Is it dangerous if one of my stove burners won't light, but I smell gas when I try?
As long as the control knob is turned off, there is no danger. However, as long as you smell gas, there's a problem,especially if you have an older standing pilot unit (which I don't think you have, since you said it "clicks"). Be very careful and allow the gas to dissipate (open a window or door) after you turn the burner off. If you have left the control knob on for more than a minute, turn the gas off at the stove (and outside too, if you can), do not turn any lights on or off as you exit and get outside of the house before you call the fire department. A minute of gas is a lot. A few seconds won't hurt.If there is water in a burner port (which I'm sure is gone by the time I write this answer), or if the ignitor electrode is wet, the burner won't light. You can clear out the water and dry off the ignitor with a can of compressed keyboard cleaner. After spraying, wait a few moments for the propellant in the compressed air to evaporate off, and give your burner a try again.If you continue to have a problem, the burner port(s) nearest the ignitor may be clogged, and a toothpick will usually work to clean it out (try not to break off the toothpick in the holes).If it still doesn't light, it's possible that you need to re-position the ignitor to be in better spot. This is more likely on propane than natural gas, and there is a way to do it, but I'll leave that for another day.
Pilot light out on stove... dangerous?
Unburned natural gas does not produce CO(Carbon Monoxide) and a properly burning gas flame produces little to none as well. The amount of gas coming from a pilot is minimal but if you'd feel more comfortable there should be a shut off valve somewhere, just follow the connector and you will find it. Turn it off and wait for the service person. I won't tell to simply light it yourself because I don't really know how capable you are. Again,... a gas leak and CO are to different animals.
How do I light a gas stove?
I have worked with many gas stoves and although there may be other lighting mechanisms i am yet to encounter one so will explain the lighting of the stove design I am familiar with.If a single burner, then there will only be one knob, multiple burners and there should be some key, or markings to specify which knob controls which gas ring.There will also be an ignition button will produce the spark to light the gas, there will only be one of these usually and will be smaller then the knob's controlling the gas rings so should be obvious which one it is.To light, select the knob corresponding to the gas ring you wish to light, press the knob in and turn to the right, no more than 45 degrees, at this point you should hear gas coming from the ring, press the ignition button and a spark should light the ring.Now you usually just have to hold the knob in for a short while, it varies but usually between 5 and ten seconds, when you let go the stove should stay lit.You can now adjust the size of the flame by turning the knob, all stoves I have used it is turn anti clockwise to turn down flame and clockwise for up.Just a word on safety. You should be lighting the ring soon after you hold the knob to start the gas, otherwise you will be inhaling that unburnt gas.Also, if the stove fails to light, be sure to turn the knob back to the original off position before leaving it, also always return the knob to the original off position when turning off, if you can still hear or smell gas and there is no flame, be sure to not leave the stove until you have ensured the gas flow has stopped.May have missed something there, if I have, someone please let me know.
Do you have to use a match to light a gas oven?
I never did that. Not even way back when gas ovens did not have built in mechanical or piezo-electric lighters, and those hand held ones weren’t invented yet. You WERE supposed to hold a match stick to the gas to light it up. I’ve seen other people do it. But I was always too frightened to do it myself. Afraid that it would go … wooosh … and burn up my hand. Especially considering that I have quite a lot of hair, on my hands, the back of my hands and fingers.So I did what sane people do. Use a “lighter stick”. This is just a short length of wire twisted together, about 6 inches long, with clump of cloth at the end. Dip this in some kerosene, light that with a match, and hold it to the gas.Ovens are especially hard to light up. You’ve got to stick your hand in there, to light the fire above and below. My mother would use the stick for the oven. But with stoves on top of the oven, she’ll just use those tiny 1–1/2 inch match sticks. I wouldn’t dare, and would use the longer stick for both. You couldn’t really turn down the gas too low or it wouldn’t light up. But get it too high, or wait slightly too long, you get a mini fireball in your face.
Using kitchen stove/oven for emergency heat?
In a winter emergency - say an ice storm for example - the power goes out so the furnace won't work. Do you think I can safety light my gas stove & oven using fireplace matches? There is no pilot light, has an electronic start, but I could turn the knob for the gas to start and quickly light with match(for stove top AND oven)? The manufacturers instructions say I should not attempt to light manually, but in an ice storm with no other source of heat can this be done safely?
What is the danger(if any) of an old gas oven with a pilot light?
I'm very nervous with using my old oven in my apt and with good reason now. It's the kind you have to fire up the pilot in the oven before it heats up. The day before Thanksgiving, I forgot I turned on the gas for I don't know how many minutes, went to light it, and it friggin exploded in my face. LUCKILY, I only ended up with a hot face and burnt hair LOL(not really). But really, this thing has to be i'm guessing 40-50 years old, so other than my probable mistake, should I be worried about this thing or just keep using it with prayer?
Is my family in any danger when my gas stove pilot light is lit but one burner won't light without matches you can smell gas so I Idon't use it?
This should not be a problem since I grew up with a stove that had TWO pilot lights and often we still had to light a burner or two with matches.Just to be on the safe side though, strike and light the match BEFORE turning the burner on and then you should not smell any gas but only the lighted match.If you by chance left the unlit burner on for say one minute you are still not in much danger. The odor is not the gas (it’s odorless) but added my law and is very specific to natural gas. It is entering your house at about 0.5 psi so while the odor may be strong the gas concentration itself would be very low in the average kitchen after even one minute.Be safe.
Is the pilot light on my stove always on?
Yes, the pilot light is always on and Yes it is safe. In fact, it's when the pilot light goes OUT that you are in danger. With a gas stove and furnace, the gas is never completely shut off. Natural gas is considered to be too dangerous for people to turn on, then light by themselves. I'm sure you have seen a lot of the old time cartoons where someone will turn on the gas stove, and the cartoon hero (Sylveter the Cat, Bugs Bunny, or whomever) will blow out the match before the stove can be lit. The gas builds up so much that when a match is finally lit, there is a massive explosion. The cartoon characters can't get hurt, but you can. Leaving the pilot light on all the time also makes it easier when you want to turn the heat on, or use the stove. You will have the flame already available, all you need to do is turn the thermostat up, or turn the stove knob to where you want it. If you smell natural gas in your home (smells kinda like rotten eggs), first open all your windows, then look to see if the pilot light is on in your stove. If it is, or if you can't see it, GET OUT OF THE HOUSE FIRST. Then call either your landlord or the gas company for help. Do not use your house phone or a cell phone inside the house if you smell gas. The electricity from the phone, or from turning the tv or lights on or off could create a miniscule spark that would be just enough to ignite the gas and cause an explosion. As long as your pilot lights are burning strong and steady all is well.