Tips for Operating a Gas Range
A gas cooking range is one of the simplest appliances in the house. It has few moving parts and when kept clean will operate trouble-free. The trick to maintaining a gas range is to clean it often before grease or burnt food particles begin to build up.

The part of the stove that you see, namely, the top and burner grates are the least important parts to keep clean as far as proper stove operation is concerned. Food spills that reach into the stove and clog the pilot light burners or settle in the main burners and clog the gas outlet holes will cause the stove to operate erratically.

Most gas ranges have lift-off stove tops or at least have lift-up tops. Turn all the stove controls to the off position and allow the burner grates to cool and then remove them from the stove top.

Lift the range top up to expose the pilot light and burner assemblies. Check that the pilot lights are lit. If some are out make a note so you can give them a special cleaning. Then turn off the gas to the stove. The valve is usually located behind the stove. Turn the handle until it is perpendicular to the gas pipe.

The gas burner assemblies lift out of the stove. Some may have a retaining screw but they are removable. Take them out, noting where each burner belongs so you can reinstall it properly. Soak the burners in hot soapy water while you clean the other parts of the stove.

Make sure the pilot light burners are cool before you touch them. Clean away any caked or burnt food buildup with an old toothbrush or other small stiff brush. Use a pin or thin soft wire to clean the pilot gas jet. This small hole is easily clogged with food spills.

Clean the rest of the stove, especially the areas directly under the burners where food spills land. Then thoroughly clean the burner assemblies you left soaking. Clean all food particles from the gas passages located in the outer edge of the burner head. Rinse the units and dry them thoroughly.

Reassemble the stove burners and turn on the gas. Light the pilot light by holding a lighted match close to the small gas outlet in the tip of the pilot burner. You may have to wait a little while for the gas to work its way up to the pilot lights. If you have trouble lighting the pilots, turn on one of the main burners for a few seconds to let the air out of the system. Don't keep it on for more than 30 seconds, and turn it off as soon as you smell gas. Wait 5 minutes before you attempt to relight the pilot light to allow any accumulation of gas to dissipate. Then light the pilots.

Check the functioning of the main burners by turning them on one at a time. They should light right away and burn with an even flame. If the flame has yellow tips, the air ratio is probably set too lean. Open the burner air shutter until the flame turns blue with an occasional yellow tip. Tighten the shutter set screw and adjust the other burners in the same way.

Replace the stove top and burner grates and it's ready to use.

written by the editors of HouseNet
Copyright HouseNet, Inc.

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