Gas burner operating defect & noise questions & answers:

Frequently-asked questions & answers about troubleshooting, fixing, or shutting off (for safety) gas appliances that are not working properly, giving gas burner noises or improper flame at the burner.

This article series gives descriptions and photographs of unsafe gas piping, indications of unsafe or improperly operating gas appliances, gas meters, and other gas installation defects are provided.

Gas Flame & Noise Defect Q&A

These questions & answers about troubleshooting gas burner flam noises and problems were posted originally

at GAS BURNER FLAME & NOISE DEFECTS - you will enjoy reading the diagnosis and cure advice there where you'll also see some important life-safety warnings.

Watch out: Black soot from a gas appliance is VERY dangerous, as it's a sign of incomplete combustion and a risk of potentially fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.

Be sure that you have properly located, installed, and tested CO and smoke detectors. Turn off the heater, and call for repair by a local gas appliance service company.

 

Our natural gas heater is making soot all over our house

We ran natural gas from the road to our home( long distance). We built a beautiful fireplace with cabinets.

Go to two years. My house walls, windows ceiling are blacked. Yesterday my heart became more burdened. I was getting cobwebs down and noticed that my entire bedroom walls were covered with a heavy dust. My fan and light are black. Now it’s time to use my fireplace again.

My house can’t get any more dirty. We had a man come and adjust the opening where I guess the gas come out. I this didn’t work. We are ordering g new logs today. I have cleaned them but I don’t know what to do.

We bought this gas heater out of a home and they were using it. Do I get a new one or what kind if company would work on this gas heater. We don’t have a gas store where I live. We have called our gas company and they don’t have any numbers of companies. Sad On 2017-10-27 by Edie

by (mod) - sooting natural gas is not an oil burner puffback but it is very dangerous risking fatal CO poisoning

Edie:

Watch out: Black soot from a gas appliance is VERY dangerous, as it's a sign of incomplete combustion and a risk of potentially fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.

Be sure that you have properly located, installed, and tested CO and smoke detectors.Turn off the heater, and call for repair by a local gas appliance service company.

Gas heater makes a bang noise!

What happens when my flame heater gas makes a big bang and then I hear like it is releasing alot of gas into the air? On 2021-02-02 by Santina

by (mod) -

Watch out: what you describe can be dangerous; a loud BANG! at the ignition of a gas burner means that the ignition was delayed and that the igniting spark or pilot has found a large volume of un-burned combustible gas, making an explosion on ignition.

The risks include a more serious explosion, fire, or even asphyxiation by gas leak (though at that volume you ought to smell the gas in building air).

It would make sense to ask your heating service tech to find and fix the problem: a gas leak, or a problem with the gas valve, regulator, pilot, or igniter.

Amana Gas Furnace makes whooshing noise when burners light and there is flame roll-out

Hi, I have an Amana guva070bx40. Not everytime but sometime I here a whooshing noise when the burners come on. The flame rolls out a bit from the burner tubes almost like the gas valve is open too long before it ignites. On 2020-11-17 by Jerry

Reply by (mod) -

Jerry

You're describing an Amana gas furnace model GUVA070bx40

That sounds like a delayed ignition that's allowing un-ignited gas to accumulate - which is obviously dangerous. Your service tech needs to inspect, clean, adjust the heater - could be dirty burner, poor igniter, or a gas leak in the piping; like you I don't rule out a gas valve problem - such as sticking and not opening fully;

The manual has a troubleshooting chart that begins on p. 80 of the manual.

If you don't have it the service manual for your Amana gas furnace can be downloaded as a free PDF file at

AMANA & GOODMAN HVAC MANUALS & ERROR CODES 

by Jerry - bad gas valve sticks open, sending excess gas into the combustion cahmber

it was the gas valve. Apparently the gas valves for those models either stuck closed or would stick open a small amount allowing a little excess gas to fill the cabin.

