About 38% of American homes use gas stoves for cooking, and most people never think twice about how they use them. But here’s the thing—there’s one simple step that makes a huge difference in how safely your stove runs. Skipping it can lead to problems you might not even notice at first. The good news is that using a gas stove the right way doesn’t require much effort. A few small changes to your cooking routine can keep everything running smoothly for years to come.
Always turn on the exhaust hood when cooking
This is the number one thing people forget to do when using a gas stove. That hood above your stove isn’t just there for show—it actually pulls gases and particles out of your kitchen and sends them outside. When you cook with gas, the burners release stuff into the air that builds up quickly in an enclosed space. Your kitchen is basically a small box, and without proper airflow, everything just hangs around. Turning on that fan takes one second and makes a real difference.
Now, here’s the catch. Not all range hoods work the same way. Some connect to pipes that lead outside your house—these are the ones that actually help. Others just recirculate the air back into your kitchen without removing anything. You can check your hood by following the piping at the top. If it goes through the ceiling or wall, you’re good. If it has grilles on the front and no outside connection, it won’t do much for gas removal. Cooking on the back burners also helps because the hood can capture more of what comes off the stove.
Check that your flames are burning blue
Ever looked closely at your stove flames? They should be a nice, steady blue color. If you see orange, yellow, or flickering flames, something isn’t right with your burners. This usually means the gas isn’t burning completely, which can lead to soot building up on your pots and pans. It also means your stove isn’t working as efficiently as it should be. Blue flames tell you everything is working like it’s supposed to.
When the flames look off, it’s time to call someone to service your range. The burner ports might be clogged with food debris, or there could be an issue with the gas mixture. Sometimes it’s an easy fix you can do yourself—like cleaning out the burner holes with a toothpick or small brush. Other times, you’ll need a professional to take a look. Either way, don’t ignore weird-looking flames. They’re your stove’s way of telling you something needs attention.
Never use your oven to heat your home
When winter hits and the heating bill looks scary, some people get creative. They leave the oven door open and let it warm up the kitchen. This seems like a clever hack, but it’s actually a really bad idea. Gas ovens weren’t designed to run for hours on end with the door open. They’re meant to cook food in a closed space for limited amounts of time. Using them as a space heater puts way too much stress on the appliance.
Beyond just wearing out your oven faster, this practice creates other problems. Running a kitchen oven for heat pumps a lot of byproducts into your living space without any way to vent them out. Your oven’s exhaust system isn’t built to handle that kind of continuous use. If you need extra warmth, invest in a space heater designed for the job. They’re safer, more efficient, and won’t mess up your cooking appliances in the process.
Skip the self-cleaning feature on gas ovens
That self-clean button on your oven seems like a gift from the kitchen gods. Push it, walk away, and come back to a sparkling clean oven—what could be wrong with that? Well, quite a bit actually. The self-clean cycle works by heating your oven to extremely high temperatures, sometimes over 900 degrees Fahrenheit. This intense heat burns off all the gunk and grease stuck to the inside walls. The problem is what happens to that stuff when it burns.
During the self-clean cycle, your oven can release carbon monoxide into your home. This is especially true if there’s a lot of built-up grease or food residue inside. The better approach is to clean your oven the old-fashioned way—with some elbow grease and a good oven cleaner. It takes more effort, sure, but you’ll avoid turning your kitchen into a problem zone. If you really must use the self-clean feature, make sure all windows are open and the exhaust fan is running the entire time.
Don’t cover the vent holes with aluminum foil
Some people line their oven or stovetop with aluminum foil to catch drips and make cleanup easier. It seems smart at first—less scrubbing later, right? But those little holes and vents on your stove exist for a reason. They allow air to flow properly so the gas burns correctly. When you block them with foil, you mess up the whole system. The flames might not burn right, and heat can build up in places it shouldn’t.
Gas stoves need proper airflow to work safely. When you block air vent holes, you’re basically suffocating your appliance. This can cause uneven heating, strange flame behavior, and even damage to your stove over time. If you’re worried about messes, use oven liners designed for that purpose—just make sure they don’t cover any vents. Or better yet, just commit to wiping down your stove after cooking. It only takes a minute, and it keeps everything working the way it should.
Watch what you’re cooking and don’t walk away
We’ve all done it. You put a pot of water on to boil, then wander off to check your phone or start folding laundry. Twenty minutes later, you smell something burning and run back to find a disaster. With gas stoves, leaving things unattended creates extra risks. If water boils over and puts out the flame, gas can keep flowing without anything burning it off. You might not even notice until the smell gets strong enough to catch your attention.
The open flame on gas stoves also means things can catch fire more easily. Flammable materials like dish towels, paper towels, or even loose clothing can ignite if they get too close. Keeping an eye on your cooking isn’t just about preventing burned food—it’s about making sure small problems don’t turn into big ones. If you absolutely have to step away, set a timer on your phone to remind you something’s on the stove. That simple habit can save you a lot of trouble.
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove
This one sounds like something your grandma would tell you, and she’d be right. When pot handles stick out over the edge of the stove, they’re just asking to be bumped or grabbed by little hands. One accidental knock can send a pot of boiling water or hot sauce flying across your kitchen. Even adults walking by can catch a handle with their hip and create a mess—or worse, serious burns. It’s such an easy thing to fix.
Always turn pot handles toward the back or side of the stove where they’re out of the way. This keeps them away from the edge and makes it much harder to accidentally knock things over. It takes zero extra effort once you build the habit. If you have kids or pets running around, this becomes even more important. Hot liquids and active kitchens don’t mix well with curious little ones who grab at everything they see.
Keep your stove clean to prevent problems
Nobody loves cleaning the stove, but letting grease and food gunk build up creates real issues. When debris collects around the burners, it can interfere with how the gas flows and burns. The burner ports can get clogged, leading to uneven flames or difficulty lighting. Plus, all that built-up grease is basically fuel waiting to catch fire. A clean stove is a stove that works the way it’s supposed to work.
You don’t need to deep clean after every meal, but regular maintenance makes a big difference. Wipe down the surface after cooking, especially if something spilled. Once a week or so, remove the grates and clean underneath them. Every few months, take the burner caps off and clear out any debris from the ports. This keeps everything running smoothly and helps your stove last longer. Think of it like changing the oil in your car—a little regular maintenance prevents bigger problems down the road.
Install a natural gas detector in your kitchen
You probably have smoke detectors and maybe a carbon monoxide detector in your home. But do you have a natural gas detector? Most people don’t, even though research shows that stoves can leak even when they’re turned off. Natural gas has that rotten-egg smell added to it so you can detect leaks, but some people are more sensitive to the odor than others. A detector gives you an extra layer of protection you can count on.
Gas detectors are pretty affordable—you can find decent ones for around $30 or so. They work by sensing methane in the air and alerting you before levels get dangerous. This is especially useful for small leaks you might not notice on your own. One reporter discovered her oven was leaking badly when she borrowed a gas leak detector from a friend. Her landlord replaced the faulty stove within days. Having that early warning made all the difference between a quick fix and a potential disaster.
Gas stoves remain popular for good reasons—they heat up fast, give you precise temperature control, and work even during power outages. The key is using them correctly and keeping up with basic maintenance. Turn on that exhaust fan, watch your flames, keep things clean, and don’t try to heat your house with your oven. These simple habits let you enjoy the benefits of gas cooking while avoiding the common mistakes that cause problems. Your stove will work better, last longer, and give you fewer headaches in the long run.
