Tips for maintaining your appliances

Kitchen Ranges

A kitchen range has electric elements or gas burners that provide heat to the cooktop and oven. Most gas ranges also have some electric features, such as a clock and lights, and sometimes an electric pilot.

If your electric range or the electrical parts of your gas range don't work, first check the fuse or circuit breaker.

Be sure the power cord and terminal block on a freestanding range aren't defective. Replace them if necessary.

Unreliable Oven Temperature

Unreliable oven temperature is a common complaint. The thermostat that maintains oven temperature is part of the oven control. If the thermostat fails, have the entire control replaced. But if it's only out of calibration, you may be able to adjust it.

To gauge the problem, place an accurate oven thermometer in the center of a 350 degree oven.

After 20 minutes, check the reading.

If it's more than 100 degrees too high or too low, replace the control.

If the difference is less than 100 degrees, pull the oven control knob off and locate the calibration screw-either inside the hollow control shaft or on a movable disc on the back of the knob.

Tighten or loosen the screw; keep testing until the temperature is correct.

Electric Ranges

The cooktop heating elements of most modern electric ranges simply plug into a receptacle, allowing for easy cleaning or replacement. The same is true of the baking and broiling elements.

In some ovens, you'll need to unscrew the brackets from the oven wall and then unplug the element.
You may need to pull gently forward and then remove the wires from the terminals.
Finally, lift out the element.
If an element isn't working, check for breaks or bubbles on the smooth surface of the element.
Also check for corrosion on the terminals, as well as for broken connections and scorched wires or insulation near the element receptacle.

Safety Tip: Turn off the power to the range or, if necessary, to the entire circuit before making any electrical checks or repairs.

Gas Ranges

Whether on the cooktop or in the oven, a gas burner that doesn't work may lead you to a pilot that has gone out. Pilots may be gas or electric (in the latter, a spark ignites the gas). Both types are easily relighted (see your owner's manual). A gas pilot that continually goes out calls for cleaning and adjusting and perhaps gas company help.

Keeping the Right Flame

The flame of a cooktop or oven burner should be a bright, steady blue. If it's not, you'll need to change the air-gas ratio by adjusting the burner's air shutter.

To reach the shutter for a cooktop burner, lift off the cooktop.

You can adjust an oven burner's shutter from the compartment under the oven.

If the flame is jumpy, loosen the screw securing the shutter and gradually close it until the flame burns properly.

If the flame is a mixture of blue, yellow, and white, increase the air supply by gradually opening the shutter.

When the flame is properly adjusted, tighten the screw.

CAUTION: If you smell gas and the pilots are lighted, get out of the house immediately and call the gas company from a neighbor's house.

Be sure to turn off the power to a gas range if you'll be working on its electrical parts.

SERVING THE VALLEY OF THE SUN
FOR ALL OF YOUR HEATING, COOLING & APPLIANCE REPAIR NEEDS

TWO SEASONS SERVICE
A Division of Two Seasons Holdings LLC

515 E. Carefree Highway, Suite 360
Phoenix, Arizona 85085

623-935-0640
FAX: 623-535-5940

ROC 218834
twoseasons@twoseasonsac.com
www.twoseasonsac.com