Different ovens from multiple brands can have different peculiarities, but occasionally, you may get worried when your oven starts exhibiting unfamiliar peculiarities. An example is the popping sounds made by gas ovens. Upon hearing this you may have started to wonder “why does my gas oven make a popping sound?”
Sometimes your oven could simply be making the sounds just as a normal working function or due to normal physics. Basically, the natural popping sound in a gas oven is caused due to the fact that solids expand when heating. This is pure thermodynamics.
Hence, there may not be a cause for worry here. However, it is certainly worth inspecting because your oven could also be making the sounds as a result of a fault it has developed.
In this article, we will be discussing the possible causes of the various types of sounds that can occur in your gas and electric oven, how to identify natural and unnatural sounds and the possible causes of those sounds
Why Does My Gas Oven Make a Popping Sound
As earlier mentioned, various sounds a gas oven makes can be caused by various reasons. Some of them are natural, others are a cause of worry.
Therefore, it is worth differentiating between the two.
Natural sounds
These sounds should not alarm you much as they are either caused due to heating or by the normal functionality of an oven.
Let us review what they are.
Pop Sound
Some sounds may occur as a result of thermodynamics.
This will usually happen when a metal is expanding from heat. It could be from a pan you put in the oven.
If the oven is a new oven or is coming on for the first time in a long time, the oven can also make popping sounds as the solid material expands.
It generally occurs as a single crack or puffing sound that should not get you worried.
However, it is still highly worth checking out.
Burner Click
Usually, when you turn the burner switch, a clicking or a ticking sound is emitted. This is natural since it is the sound of the igniter.
If the bake burner does not ignite on the first attempt, this clicking sound may continue to click until it turns on. Thus, it is a natural sound for most gas burners.
It will also likely occur again when you turn the burner off and turn it on again.
Pipe Hissing Sound
When your gas oven is connected to the gas cylinder with a pipe, you may hear low hissing sounds as the gas goes through the pipes and manifest as naked flames on the gas burner ring or the burner cap.
This is very natural and the gas oven makes a puffing sound when the gas oven is turned on.
Unnatural Sounds
These are sounds that should immediately be checked.
Banging Sound
A banging sound is louder than a popping sound and it is a cause for alarm. The first thing to do here is to turn the oven off and disconnect your oven immediately from the fuel source.
You need to make sure that all the components are intact and haven’t blown apart.
One of the possible causes of a banging sound in your gas-powered oven could be that the oven ignition is dirty.
This occurs when there is a lot of dirt or grime on the burner cap. This causes the oven to make a banging sound without emitting any fire when you turn on the ignition.
When this occurs, it means you need a technician.
Rumbling Sound
This sound is a very common sign that your burner might be faulty. It is usually preceded by the flames on the burner rising in excess.
This may be due to a gas leakage so consult a technician before attempting to use again.
Burning Sound
Ideally, your oven burner should not make any sound when its on, other than the natural ones which have been mentioned above but if there is moisture on your oven burner, it might make a burning sound to eliminate the moisture.
It typically sounds like a burning bush but not as harsh. To fix this, simply wipe the burner dry.
In cases where the burning sound is loud, then there is a possibility that the gas regulator or the burner is damaged.
Leaking Sound
If your oven burner is faulty or if a pipe is broken, then your burner may sound like the gas is leaking. This may sound like a hissing sound.
Though it isn’t necessarily true that the gas is leaking, in such situations, do not use the burner again until it has been inspected.
Why Does My Electric Oven Make Sounds?
Unlike gas ovens, electric ovens are relatively safer. By using an electric oven you don’t run the risk of gas leakage.
In truth, both gas and electric ovens have a good number of similarities. One of them is in sounds.
Electric ovens also make sounds and with the tips below, you may be able to identify what each sound means.
Natural Sound
Again, there are natural and unnatural sounds in electric ovens. Let us reviews the natural sounds first.
Humming Sound
Electric ovens do not require naked flames, therefore as you put on a setting on it, you can easily hear the humming sound as it increases to the temperature you have set it to.
This sound is very normal, so the next time you hear your electric oven humming, especially if you just turned it on, be rest assured it is simply increasing in temperature.
Light Clicking and Popping
Electric ovens have heating elements and as they heat, they may make very light clicking noises.
These are completely natural and are caused due to the heating element expanding upon heating.
Similarly to the gas oven, the solid material of an electric oven may also expand when heating. Therefore, you may hear a popping sound occasionally especially if you have a pan inside.
Unnatural Sounds
These sounds in an electric oven are certainly a cause for alarm.
Rattling Sound
A rattling sound is usually a sign that something is wrong. When this occurs, it can get really annoying.
If your electric oven starts making a rattling sound, the sound might be a sign of other underlying problems, your oven fan motor might be faulty.
To fix this, simply reach out to your technician as you might have to change your oven fan motor.
Basic Troubleshooting
The following actions can be taken to immediately troubleshoot a fault oven.
- First and foremost important is that you disconnect the oven from the fuel source and turn it off as soon as you hear unnatural sounds.
- For gas ovens, if you hear a hissing sound and if you can smell the natural gas distinctively, then that is certainly a cause of worry.
- Make sure that the piping for the gas is correctly installed.
- For electric ovens, make sure that the heating elements are not damaged and are properly positioned in their terminals.
- Make sure the are no cracks in the walls of the oven chamber.
- Make sure that the burner in the gas oven is not damaged.
- If the dangerous sounds persist, it is better to call up a technician and wait for their advice.
Conclusion
Basically, over the course of its operation, your oven can make various sounds caused by a variety of reasons. Some can be natural and others can be unnatural and worrying.
When you hear an unfamiliar sound, ensure that you do some research to avoid accidents and block all danger points.
Always ensure that your oven (whether gas or electric) is kept clean at all times. This will reduce the chances of impromptu damage and keep your oven healthy at all times.
If possible, try to get an oven technician to check your oven every 6 months. Occasionally checking if your oven is healthy will go a long way in preventing cooking emergencies.
FAQs
1. Is it normal for a gas oven to make noise?
If you hear these usual gas oven noises, they are normal.
Frequently, when using a gas oven, you may hear the gas going to the appliance. Additionally, you may hear a clicking sound as the ignition ignites the flame. Following that, you may hear a hissing or whooshing sound when the oven burner cycles on and off to maintain the oven cavity's temperature.
2. What does it mean if my oven pops?
When the igniter fires up your gas-powered oven, you will hear a clicking or puffing sound. However, audible clicks, bangs, or pops may indicate a problem with the oven's components or gas lines. Contractors may need to inspect and clean igniters to minimize the popping noise and guarantee that the gas properly fires the oven.
3. Is a gas oven dangerous?
Gas ovens can be dangerous if not used properly. You should always follow the manufacturer's instructions for using a gas oven.
4. Should my oven smell like gas?
It is common to sense a strange odor when you first turn on the oven gas appliances. This is a result of the gas being burned at the burner and will subside within a minute or two. The stench of unburned gas is comparable to that of rotting eggs. It is not usual for your kitchen to smell like unburned gas.
5. What happens when your oven pops?
The oven popping sound is caused by the sudden release of pressure that builds up as the oven heats. The pressure can cause the door to bulge or even burst open.