Leaving Oven On When Not at Home

Leaving the oven on for extended periods of time when not at home is never a good idea.

If something were to happen, you are not there to rectify the oven fault, and it could grow into an oven fire or worse.

It can be dangerous, leading to potential fire hazards and increased energy costs. This blog post will explore why leaving the oven on is such a bad idea.

By the time you’re through reading this post, you’ll be better informed about how to stay safe when using your oven. So read on to learn more!

Is it Safe to Leave Your Oven On If You’re Not Home?

Most of us have been there: you’re running late for a meeting or your train, and in a rush to leave, you forget to turn off the oven. It’s a common mistake, but is it safe to leave your oven on when not at home?

The answer is no. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), before leaving your house, you should unplug all kitchen appliances, including your oven and toaster oven.

They warn that if an appliance is left plugged in and the heating elements and breaker trip, it could cause a house fire. So, when you’re not home, remember to turn off your oven.

What Else Can Happen if the Oven is Left On?

Not only can leaving your oven on cause a cooking fire, but it can also increase energy costs. Ovens use up to 4,000 watts of power when running—that’s a lot of electricity! Leaving your electrical appliances unattended could cost you extra money on your energy bills.

It’s also important to consider the food in the oven when you leave. If left in a preheated oven, the food can quickly dry out, resulting in an unappetizing dish.

The first thing to remember is that an unattended oven poses certain risks, no matter what kind. The potential hazards include fire, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, smoke damage, and electrical problems.

If your oven has an electrical malfunction while you’re away, it could cause significant damage before anyone notices.

If you need to leave cooking appliances, like an oven, on while out of the house, consider using a timer or thermostat to turn the oven off after a certain time.

However, it’s important to remember that these devices may not always be reliable, and you should never rely on them as your only safety measure.

Leaving A Gas Oven On

The risks are especially high when leaving a gas oven on when not at home.

If left unattended for too long, the pilot light can become extinguished and start leaking carbon monoxide into your house.

This gas is odorless and colorless, so it’s nearly impossible to detect until symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning start showing up, such as blurred vision, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness.

If you have doubts whether your oven is safe enough to leave running while you’re out of the house, then err on caution and just turn it off.

Leaving An Electric Oven On

Leaving an electric oven on when not at home is safer than its gas stove counterpart but can still be risky.

Electric ovens can overheat if left unattended for too long and potentially start a kitchen fire.

Additionally, leaving a large appliance like an oven running while you’re away from your house can cause significant increases in your electricity bill, as it will be using up more energy than usual.

Can You Leave Your Oven On Unsupervised?

At the end of the day, it’s best to err on caution and always turn off any appliances (especially ones like ovens) before leaving your house.

Unattended appliances pose potential risks that could leave you with costly repairs or worse. If you’re in a rush and need to leave an appliance like your oven running, make sure to use additional safety features (like timers, thermostats, and smoke alarm) as an extra precaution.

Doing so could save you from potential disaster and keep your home safe while you’re away.

Bottom Line

It’s never recommended to leave any type of appliance running when not at home, even if you have additional safety measures such as timers or thermostats in place.

Appliances like ovens can overheat and cause fires, leak carbon monoxide, or lead to electrical problems that could cost you a lot of money if left unattended for too long. Protect yourself and turn off your oven before leaving the house.