Calling Appliance Repair Techs-Propane Stove issue

[NewfieDan]

I have a propane stove in our place doing some strange stuff. The top burners work fine, it's the oven that is acting up. When the oven is set, it initially heats up to the temp we set it at. But then it doesn't keep that temperature. The oven seems to go out. It does not maintain the temperature originally set.


But if we turn the over off then reset the temperature it seems to maintain whatever temperature its set at.

For example, we set the oven at 325 to cook a roast. The over preheats up to 325. Then seems to go out. So when we check the roast a little while later its not cooking because there is almost no heat in the oven. So we turn the over off, reset it to the original 325 and the oven seems to work fine.

Do we need anew stove or is just an adjustment that need to be made?

 

[hrdwrkingacguy]

Re: Calling Appliance Repair Techs-Propane Stove issue

Sounds to me like it runs up to temp cycles off and doesn't relight...I know nothing about propane ovens but a lot about gas boilers and furnaces...Is there a pilot generator, or spark ignitor, thermocouple, or something going bad?

 

[NewfieDan]

Re: Calling Appliance Repair Techs-Propane Stove issue

That was my line of thinking is that the thermocouple was on its way out. I don't think the spark initor is going since it lights when first set but does not seem to maintain the temp after reaching it the first time.

But I don't know where to look for the thermocouple. I don't really want to take it all apart if it is an easy part to get to.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Calling Appliance Repair Techs-Propane Stove issue

That was my line of thinking is that the thermocouple was on its way out. I don't think the spark initor is going since it lights when first set but does not seem to maintain the temp after reaching it the first time.

But I don't know where to look for the thermocouple. I don't really want to take it all apart if it is an easy part to get to.

Ayuh,.... It oughta be up high, along a side or back of the oven...

 

[NewfieDan]

Re: Calling Appliance Repair Techs-Propane Stove issue

If we are talking about a reasonably new oven it will have an electronic igniter, not a spark igniter, more like a glow plug. They wear out and over time don't get hot enough to ignite the gas every time. That starts out being it won't light one out of hundred times and then degrades from there. The system also incorporates a thermocouple (often built into the igniter assembly) to make certain the gas is burning and if that doesn't happen the gas valve closes and MUST be reset by turning the oven off and starting over. (Sounds like what you are seeing yes?)

If you have a current meter (clamp on works best) look at the igniter and on it somewhere should be a tag with an amp rating. It usually gives a range that is acceptable. If the current reading is lower than the stated range you’ve found the problem. After that it’s a simple enough replacement.

Oh, and to your question, no it’s not really something you can adjust for.

What do you consider a new oven? Ours is about 9yrs old. It came with the house. It was not an expensive oven by ant stretch of the imagination. The symptoms are almost excatly what you describe. I do have a meter (and know how to use it) but its not a clamp on type. Maybe a project for this weekend? Is it a DIY kind of thing or strictly for a professional?

 

[jimbo_jwc]

Re: Calling Appliance Repair Techs-Propane Stove issue

Does this happen at lower temp set points 250? If not than check if it has a high limit safety. Could be overshooting the temp setpoint from burning on high continously till reaches 325 then trips and locks out gas valve till cycle power and has cooled . Oven venting through wear ? blockage more than pan on top burnner vent duct .

 

[NewfieDan]

Re: Calling Appliance Repair Techs-Propane Stove issue

It doesn't seem to matter what temp the oven is set at. We have put some things before the oven before the preheat cycle has but it doesn't burn so I don't think it bypasses the set limit as you describe. It also doesn't seem to matter if there is a pot on top or not.

 

[jimbo_jwc]

Re: Calling Appliance Repair Techs-Propane Stove issue

What kind of pilot ? Standing flame , electronic spark ingition ,Heating resistor ? Some pilots would light burner and main gas valve comming on would blow out pilot but burner flame would still hit pilot thermopile and keep satisfied till it came up to setpoint temp
and shut off burner valve then next time it called for heat the pilot would be out and would not recycle .

 

[NewfieDan]

Re: Calling Appliance Repair Techs-Propane Stove issue

I think it has electric spark ignition. My train of thought is that either the oven t-stat or the thermocouple is gone.

 

[jimbo_jwc]

Re: Calling Appliance Repair Techs-Propane Stove issue

Brand /Model /Ser # you can look up on web as others might had same problem .Other than that I'm not sure what you have .