Kitchen Gas Appliances - Caloric Oven Problem
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07-14-01, 08:28 PM
I have a Caloric Model RLP351-UC gas range which is approximately 18 years old. The oven has a standard pilot (nothing electric). The ovens fires immediately, when turned on, and will reach the set temperature, but when it begins to cycle off and on to maintain the temperature there is a slight delay before the oven will light - the gas will come on, and 3-5 seconds later the oven will ignite, this results in a slight gas odor if the oven is in use for an hour or more. The service person who came out never "serviced" the oven, but from my description of the problem, said I needed a new gas valve which if available, would cost almost as much as a new range to replace. There is no gas odor when the oven is not in use. This is the first problem I have had with my range, and I would hate to replace it unnecessarily. Is it possible something just needs to be adjusted or cleaned, rather than replaced?
Sharp Advice
07-14-01, 10:19 PM
Hello petrapan and Welcome to the Do It Yourself Web Site and my Gas Appliance forum.
The person who told you the gas valve would cost as much as a new appliance is totally incorrect.
There isn't any oven gas valve that costs as much as replacing the entire appliance.
There are two different types of pilot assemblies used to operated gas valves. The most common is the fluid safety.
This type has two pilots. One tiny one that is on all the time and the second one that is much larger, points it's big flame downs at a slight angle, heats an element bulb and only turns on when the oven is on.
The larger flame then heats that element bulb. That's the fluid safety element. If it is weak, the element can be replaced individual and seperate from the gas valve it screws into.
The other type [a flame switch} has the safety element above the horizontal length of the pilot flame. This element can be replaced seperately and individually of the gas valve. This type does not screw directly into the gas valve.
Any of these parts are not always easy to replace for the do-it-yourself person. But the parts aren't all that expensive and the labor costs are almost worth paying a professional to do.
What you can try is cleaning the burner ports near the pilot assembly. Often times these ports {holes} in the burner get restricted. A piece of wire or pipe cleaner can be used to clean out any debris.
Regards & Good Luck
Forum Moderator
Tom_Bartco
Energy Conservation Consultant & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.
Please be advised that although I have spent 18 years in the service industry, I have been in the office working for the last several years. Some diagnostic information provided is exclusively from memory....:)
The person who told you the gas valve would cost as much as a new appliance is totally incorrect.
There isn't any oven gas valve that costs as much as replacing the entire appliance.
There are two different types of pilot assemblies used to operated gas valves. The most common is the fluid safety.
This type has two pilots. One tiny one that is on all the time and the second one that is much larger, points it's big flame downs at a slight angle, heats an element bulb and only turns on when the oven is on.
The larger flame then heats that element bulb. That's the fluid safety element. If it is weak, the element can be replaced individual and seperate from the gas valve it screws into.
The other type [a flame switch} has the safety element above the horizontal length of the pilot flame. This element can be replaced seperately and individually of the gas valve. This type does not screw directly into the gas valve.
Any of these parts are not always easy to replace for the do-it-yourself person. But the parts aren't all that expensive and the labor costs are almost worth paying a professional to do.
What you can try is cleaning the burner ports near the pilot assembly. Often times these ports {holes} in the burner get restricted. A piece of wire or pipe cleaner can be used to clean out any debris.
Regards & Good Luck
Forum Moderator
Tom_Bartco
Energy Conservation Consultant & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.
Please be advised that although I have spent 18 years in the service industry, I have been in the office working for the last several years. Some diagnostic information provided is exclusively from memory....:)