Natural gas is always waiting in your home’s gas pipes to be used. When you use a gas appliance, a valve opens that lets natural gas flow through the pipes into the appliance where it is needed.

For example, when you use a gas burner on a range top, natural gas flows from the gas line up to the burner. A pilot light (a small flame or spark) ignites the gas. Then, as you turn the knob, you let more gas flow, which makes a bigger flame—or less gas, which makes a smaller flame.

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