Indoor Pest Control - Rodent trapped under stove top
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dvbrauer
10-03-09, 06:11 PM
Hi,
I have an Amana gas range model AGS760, operating with propane and electric igniters on each burner. It has been operating fine since we installed it in 1994. For the past couple of weeks we have been hearing a scraping/chewing sound coming from under the stove top, just behind the face where the knobs are. Not only is the sound and the prospect of accumulated waste and possibly a dead rodent at some point being in the stove unpleasant, I am somewhat worried about what it is chewing on or scraping at.
The design of this range is completely enclosed with no gaps around the burners so it is impossible to see down into the area under the top. I have looked for any clearly accessible screws and found four along the lip of the front panel where the knob holes are, but after removing these I was still unable to remove the front panel. I have also tried to pry on the top with moderate force and a medium size screwdriver in hopes that it may snap on, but am concerned about how exactly how the gas and electric are routed to the burners and don't want to chip the porcelain.
Advice?http://forum.doityourself.com/images/smilies/confused.gif
I have an Amana gas range model AGS760, operating with propane and electric igniters on each burner. It has been operating fine since we installed it in 1994. For the past couple of weeks we have been hearing a scraping/chewing sound coming from under the stove top, just behind the face where the knobs are. Not only is the sound and the prospect of accumulated waste and possibly a dead rodent at some point being in the stove unpleasant, I am somewhat worried about what it is chewing on or scraping at.
The design of this range is completely enclosed with no gaps around the burners so it is impossible to see down into the area under the top. I have looked for any clearly accessible screws and found four along the lip of the front panel where the knob holes are, but after removing these I was still unable to remove the front panel. I have also tried to pry on the top with moderate force and a medium size screwdriver in hopes that it may snap on, but am concerned about how exactly how the gas and electric are routed to the burners and don't want to chip the porcelain.
Advice?http://forum.doityourself.com/images/smilies/confused.gif
chandler
10-05-09, 07:57 PM
From the service bulletin:
Main Top
1. Shut off power to the range.
2. Remove grates and burner caps.
3. Remove screws securing burner heads to main top.
4. Lift up burner heads. Disconnect electrode from
each burner.
5. Remove screws securing main top to burner assembly.
6. Lift up front of main top to clear control panel to disengage
studs. Pull front of top and remove from
range.
Full service manual at http://www.servicematters.com/maytag_library/docs/B231_1R4.pdf
Main Top
1. Shut off power to the range.
2. Remove grates and burner caps.
3. Remove screws securing burner heads to main top.
4. Lift up burner heads. Disconnect electrode from
each burner.
5. Remove screws securing main top to burner assembly.
6. Lift up front of main top to clear control panel to disengage
studs. Pull front of top and remove from
range.
Full service manual at http://www.servicematters.com/maytag_library/docs/B231_1R4.pdf
SeattlePioneer
10-11-09, 03:05 AM
The rats can be expected to chew on the wires from the switches on the gas valve and/or the high voltage wires going to the spark electrode.
Rats chewing up ranges are very common problems -- it's a smorgasboard for rats on a lot of gas ranges.
So deal with the problem now or have bigger problems before very long.
Rats chewing up ranges are very common problems -- it's a smorgasboard for rats on a lot of gas ranges.
So deal with the problem now or have bigger problems before very long.
dvbrauer
10-13-09, 07:08 AM
I finally had a chance to work on this project last weekend. I ran into a problem in that the phillips head of the screw on one of the four burners was completely rusted out. I moved on to another burner to go through the steps and was able to get both screws out and the burner off, but since I hadn't heard the mouse for a couple of days I decided to wait before drilling out the rusty screw. The next day a mouse showed up in one of the nearby traps, so we're going to see if perhaps we luck out and can get away with not having to take the stove apart after all.
Thanks again. It is definitely helpful to have the repair manual on file now.
Thanks again. It is definitely helpful to have the repair manual on file now.
dvbrauer
10-13-09, 07:14 AM
The rats can be expected to chew on the wires from the switches on the gas valve and/or the high voltage wires going to the spark electrode.
Rats chewing up ranges are very common problems -- it's a smorgasboard for rats on a lot of gas ranges.
So deal with the problem now or have bigger problems before very long.
This is what had originally concerned me so perhaps I'll get busy on this project after all just so I can inspect everything. I have wondered whether mice are like ants in terms of following scent trails. If so, even if we were *incredibly* lucky enough to have caught the mouse that had been doing the chewing, I suppose it could be just a matter of time before another one follows in those little mouse footsteps.
Rats chewing up ranges are very common problems -- it's a smorgasboard for rats on a lot of gas ranges.
So deal with the problem now or have bigger problems before very long.
This is what had originally concerned me so perhaps I'll get busy on this project after all just so I can inspect everything. I have wondered whether mice are like ants in terms of following scent trails. If so, even if we were *incredibly* lucky enough to have caught the mouse that had been doing the chewing, I suppose it could be just a matter of time before another one follows in those little mouse footsteps.