An Overview Of Simple Range Cooker Repairs You Can Handle

By Author: Elizabeth Cook
Total Articles: 5
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The fact that gas and electric range cookers are designed in a manner that allows for fast components disassembly makes for their usually easy repair - at least for some basic hitches that you can really take care of personally. The most frequent problems that people with gas range cookers face have to do with the delivery and ignition of gas in the burners and ovens; for cookers that use electricity the most frequent malfunctions have to do with defective heating elements. A regular servicing of the concerned components does much to avert more serious and expensive problems.

As soon as you note that your cooker has a problem you will want to do some troubleshooting. The first step in doing so should be to ensure that all the power sources are disconnected. Proceed to turn off the gas supply valve, or to unplug/switch off the electric power as well as disconnecting any grounding wire for gas and electric ranges respectively.

The disassembly of a gas range cooker is pretty easy. You first have to unscrew the panels to detach them and then remove the control knobs (most varieties just need you to pull them off). ...
... Detaching the panels often means that you have to unscrew a series of mounting screws which are often concealed by trim or moulding of which you'll accordingly need to pry off.

One of the problems that you'll have to deal with often has to do with clogged burners which mainly results from the spilling of foods on the same. This subsequently results in the bunging up of the gas ports thus impeding ignition. Gaining access to the burners just requires you to remove their grates followed by the cooker's top. The soiled burners should then be soaked in a mild detergent and water solution and then be cleaned using a soft cloth before being rinsed and left to dry. To clear the cooker's gas ports you need to use a needle or pin but not a matchstick or toothpick as their tips could stick into the ports and cause a more severe problem.

Sometimes you'll note that your cooker's oven is not heating to the required temperature or that the heat is unevenly distributed. More often than not this problem has to do with a malfunctioning door gasket. To ascertain this just turn the oven on and by passing your hand above the door feel if any heat is escaping. Oven gaskets are of two types - those mounted on the oven frame and those installed between the oven door's front and back sections. You can repair the former type but for the latter you need to get professional help. Start by unscrewing the gasket or pulling it out of its channel before cleaning both the channel and door frame using a mild household detergent and water solution. After this the new gasket can be installed - start at the top of the frame, down to the sides and then to the bottom whereupon you should firmly butt the gasket's ends together.

Another cause for an oven's faulty heating has to do with a malfunctioning thermostat. If you suspect that this is the case you first need to establish by how much the oven's temperature deviates from the control setting. Do this by placing an oven thermostat (set anywhere between 300°-400° Fahrenheit) in the oven on a centre rack for approximately twenty minutes. After this check to see whether the oven thermometer is 25 degrees higher or lower than the control setting. If so this implies that the thermostat needs some recalibration. Start by pulling off the thermostat knob. Behind it will be two screws securing a circular notched plate; loosen the screws but don't remove them. Take a screwdriver and use it to alter the settings on the notched plate by turning it anticlockwise - each ⅛ turn increases the oven temperature by 25° Fahrenheit. To similarly lower the oven temperatures turn the plate clockwise.

Our experience in the business has taught us to appreciate buyers concerns with regard to choosing an oven, taking into consideration the elements of dimensions, fuel type, oven configuration, safety, style and price. The Range Cookers UK buying guide offers handy insights on what to look for when you are buying cookers.