After a hurricane or hard freeze, gas service can be interrupted, and returning gas can bring air or a sudden pressure change into the line. A careful restart avoids lit burners you did not expect.
Before you restore gas
- Make sure every knob on the range is in the off position.
- Open windows for ventilation.
- Check that nobody has left a burner on or an oven door open.
Restoring and testing
Once the supply is back, light one burner at a time. Air in the line may cause a delay, sputter, or brief flame loss, and it often clears after a minute or two. Check the oven burner last, and only when the oven is empty.
When to stop
If you smell gas, hear hissing, or see a flame that will not stay steady, turn the knobs off, leave the area, and shut off the supply. Do not use light switches while the smell is present. Flames that are still wrong after the line has cleared point to a regulator or valve problem.
Checking the regulator and shutoff
Look at the shutoff valve and make sure it turns freely and sits in the expected position. A valve that is stiff or seeping at the stem should be addressed before the next storm. Do not apply tape or sealants to gas fittings yourself, since the wrong product can fail.
A brief smell of gas that disappears quickly can be air purging from the line, but a smell that stays should be treated as a leak until proven otherwise. Do not guess.
We test pressure and look for leaks at every joint when we visit. Learn more on our range repair page or via the service area list.