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Path: utzoo!decvax!mcnc!akgua!akgub!cylixd!dave
From: dave@cylixd.UUCP (Dave Kirby)
Newsgroups: net.cooks,net.consumers
Subject: Re: Gas oven go BOOM!  NOW what do I do?
Message-ID: <747@cylixd.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 31-Jan-86 11:20:17 EST
Article-I.D.: cylixd.747
Posted: Fri Jan 31 11:20:17 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Feb-86 18:17:40 EST
Reply-To: dave@cylixd.UUCP (Dave Kirby)
Distribution: na
Organization: RCA Cylix Communications , Memphis, TN
Lines: 48
Xref: theo net.cooks:2953 net.consumers:2775


In article <1221@lll-crg.ARpA> figmo@lll-crg.UUCP writes:

>When we moved into our first house last October, it was equipped with 
>an old J. C. Penney's gas stove/oven.

My sympathies are with you, Lynn.


>...The stovetop works fine.  The OVEN, however, ... usually starts 
>out sort of okay, but then it shuts off the heat and keeps the gas 
>going.  Today it did that until I came to check the bread.  I turned off 
>and on the gas to restart it, and the whole thing went "BOOM!" and 
>flames shot out about 6 inches.
>
>Why would an oven do this?  It's bad enough that it's always 25 degrees off. 
>Now I don't know whether or not I need to replace it.  Is there some way that
>I can clean it or something?


When we were first married, my wife and I lived in a little rental
house with an old gas oven, so I know what you're talking about. 

There is a little valve that is supposed to shut off the gas when the 
flame goes out. It operates off the heat of the flame, which is why 
you have to hold a match to the pilot light for several minutes
sometimes in order to get it to light; you've got to wait for it to 
warm up and let the gas through.

The trouble comes when these little devils stick open, which they are 
prone to do as the stove ages and grease and dirt clog up the valve. 
Also, as the stove ages, crud gets into the pilot light openings, and 
the flame tends to go out more easily.

So then you have a pilot light that blows out easily, and a valve that
keeps itself rusted or gooed open, letting all that nice gas into your
house. This stuff can be very dangerous. There are horror stories that
the fire department likes to tell about people whose ovens flooded their
house with gas when they were on vacation, and when they arrived home
after two weeks and turned on the lights, BOOM! The whole house blew up,
as the gas was ignited by the little spark created by the light switch.

This problem can be solved with meticulous cleaning and proper
lubrication. I prefer to get a good pistol and put the poor machine
out of its misery once and for all and go get a nice electric stove.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dave Kirby    ( ...!ihnp4!akgub!cylixd!dave)