DIYbanter - Older Gas Stove Question

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Older Gas Stove Question

I just moved into a new apartment over the weekend that is pretty old
(I would say the building was probably built between the 40's and
50's).

The stove in this new apartment is a gas stove which is an old Roper
I'm assuming from the apartments original construction, which works
fine, but I noticed last night that even with the burners all off, the
oven off and no discernible heat coming from any of them that there
was still heat coming from the very center of where the burners are.

The burners are arranged on a metal square, and there's nothing in the
center of them, I left the stove for the evening figuring that maybe
that area had just heated up from use of the burners, it was still
warm/hot to the touch this morning and this afternoon.

Admittedly I'm a novice with gas stoves, particularly older ones like
this. The only thing I could think of was that there was a pilot
light under there, and that was causing the heat. It was hot enough
that you wouldn't want to leave your hand on there, but not hot enough
to burn you at a touch, and the temp didn't seem to change much. I
didn't want to mess with the panels at all, so I left it, I gave a
call to my landlady just to check, but I believe she may be out of
town for a few days. Any help would be appreciated.

Oh, and I haven't noticed any sort of smell of gas or anything like
that.

Older Gas Stove Question

Almost certainly, this is where the pilot lights are (1 between the
left front and back burners, 1 between the right front and back
burners). I've had a Roper gas stove of about this vintage. Lift up
on the front edge of the metal square (the stove top; remove the
burner grates first so they don't go clattering off) and you'll see
them under there. You'll want to familiarize yourself with them,
since pilot lights sometimes go out and need to be relit (it's handy
to keep a box of kitchen matches around for this, or one of those long
lighters sold for barbecue grills and fireplaces). By the way, when
you wipe off the top of the stove, be sure to wipe off this area
thoroughly, or the heat from the pilot lights will cook any grease
onto there and make it very hard to remove.

As the other poster mentioned, there is most likely one in the oven,
as well. You can usually see it by opening the bottom drawer (the
broiler on these older models) and peeking in (look up toward the oven
area).

Jo Ann

On Jun 4, 1:30 pm, wrote:
I just moved into a new apartment over the weekend that is pretty old
(I would say the building was probably built between the 40's and
50's).

The stove in this new apartment is a gas stove which is an old Roper
I'm assuming from the apartments original construction, which works
fine, but I noticed last night that even with the burners all off, the
oven off and no discernible heat coming from any of them that there
was still heat coming from the very center of where the burners are.

The burners are arranged on a metal square, and there's nothing in the
center of them, I left the stove for the evening figuring that maybe
that area had just heated up from use of the burners, it was still
warm/hot to the touch this morning and this afternoon.

Admittedly I'm a novice with gas stoves, particularly older ones like
this. The only thing I could think of was that there was a pilot
light under there, and that was causing the heat. It was hot enough
that you wouldn't want to leave your hand on there, but not hot enough
to burn you at a touch, and the temp didn't seem to change much. I
didn't want to mess with the panels at all, so I left it, I gave a
call to my landlady just to check, but I believe she may be out of
town for a few days. Any help would be appreciated.

Oh, and I haven't noticed any sort of smell of gas or anything like
that.

Older Gas Stove Question

mm wrote:

....

Gas stoves are great. Pilots may waste gas but they have big
advantages over electric starters. For one thing, you'll be able to
cook during a power outage. ...

Any gas stove top can be used during a power outage, modern or not.

Rob

Older Gas Stove Question

On Mon, 04 Jun 2007 22:24:02 -0400, trainfan1
wrote:

mm wrote:

...

Gas stoves are great. Pilots may waste gas but they have big
advantages over electric starters. For one thing, you'll be able to
cook during a power outage. ...

Any gas stove top can be used during a power outage, modern or not.

I'm told no. By people who have them.

Rob

Older Gas Stove Question

Every modern gas stove I have seen, the stove top burners can be lit with a
match if there is no power. This is certainly the case with my Jenn Air, I
have done it. The oven is a different story, you won't be able to use a
modern oven without power, the gas valve and controls are electronic.

--

Mike S.

"mm" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 04 Jun 2007 22:24:02 -0400, trainfan1
wrote:

mm wrote:

...

Gas stoves are great. Pilots may waste gas but they have big
advantages over electric starters. For one thing, you'll be able to
cook during a power outage. ...

Any gas stove top can be used during a power outage, modern or not.

I'm told no. By people who have them.

Rob

Older Gas Stove Question

mm wrote:
On Mon, 04 Jun 2007 22:24:02 -0400, trainfan1
wrote:

mm wrote:

...
Gas stoves are great. Pilots may waste gas but they have big
advantages over electric starters. For one thing, you'll be able to
cook during a power outage. ...
Any gas stove top can be used during a power outage, modern or not.

I'm told no. By people who have them.

You were told no by people who have gas ranges but no matches, then.

Rob