The gas would linger and upon ignition the flame would also ignite the gas in the cabin causing a whooshing sound from the quick expansion. Thank you for your help.

by (mod) - unsafe Amana Gas Furnace gas valve sticks and leaks

Watch out: Good grief that sounds incredibly dangerous

I trust you've replaced those parts

BOOM like a shotgun blast from my gas water heater - I crawled along the floor to turn off the gas line. Orange ball of flame came out!

I have a 5 brick propane wall heater. It was working just fine and then out of nowhere I heard a boom ( like a shotgun just went off) I looked over at the heater and an orange ball of flame was coming out of the heater

so I crawled along the floor and turned off the valve to the propane line. What could have caused this. I'm definitely scared to have it turned back on now! On 2020-10-30 by Anonymous

Reply by (mod) -

Anon:

Good grief! I'm glad you and your home are intact.

Watch out: you are describing what I can but guess was a very dangerous gas leak at or in your propane-fueled wall heater.

When there is a gas leak, even a small one, the LP gas can accumulate in a pool around the heater. At that point a spark from any source, including the heater turning on, can ignite that pool or cloud of propane gas, setting off a dangerous explosion.

The repair might be something as simple as finding and tightening a loose gas connection, but

Watch out: this is an extremely dangerous situation, risking another fire or explosion. You should

1. Watch out: Leave the LP gas supply to the heater turned OFF,

2. Ventilate the home with fresh air,

3. Watch out: IF YOU SMELL GAS AGAIN, that means the gas leak is perhaps ahead of the heater and its shutoff valve;

GO OUTSIDE IMMEDIATELY and call 911 for emergency assistance. In that case do NOT do anything indoors that could create even the smallest spark, such as operating a light switch or telephone. That's a reason we say to go outside if you smell gas.

4. Call fo repair: Otherwise you can go ahead and call your heating company or an appliance repair person who has expertise in gas piping, controls, and heaters, to find and fix the leak.

Watch out: another dangerous sign with gas fired equipment is the production of soot: if you see sooting around the gas burner or at the chimney or anywhere around the heater it may also be producing dangerous, even fatal carbon monoxide. In that case, too, the heater needs to be left OFF to wait for repair.

Besides a gas leak, other causes of poor ignition and the lighting of a collected pool of gas at your heater include a burner or ingiter that needs repair or replacement, combined with missing or failed gas flame controls that are intended to stop the flow of gas if a pilot is not lit (a bad themocouple).

Gas wall heater makes loud Whoosh and flame runs wild when it's windy

I have a wall mounted 3 brick wall heater. When I turn it up to three bricks and a slight breeze goes by it, it makes a loud whoosh noise and then instead of 3 glowing red bricks it's a flame all over them. It's not a huge flame but not burning clean and noisy. Was wondering if there's an issue with the third brick. On 2019-12-07 by Todd

Reply by (mod) -

Todd

Watch out: this sounds dangerous to me, as if there is a gas leak in your system. I would turn it off and have it repaired.

The repair may be as simple as cleaning a burner or finding and removing an obstruction. But the concern is that an improper gas burner flame can produce fatal carbon monoxide.

Pulsating thermocouple in gas fireplace

The new thermocouple in my natural gas direct vent fireplace pulsates. I can see it pulsate at the bottom of the stove, and I can hear it (I have excellent hearing).

The old thermocouple was replaced a few weeks ago when it quit working and a gas appliance technician replaced it. What I do know is that the old thermocouple never made that pulsating sound. Otherwise everything else seems to be fine.

Should I be concerned? On 2019-11-20 by MM

Reply by (mod) -

MM

Thanks for an interesting noise question: pulsating at the has fireplace thermocouple;

If you are certain that the noise is from the thermocouple itself and not a variation in the gas burner flame, then

the most-likely explanation is that the thermocouple is not mounted securely against movement.

