How to Maintain an Old Gas Stove
In our previous blog post, we went over the gas stove controversy that has been bubbling up in the United States as well as here in Australia. With plans by the Australian Capital Territory to phase out natural gas by 2045, many are wondering exactly how this will pan out. Namely, appliance manufacturers are seeking clarity and transparency as this will affect new models.
Gas stoves have a number of advantages over electric stoves, but to many it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other; so long as it cooks food and works well, that’s all that matters. If you happen to have an older gas stove, however, you may wish to hold onto it for a few more years yet, especially if you’re worried that the natural gas supply will be cut off – although by all estimates that’s over a decade away, if it does indeed proceed as proposed.
Below are a few key tips to maintain your old gas stove and to keep it working well and turning out dinner just right:
Clean the Grates & Surface
Depending on your gas stove model, you should be able to easily disassemble the grates covering each individual hob. Place the grates in a sink filled with hot and soapy water and let them sit while you clean the surface with a degreasing agent or with dishsoap and a brush or paper towel. Tough stains and grease spots may need to be left exposed to strong degreasers for a little while until they loosen up.
Let the cleaning agent do its work for a minute or longer and then soak up all of the gunk and grease and give the surface a clean wipe. For a natural alternative, you may wish to consider spraying down the surface with a diluted 1:1 solution of vinegar and water, although you may need to scrub a little harder for tough stains.
Dealing with Tough Stains
Once the surface has been given a thorough cleaning, make sure you spend some time cleaning the hobs themselves. Getting underneath the gas hobs and eliminating any greasy buildups can be tough with a washcloth, however, so consider using an old toothbrush to scrub away at them, one by one.
Again, use your preferred degreasing agent or the vinegar solution mentioned above. The burner caps can then be placed in the sink with the grates. Burner caps can usually be simply lifted off without much effort. A fine needle or toothpick can be used to knock away any gunk left on the burner heads.
Clean Under the Range
If your gas stove has hinges to access beneath the surface, lift it up and clean out any crumbs or debris there. You may need to release pins to loosen the range covering if your stove lacks easily accessible hinges. With a vacuum cleaner, remove any crumbs found underneath.
Replace the Range Grates
Once you’ve cleaned the surface, in and around the hobs, and underneath the range covering, you can air dry the range grates and put them back in place to enjoy your gas stove.
Most homeowners that encounter problems with their gas stove can avoid having serious problems by routinely cleaning these areas. Naturally, there are some more causes of problems that can affect your gas stove. To have your gas stove professionally repaired, consider hiring an appliance repair technician.
Domestic Appliance Repair
Our friendly appliance repair techs at Domestic Appliance Repair can help with gas stoves and any other appliance you’re having problems with.
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