead to problems with your cookware. Other factors that cause problems with the mixture of oxygen and natural gas can also cause orange flames.
Principles of Combustion
To further understand why flames on gas stoves become orange, it’s necessary to understand combustion. Combustion is what produces a flame on your stove. On your stove, combustion occurs when fuel (natural gas) is introduced to oxygen (the air in your home).
When you start your gas stove, this is why you hear a clicking sound; you’re kickstarting the combustion process.
In most homes, combustion temperatures produce hot flames that don’t have harmful byproducts. These flames are blue. When pockets of orange and other colors appear in the flame, there is something wrong with the combustion process.
What Color Should the Flames on a Gas Stove Be?
The flames on a gas stove should be blue. While small pockets of orange and other colors are not dangerous, large pockets of orange flames indicate the release of carbon monoxide into your home. Orange flames also represent incomplete combustion.
When combustion is taking place properly, blue flames are produced on stovetops. The blue flame is typically bright blue, and there can be some orange towards the top of the flame.
What Causes Orange Flames on Gas Stoves?
Incomplete combustion causes orange flames on gas stoves, which produces carbon monoxide as a byproduct. That said, many factors contribute to incomplete combustion. To address the issue, it’s important to understand what the problems can be.
Clogged Burners
When your gas stove’s burners become clogged, combustion becomes incomplete. Incomplete combustion produces soot, which can clog burners and make the problem worse over time. Plus, as soot continues to build around the burners, the problem gets worse.
Clogged burners can also be caused by food residue, which can block some of the orifices if it becomes stuck to the burners. Unfortunately, both of these issues cause your gas stove to produce an orange flame, and your gas bill will likely increase as a result.
Increased Humidity
When the air is humid, it’s harder for combustion to occur. In these cases, increased humidity can cause an orange or yellow flame. Depending on how much humidity is in the air, the color of the flame can change. Humidity levels increase in kitchens for many reasons.
First and foremost, using a humidifier in your kitchen can raise humidity levels. Keeping your windows open and the air conditioning off on a hot and humid day can also raise humidity levels in your kitchen.
Having the Wrong Orifice
Having the right orifices for your gas stove is essential if you want to have a healthy blue flame. For carbon fuels to burn properly, the air-to-fuel ratio needs to be perfect.
If a burner on your stove has the wrong air shutter, it can create an orange flame. You can also tell if the burner is not made for your gas stove by checking how it fits. If it doesn’t fit properly, there is a good chance it’s the wrong type.
These are the common causes of an orange flame on gas stoves.
Also Read: How to Disconnect a Gas Dryer Safely
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How to Fix an Orange Flame on Gas Stoves
Fixing an orange flame can be challenging, but once you identify the cause of the issue, it becomes simple. We’re going to take you through some methods you can use to return your gas stove’s flame to blue.
Clean the Burners
Cleaning the burners can help you fix an orange flame on your gas stove. If you notice soot or food residue around the burners, we recommend giving your gas stove a good scrub. Use solutions that break down soot and loosen food particles.
Before cleaning your burners, make sure your gas stove has been turned off and is cool to the touch. When cleaning your burners, you also need to remove some of the components to scrub them. To prevent issues, make sure you assemble them properly after cleaning them.
Increase Airflow
An orange flame can be the result of poor airflow. When the air to fuel ratio is incorrect, the result is an orange flame. In some cases, your kitchen might not have enough ventilation.
A lack of proper ventilation reduces the amount of air that reaches the stove. To increase the airflow, you can try a few things. We recommend opening a window, using a fan, or placing more air vents in your kitchen.
Dehumidifiers
Humidity in the air is a problem when it comes to gas stoves. High humidity in the kitchen produces orange flames on an otherwise healthy gas stove. The good news is that humidity problems are simple to solve. If you have a humidifier, make sure you turn it off. Or, use a dehumidifier in your kitchen and keep the windows closed on humid days. Running your air conditioner can also help on hot and moist days.
Make Sure You Have the Right Orifices
If all else fails, make sure you have the right burners for your gas stove. You can check the burners by making sure everything fits properly. There should be orifices around the burners, and none of these should be closed.
If you have the wrong burners, make sure to get the right ones. You can find the right burners for your stove by reading the owner’s manual or by looking online at the stove’s product number.
If you can’t fix an orange flame on your own, we recommend reaching out to a professional or getting a new gas stove.
Dangers of Cooking With an Orange Flame on a Gas Stove
Cooking with an orange flame is dangerous because orange flames produce more carbon monoxide than blue flames. Orange flames also result in soot on gas stovetops, which is a dangerous substance that causes allergies.
Soot also makes it harder to clean your utensils and cookware. When soot is present in your kitchen, it creates many health hazards that are even more dangerous in the presence of carbon monoxide.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that’s produced by combustion. When there is an abundance of carbon monoxide in your home, you can experience carbon monoxide poisoning, which is known as the silent killer.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is dangerous because many people don’t notice the symptoms until they lose consciousness, which is often fatal.
Therefore, it’s important to understand the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, especially if you’re cooking with an orange flame.
The symptoms of carbon monoxide are often flu-like at first and include the following:
- Weaknesses
- Fatigue
- A sudden drop in blood pressure
- Chest pains
- Convulsions
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Irritability
- Changes in heart rate
- Breathing problems
- Impaired judgment
- Aches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach discomfort
If you notice these symptoms, it’s important to leave your home and contact your local fire department. When exposed to fire, high levels of carbon monoxide can detonate, causing damage to your property and perhaps death.
Signs of Soot on Gas Stoves
Soot is a black powder-like substance. When soot is in your kitchen, it can lead to incomplete combustion, which creates elevated levels of carbon monoxide.
Furthermore, soot on your stove makes it harder to clean your cookware and makes it possible for soot to enter your body. When soot enters your body, it can cause an allergic reaction and stomach discomfort.
Signs of soot on a gas stove include:
- A presence of a charred-like substance around the burners
- Allergies when in the kitchen
- Harder to clean kitchen utensils
- An aftertaste when cooking with the gas stove
When soot is in your kitchen, it can cause many problems for your cookware and your health.
A Blue Flame Is a Healthy Flame
If you notice an orange flame in your kitchen, you need to act fast. Orange flames cause many health problems, damage your cookware, and release dangerous gases into the air. While fixing an orange flame is not always easy, having somewhere to start makes the process simple. Remember, a blue flame is a healthy flame!
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