Fluttering sound at gas wall heater

I have a natural gas wall heater { plate type } flame has a flutter sound to it. On 2019-10-1 by Gary

by (mod) - irregular gas flame causes

Gary

A number of conditions can cause an irregular gas flame: contaminted or dirty burner or burner orifices, a bad gas control valve, combustion air defects, or perhaps other conditions I've not encountered.

Some of these can be unsafe.

Cause of flickering yellow-orange flame on Mirage gas heater

Hello. I have a direct vent Mirage natural gas heater. It has worked flawlessly since 1997. I tried to light the pilot light recently.

The pilot lit up with short even blue flames like it always has, then the flame alternated back and forth to a yellow/orange colour with the flames increasing in size to about 3 inches.

I carefully removed the pilot light fixture, and cleaned it with a soft bristle brush. I tried to light the pilot after cleaning, and this time the flames were all yellow and orange and easily reached the top of the heater inside. I shut all gas and power off. Thank you On 2019-09-24 by Roy Phillips

by (mod) -

Roy

Was that an LPG heater? Could you be low on fuel?

Or there may be a failing gas valve or a dirty burner needing service.

Leave the system off and have it serviced.

When gas pilot light cycles off what would cause burner to puff loosely after flame goes off?

When pilot cycles off what would cause burner to puff loosely after flame goes off? On 2019-03-06 by Michael

Reply by (mod) -

Michael

I've seen that too and think there is a small leak downstream from the gas valve that perhaps left some un-burned gas.

But

Watch out: if that puffing continues for more than say 10-15 seconds it's possible that the system has an ongoing leak and is unsafe and needs immediate leak detection and repair.

Also see GAS BURNER POPPING NOISES

Pulsing flame at gas range burners

The flame in my gas range burners is pulsing. All of the burners are doing this.

Any idea what might be causing it? The burners are still working, but are they dangerous? On 2018-12-23 by Anonymous

by (mod) - flame in my gas range burners is pulsing.

Watch out: that could be dangerous,

Please understand that it's impossible for us to make an accurate diagnosis of a fuel gas safety Problem by a brief e-text.

Pulsing gas pressure could be a problem with the regulator.

Also variations in combustion air or drafts around the heater an cause apparent gas flame pulsing.

Flame came out of bottom of gas-fueled wall heater

I have a wall heater (gas) and at the bottom when I turned it on a flame came out? On 2018-11-04 by Amber

Reply by (mod) -

I'm sorry to say, because I know it's probably inconvenient, but

Watch out: you need to turn off the gas supply to that heater and leave the heater turned off until you can get a service technician to examine and repair it.

I'm concerned that there is either an ignition problem or a gas leak both of which risk of an explosion or fire.

We have a Gas leak at a burner

Pls, I noticed that one of my gas burner was leaking when not in use, and after my husband took it to repair I immediately found out that the burner was making a loud noise when I on it and the gas seems to be coming out faster than it used to. Plus help am scared to use it On 2018-02-25 by flora

by (mod) - leave off leaky gas burner

Flora

Watch out: LEAVE IT OFF for safety - I agree that it's not safe.

I can't tell if your husband left a gas leak, damaged a control, or if simply the burner cap has been set askew on the base.

Why is part of my gas burner flame too high?

Center flame too high On 2018-02-08 by jc

by (mod) - center flame too high

JC

Center flame on what? One of the burner tubes in a home heating boiler or furnace?

Perhaps

• An adjustment problem at a gas regulator
• A rust-damaged (and so unsafe) burner tube
• Wrong gas fuel
  

Watch out: Ask your heating service tech to take a look, or if there is considerable flame or flames rolling out of the heater or any other fire risk the system is probably unsafe and should be shut off while you call for emergency repair.

See details at GAS BURNER FLAME & NOISE DEFECTS

What causes black stains on the inside of the gas burner chamber?

Why would the metal inside of a furnace, burner chamber, have a back and side wall in multiple colors; rainbow like? On 2018-01-08 by Anonymous

by (mod) - Sooting at the gas heater can mean dangerouis carbon monoxide gas formation and release

Anon

Possibly (since we have not a shred of information about your system) you could be seeing soot formation or discoloration from overheating - either of which would be unsafe.

