Cooks have long loved the distinctive whoosh of firing up a gas stove. The flames pop up quickly and provide consistent heat, making it easy to cook with pinpoint control. Gas stoves also save the day if you need to cook when the power is out because they don’t require electricity. Unfortunately, there are dangers lurking behind that satisfying flame. One major problem is air quality. Even a perfectly functioning gas stove gives off invisible fumes, but keep your eyes peeled for odd flame colors. A healthy gas stove flame is usually blue. There’s room for a tiny bit of variation, but not much. If most of the flame — not just the tip — turns a different color, that’s a signal that something is wrong. A steady yellow or orange flame can signal incomplete combustion, often caused by dirty burners, blocked openings, or an improper gas-to-air mixture. Instead of methane converting to CO2 and water vapor, some of the gas is not used and is released into the air, which is not ideal. Don’t panic — a small amount of white or yellow tipping can be normal depending on the type of gas and the appliance. Dust in the air can create brief yellow flickers, and calcium and other minerals may burn orange. A flame that’s mostly yellow, orange or red should be checked by a professional. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that kills hundreds of people every year, so putting in a CO monitor to alert you of high CO levels can be a lifesaver. Aside from the health issues, orange flames are inefficient and will cost you money. In incomplete combustion, some of the gas coming out of your burners is flat-out wasted, and that will translate to a higher gas bill.
