Kitchen Gas Appliances - Oven burner won't light
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Jenny
09-10-08, 12:59 AM
Hi,
I'm new here, and I hope I'm in the right place for my question.
I have an old Caloric Gas stove. My oven burner won't light. The pilot light is lite. The pilot light also gets bigger when I turn the oven on, but nothing else happens. I have never fixed a stove before so I don't really know what to do. Please help.
I'm new here, and I hope I'm in the right place for my question.
I have an old Caloric Gas stove. My oven burner won't light. The pilot light is lite. The pilot light also gets bigger when I turn the oven on, but nothing else happens. I have never fixed a stove before so I don't really know what to do. Please help.
Sharp Advice
09-10-08, 08:55 AM
Hello Jenny and Welcome to the Do It Yourself Web Site and to the Gas Appliances topic.
The element the larger pilot flame heats is most likely the problem. Ovens often use one of two different types of safety elements.
One type is called a "Fluid Safety." A fluid safety element can be identified by having a metal flexible tube with a male threaded screw end.
The other type of safety element is called a "Flame Switch." This safety device also uses internal fluid or vapor pressure. However, it's pressure is used to keep closed a set of contact points within it's housing. The back side of this type of safety device will have two 120+ volt house line electrical current wires attached to it.
The flame switch safety device can be identified by it's round diameter end. It is located on the opposite end of the bulb element. The round end is shinny and is about the size a of a silver dollar. It's body has two small sheet metal screws securing it to the ovens metal wall.
Whichever type your oven uses, it's purpose is identical. It's there to shut off main burner gas in the event the pilot light is not on. Without this device or a malfunction of this device, burner gas would be allowed to freely flow through the burner without any source of ignition present.
Often times the pilot light will be on, yet the ovens burner fails to turn on. This may indicate a failure of the safety element. In which case cleaning the pilot assembly may correct the condition or a replacement of the safety element will be needed.
The pilot flame must not be yellowed. It must be cleared of all lint and dust. The pilot flame must be all blue and burning hot. The element must be directly lined up with the pilots flame.
Use a can of compressed air, same type used to clean computer keyboards, to blow out the lint and dust in the pilot assembly. The flexible plastic tube that comes with the can makes it easy to reach hard to reach places too.
Be sure to also blow out the intake air holes just prior to the pilot flame. They are usually located just after the tubing nut and before the pilot assembly too.
If all the above conditions are meet and the controls on the front panel are all correctly set, there is electrical power supplied to the appliance and the oven still fails to work, the element and or the gas valve could be defective.
Cautions suggested prior to attempting repairs:
Be sure there is no house electric current supplied to the appliance prior to attempting any repairs. Failure to do so may result in electrical SHOCK!...:(
Be sure to turn off the gas to the appliance prior to any repair work or removal of the gas valve for testing or replacement. Failure to do this may cause a leak, fire or explosion!!!...:(
Cautionary Reminder Note:
Before attempting any repairs, be sure to unplug the appliance from the wall receptacle power source first.
>>>Read The Sticky Help Note In This Topic:
Range-Stove-Oven-Broiler Basic Help Information & Manufacturers Web Sites. http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=159808
Kindly use the reply button to post all replies, add additional information or ask additional questions when replies are posted. Using this method moves and/or keeps the topic back up to the top of the list of questions automatically and keeps all content on the same subject within one thread.
Retail appliance parts dealers can also help determine what the possible problem may be. Bring the make, model and serial numbers. Appliance part stores and dealers are listed in the phone book.Check back on your question several more times. Other members posting replies in this forum topic may offer you additional advice, ideas, suggestions, test and or repair methods.
Regards and Good Luck. Web Site Host, Moderator Hiring Agent, Gas Appliances Topic Moderator, Multiple Forums Moderator & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.
Personal Driving Safety Reminder: Buckle Up & Drive Safely.
"The Life You Save, May Be Your Own."
The element the larger pilot flame heats is most likely the problem. Ovens often use one of two different types of safety elements.
One type is called a "Fluid Safety." A fluid safety element can be identified by having a metal flexible tube with a male threaded screw end.
The other type of safety element is called a "Flame Switch." This safety device also uses internal fluid or vapor pressure. However, it's pressure is used to keep closed a set of contact points within it's housing. The back side of this type of safety device will have two 120+ volt house line electrical current wires attached to it.
The flame switch safety device can be identified by it's round diameter end. It is located on the opposite end of the bulb element. The round end is shinny and is about the size a of a silver dollar. It's body has two small sheet metal screws securing it to the ovens metal wall.
Whichever type your oven uses, it's purpose is identical. It's there to shut off main burner gas in the event the pilot light is not on. Without this device or a malfunction of this device, burner gas would be allowed to freely flow through the burner without any source of ignition present.
Often times the pilot light will be on, yet the ovens burner fails to turn on. This may indicate a failure of the safety element. In which case cleaning the pilot assembly may correct the condition or a replacement of the safety element will be needed.
The pilot flame must not be yellowed. It must be cleared of all lint and dust. The pilot flame must be all blue and burning hot. The element must be directly lined up with the pilots flame.
Use a can of compressed air, same type used to clean computer keyboards, to blow out the lint and dust in the pilot assembly. The flexible plastic tube that comes with the can makes it easy to reach hard to reach places too.
Be sure to also blow out the intake air holes just prior to the pilot flame. They are usually located just after the tubing nut and before the pilot assembly too.
If all the above conditions are meet and the controls on the front panel are all correctly set, there is electrical power supplied to the appliance and the oven still fails to work, the element and or the gas valve could be defective.
Cautions suggested prior to attempting repairs:
Be sure there is no house electric current supplied to the appliance prior to attempting any repairs. Failure to do so may result in electrical SHOCK!...:(
Be sure to turn off the gas to the appliance prior to any repair work or removal of the gas valve for testing or replacement. Failure to do this may cause a leak, fire or explosion!!!...:(
Cautionary Reminder Note:
Before attempting any repairs, be sure to unplug the appliance from the wall receptacle power source first.
>>>Read The Sticky Help Note In This Topic:
Range-Stove-Oven-Broiler Basic Help Information & Manufacturers Web Sites. http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=159808
Kindly use the reply button to post all replies, add additional information or ask additional questions when replies are posted. Using this method moves and/or keeps the topic back up to the top of the list of questions automatically and keeps all content on the same subject within one thread.
Retail appliance parts dealers can also help determine what the possible problem may be. Bring the make, model and serial numbers. Appliance part stores and dealers are listed in the phone book.Check back on your question several more times. Other members posting replies in this forum topic may offer you additional advice, ideas, suggestions, test and or repair methods.
Regards and Good Luck. Web Site Host, Moderator Hiring Agent, Gas Appliances Topic Moderator, Multiple Forums Moderator & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.
Personal Driving Safety Reminder: Buckle Up & Drive Safely.
"The Life You Save, May Be Your Own."