A stove is one of the most important necessities of any household. They can be quite an investment, however, they are pretty long-lasting too. A good stove, be it electric or gas, can last up to a decade. Nonetheless, it can be tricky to know when to change your stove. However, there are various ways in which you can identify whether your stove is good to go or it needs a replacement.
Your Stove Starts to Crack or Break
This one is as obvious as it comes. At times, the stove, especially if it’s made of glass, can break into a lot of fragments at once. However, even if the stove doesn’t break completely, a crack alone is a good reason to replace it. If you continue using the stove, the heat can make it explode. Nonetheless, some stoves are built of good quality and minor cracks are just fine. You don’t have to worry a lot about them. In case you have any doubts, call an expert technician to figure out whether the stove is fine or requires replacement.
Your Stove Has Rust or Melted Rubber
If your stove has rust on the surface or the inside, you can try to clean it. However, if your stove keeps rusting, this means water or other liquids spilled on the stovetop are dripping inside. If this problem persists, it might be better to change the stove altogether rather than repairing it.
Another reason to change your stove is your rubber melting inside the stove. This can either be rubber piping or rubber edges. If these are melting, the flames aren’t contained inside the burner anymore. The stove is heating from below. This is quite risky as it can melt the gas piping. In case you experience something like this with the stove, have it checked, and replaced immediately. If the gas starts to leak, it can cause an explosion. Therefore, it would be better to replace the stove before any accidents occur.
The Burner Doesn’t Work Right
The burner could be malfunctioning in a lot of different ways. It could be having problems starting, or the flame could be having issues. If the burner isn’t starting, switch it on, and listen carefully to the stove. You should hear a click of the valve being opened, and then the hiss of the gas. If you don’t hear or smell the gas, this could be because you have a faulty gas line. If you have it checked, and that doesn’t prove to be the case, the stove might be needing repairs and even a replacement.
You can also be having issues with the flame. If your flame flickers in color, we recommend that you thoroughly clean your burner caps and grates. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, you should consider a replacement. Also, if your stove isn’t giving the high flame it should, there can be problems with the burner caps.
Any gas burner clicks when it switches open. However, if the clicking doesn’t go away, it can be quite irritating. This can sometimes even stop the burner from lighting. The clicking indicates something is blocking the burner. Make sure the burner cap is firmly in place, or some debris isn’t blocking the holes. Clean the burner cap with a small wire or paper clip. If this issue still isn’t resolved, this might mean it’s time to change your stove.
You Can Smell Gas.
This one is a big red flag. A gas burner is connected to a gas pipeline. A small hole in either the pipeline itself or in the stove can lead to a leak. A gas leak can lead to a stove explosion. First, switch off the main knob of the gas pipeline. After that, check the stove and all of its components. Have a repairman check the gas pipes. If the problem doesn’t lie in the pipes, there could be something wrong with your stove. Since the gas issue is so sensitive, you should replace your stove immediately or get your gas connection checked.
The Stove Produces a Lot of Smoke and Soot
While wood and coal, burners produce thick fumes of smoke, methane gas burns without fumes or soot. If your flames aren’t blue, but are orange, or have orange tips, they will produce soot. This can not only be annoying but it will also create various types of health hazards as the harmful agents might be entering your body.
Soot and smoke are produced when there is unburnt carbon in the stove. You can check for this soot on the bottom of the pans. Clean the igniter and burner as well as make sure they are correctly assembled, and make sure the stove is grounded right. If your stove produces a lot of smoke, you should have it checked by a technician. If the problem persists, you should think of changing the stove with the one that is modern, efficient, and smart in its design and mechanism.
Learn more about the different types of stoves here – Types of Stoves
You Hear a Lot of Noise When the Stove Is Switched On
If you hear a lot of crackling or ticking when the stove is switched on, it is better to replace your stove. You can also hear a lot of loud hissing or humming. This is usually because of the wrong air to gas ratio. Either the stove is passing too much air or too much gas. The air shutter can be old, or broken. This will also imply that the stove is consuming extra gas which might add up to your bills. In this instance, you will have to get your stove replaced.
The Coils of Your Electric Stove Don’t Heat Right
When you switch an electric stove on, the coils should burn bright red and heat up. If the coils aren’t heating right, they could be rusting. Clean the coils carefully, and check they are plugged in right. Check all your burners as well. If all your burners are having problems, you need to call in a technician who has specialist experience in repairing electric stoves.
If only one coil has problems, you can simply replace the coil. If your new coil doesn’t work in the old coil’s place, you will have to replace the stovetop.
Your Electric Bill Increases
Your electric stove can start to consume extra energy if there’s something wrong with it. The quality of the stove decreases over time, and this can lead to heat loss. Since heat is being lost, the stove requires more energy to produce the previous amount of heat. If you see a drastic increase in your electric bill, the reason might be your stove.
You should replace the stove. This is one reason to change your stove that can cost you quite a lot of money in the long run. It is cheaper to simply replace the stovetop.
Your Stove Doesn’t Switch On
If your stove doesn’t switch on, this may be because of a faulty igniter. An igniter is an electric piece inside your stove, which uses cells to produce a spark. This spark causes the gas to ignite. If your stove uses gas as fuel, you can simply use a match, lighter, or flame starter. However, if your stove is electric, there might be loose wiring. If your wiring is loose, you can simply ask a technician to tighten it.
On the other hand, if your wiring is broken, it is better to change the stove altogether. You can have a technician check the wiring, and ask for his opinion.
Your Control Panel Doesn’t Work
The control panel is one of the most expensive parts of the stove. This means it is almost more expensive to replace the control panel than it is to buy a new stove. A control panel is essential to not only switch the stove on, and off, but also to control the flame. This means it isn’t possible to leave the control panel malfunctioning. This is one of the most common reasons to get your stove replaced.
Suggested Reading – Choosing the Perfect Dining Table
Conclusion
Stoves should be used with care and checked for leaks, and any other problems frequently. If you experience any of the above-mentioned problems, this might mean it’s time to change your stove. If you want any further advice, you can get in touch with the manufacturer.