Watch out: Sooting can mean dangerouis carbon monoxide gas formation and release; overheating can mean a cracked, damaged heat exchanger and unsafe gas leaks into the building. You want your heating company to check out the system.

Hard black embers around the Goodman natural gas furnace gas burner

I have a large Goodman natural gas furnace located inside my home.

I went to vacuum out the area it is in and found what appeared to be embers all around the unit and it looked as if they were coming from the welds in the appliance as well.

I'm very confused on what this could be. I'm not sure it was embers.

They were black and hard and had what appeared to be ashes on them as well. I have completely shut the system off and have alternative heat sources but need to have this figured out. On 2017-07-12 by Jamie

by (mod)

Jamie,

Watch out: To be safe you should shut off that heater completely and leave it off until you have had it in examined and repaired by your heating service tech and or certified Chimney Sweep.

My concern is that when a gas burner is producing soot, ts operation is extremely dangerous as it is likely to produce also fatal carbon monoxide gas. The problem could be a blocked chimney, inadequate combustion air, a burner adjustment, or something else.

 

On 2017-06-15 by Ron Dacor ESG366 6 burner

I have a Dacor ESG366 6 burner. Was expensive when purchase years ago. My brother borrowed it for four years as i had it in storage.

I put it back in storage for another two years before i finally pulled it out and installed it.

All went great until i turned it on. The burners burned blue flame but the flames fluttered (flittered?). There was not a strong flame and it was not a steady flame.

All six burners operated the same. I changed the line (From main pipe) to the stove to a bigger line (3/8" to 1/2") and changed the regulator to a brand new one and still, same thing exactly.

Gas company test line from the main supply and was fine. They think the problem is that my stove is set up for LP and I have Natural Gas.

Is it possible my brother switched my range top over to LP? How could I tell? Everything looks "normal". Is it possible to test somehow?

I've had the appliance repair guy out and he tore the thing apart twice looking for bad connections, clogs, bends, etc..

by (mod) How to tell if the burner set up for LP or natural gas?

Ron:

A service tech or other trained professional would be expected to both attach a label and mark clearly on a gas appliance near the burner and at the data tag when appliance has been converted from LP to Natural Gas or from Natural Gas to LP, particularly when changing the burner from how it was shipped at the factory.

But a brother of yours might not do that.

Watch out: a gas appliance that is not set up for the actual gas fuel it is using is unsafe, risking fire, explosion, gas leaks, carbon monoxide poisoning or simply improper operation.

IN that case you'd need to

1. observe that the gas flame and pressure are too weak or too strong
2. look for markings and device changes at the appliance gas regulator - some are converted by removing a cap and flipping a metering orifice over, but others may work differently
3. look at the gas orifice diameters and markings on the brass gas orifices themselves - typically stamped with a number and letter that decodes the size
4. check with the appliance manufacturer about what orifice numbers are specified for natural gas and LP
5. check the actual gas pressures being delivered

 

Mobile home gas flame too low in cold weather

Can I wrap the Regulator and tank -100lb tank?

Mobile home- During cold weather ( 20 d) my heater and kitchen stove flames are low.

How do I fix this? I read all about the temperature change on here and still How Do I Fix This.? On 2016-11-13 by Joy

by (mod) mobile home gas flames are too low

Joy:

Watch out: I suspect as do you that cold weather is the problem, perhaps because the LP gas regulator (I'm guessing what you have installed) is either defective (which means UNSAFE) or needs adjustment.

Sorry but this is NOT something a homeowner can do herself. You need the proper measuring equipment as well as a bit of training to repair or replace the regulator. A mistake such as a leak can blow you to kingdom come.

One gas flame on my space heater is much higher and golden in colour than the others. Is this a problem ?

One gas flame on my space heater is much higher and golden in colour than the others. Is this a problem ? (Apr 28, 2015) kaye longman

Reply:

Yes. Cleaning or adjustment are needed for safety and function.

