On my post Q&A: OK to Use Gas Stove? a reader posted a comment asking “How do you know ‘If your burners are not adjusted properly, …they will produce more combustion by-products’?”

And also since more of you have been testing your indoor air quality by signing up with HomeLab, I’ve frequently been hearing that problems are being found in the kitchen, with combustion by-products being produced by their gas stove. I even found that in my house, where my VOC readings were “in the green” until I turned on my gas stove to cook.

A properly adjusted gas burner should have a blue flame continuously around the burner, like this:

The blue color means the flame is getting enough oxygen and burning completely.

Yellow flames mean the flame is not getting enough oxygen and is not burning completely.

To fix the problem of a yellow flame yourself see http://homeguides.sfgate.com/causes-burner-flame-gas-stove-yellow-82498.html

If a flame is missing, it means that the burner is clogged and needs to be cleaned.

If you want to clean your gas jets yourself see: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/clean-gas-stove-jets-26836.html

This burner really has a problem—uneven, yellow and missing flames—and is producing a lot of combustion by-products:

It’s a good idea to get your gas stove checked by a professional every once in a while, especially if you see any of these problems. Your local energy provider may offer a free service.