Watch out: IF you smell gas the situation is DANGEROUS as there is risk of a fire or explosion. In that case get everyone out of the building, don't operate swtiches or anything else that could cause a spark, and call for emergency help from another location.

If you do not smell gas but the heater is making noises it might still be unsafe - it depends on what's wrong. Uneven flame, improper combustion air mix or similar problems need to be repaired.

 

High pressure, gas lifts off burners: unsafe

When I placed a new cylinder even after putting off the lower knob of cylinder the gas comes from the burners. when l approached to gas company the person told me that there is high pressure. l asked for replacement of cylinder. then he told me to replace burner and not cylinder. is he true ? (Nov 5, 2015) prajakta said:

Reply:

I'm not sure, Prajakta, as I don't understand exactly wha't going on with your water cylinder.

But what you describe is VERY DANGEROUS risking a fire or explosion.,

You should

1. Turn off the gas supply immediately if you haven't done so - and if there is gas or gas leakage in your building go outside immediately - don't even keep reading this article. Call for help from away from the building.

2. Ask your plumber or installer to check the gas regulators on your system.

Whether you are using bottled gas (LP) or piped in natural gas, the system usually includes a first stage regulator at the source of gas supply - building or LP tank - and each appliance has its own individual pressure regulator.

I'm not sure what "pulling off the lower knob" means, but if your gas shut-off valve for the water heating cylinder does not shut off gas to that appliance then the shut-off is also defective and unsafe.

 

Banging noise at one gas burner

About a week or so ago, we discovered a weird banging sound that sounds like metal on metal coming from our steam boiler. Sure, we get lots of small bangs in the pipes throughout the house, which we had always assumed to be just air in the pipes. But this sound is different.

It doesn't come from the pipes--it seems to be just in the unit in the basement. It only makes the noise when the boiler fires up and the flames turn on. The sound is always louder in the beginning, and it gets slightly quieter over the following minutes. The speed varies--sometimes it is an irregular rhythm, and sometimes it is very steady.

The banging goes off when the flames turn off. The banging appears to be coming from one specific corner of the unit. I'm worried that it is a pump or fan of some sort. (Dec 1, 2015) Brad

Reply: fixing banging pipe noise at radiators

Brad,

Please take a look at

BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS and let me know what questions remain.

I'll post links to your sound recording there as that may invite further comment from some of our steam experts. We will, of course keep the identity given at the youtube video anonymous here.

Often steam boiler noises showing up as banging pipes or radiators are traced to a condensate return problem. Please take a look at the suggestions on this page.

If the boiler has at least a few years of previously soundless operation and the banging / clanking at the boiler is recent I suspect that the horizontal portion of the condensate return or steam supply line is debris-clogged. Ask your heating service technician to take a look at the system.

Watch out: ask your heating service technician to show you when and how to safely flush the steam boiler.

 

Plastic burning smell from DEO gas stove

While we were using our deo gas stove in kitchen, we felt a plastic burning smell coming from it.then we saw a flame beneath the burner which was'on' mode.what was the complaint and how can solve this? (Mar 4, 2016) ARUNYA DEVI P A said:

Reply:

Watch out: Turn off gas supply to the stove immediately.

When the stove is cool, follow the instruction manual procedure for lifting or accessing the stove top area around the burners and beneath the stove top for cleaning. Look for something that was dropped or spilled into that area. There should be no combustible plastic around the burners.

Use the page top or bottom CONTACT link to send me photos for further comment if you like.

 

Wok burner lights on Euromaid gas cooktop

I have Euromaid gas cooktop. For some reason the wok burner lights up around the ring rather than outside. What can I do? (Mar 6, 2016) Vera

Reply:

Check for

- a mis-placed burner cap

- dirt or debris on the burner

Watch out: the situation you describe may be unsafe, risking fire or injury.

 

Bright orange flames in old wall heater

I have an old wall heater that is now shooting out bright orange flames. what do I do? (Mar 28, 2016) bobby lema said:

Reply:

Watch out: Shut off the gas supply, leave the heater off: else there is risk of fire, explosion, or carbon monoxide hazard. If you cannot find the gas valve for the heater (it may be inside its cover) or cannot safely access it, go shut off the building's main gas valve. If you cannot do that, ask your fire department for help.

The problem may be a gas leak, damaged burner, or something else.

 

Why is my gas ring making an airy noise?

Why is my gas ring making an airy noise ? (June 29, 2016) Roxy

Reply:

Roxy:

Watch out: TURN OFF THE GAS RIGHT AWAY as your system could be unsafe.

Typical causes of the noise you describe at a gas burner include

1. the burner cap is askew and simply needs to be properly placed

2. The burner ring is a loose, set-in type that is askew and simply needs to be properly placed

3. The gas pressure is improperly set or the gas regulator is not working properly

4. An air adjustment, shutter, or orifice is incorrect for the type of gas you're using

5. the wrong gas regulator is installed, wrong gas orifices, or the appliance was not properly converted from natural gas to LP gas or from LP gas to natural gas.

 

Airy sound with flame

While switch off the gas stove airy sound with flame is produced even though we bought a new gas stove we still facing the same problem why? (July 17, 2016) ponni

Reply:

Ponni
first check for a burner cap that is askew

Next, ask your service tech to check that the stove is properly set up for the type of gas you have : Natural gas vs LP gas.

The pressures, orifices, regulator settings are different. (Search InspectApedia for GAS APPLIANCE CONVERT LP-NATURAL GAS to read details)

Flames are coming out of the wrong end of gas burner tube

Flames come from wrong end of burner tube (air intake adjust openings). have seen this on gas grills also. ? On 2011-08-14 by mike

by (mod) -

Mike I've seen flames at the air intake too - some techs call it flame rollout. It is a sign of improper system adjustment, or

Watch out: more seriously it can be a sign of a blocked flue - very dangerous as that can produce lethal carbon monoxide. Investigate further and don't leave such a system running.

Gas heater flame changed from blue to orange - is that a carbon monoxide hazard?

hello was just wondering the heater flame was blue before and then it was mainly orange is that carbon monoxide or is it air or dust just worried about it and is it safe to fun it now has blue at the bottom and alot more orange at the top On 2011-06-15 by daniel

Reply by (mod) -

Daniel:

If your heater flame has changed from blue to orange that suggests a lack of combustion air or an improper adjustment.

When burning LP gas or natural gas, in perfect combustion the products produced are carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor.

Watch out: But if there is not enough combustion air (not enough oxygen or "O"), then the products produced include also carbon Monoxide (CO) which can kill the building occupants.

So if vacuuming off dust doesn't restore the blue flame you need a service tech and you need to consider the area unsafe.

...

Continue reading  at GAS BURNER FLAME & NOISE DEFECTS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Gas Burner Troubleshooting Articles

• BANGING HEATING SYSTEM NOISES
• BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLAMES
• COMPLETE COMBUSTION, STOICHIOMETRIC
• GAS APPLIANCE CONVERT LP-to-NATURAL GAS
• GAS BURNER FLAME & NOISE DEFECTS
• GAS BURNER SOOT CAUSE & CURE
• GAS BURNER PILOT LIGHT PROCEDURE
• GAS BURNER POPPING NOISES
• GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS
• GAS FIREPLACES & GAS LOGS
• GAS IGNITER DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
• GAS PRESSURES LP vs NATURAL GAS
• GAS REGULATORS & APPLIANCE / HEATER CONTROLS
• GAS REGULATOR NOISES - buzzing, humming, and other noises at gas appliance regulators
• WATER HEATER SCALE DE-LIMING PROCEDURE

Suggested citation for this web page

GAS BURNER FLAME NOISE & DEFECT FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to GAS APPLIANCES, PIPING, CONTROLS

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