How Do Stoves Work, Anyway?
We’ve come a long way from our humble beginnings, when we first started to cook over fire pits. While some of us still do that now and again during weekend camping trips, as a society we’ve benefited from the technological advances that have transformed the way we prepare food. From antiquated fuel-burning stoves to the natural gas or electric stoves that have their place in most modern kitchens, it’s easy to forget just how extraordinary these appliances are and just how simple they’ve made it cook a meal.
For many culinary enthusiasts, the responsive heat control a natural gas stove offers is second to none. It can fluctuate between high and low heats with just a twist of a knob, allowing for precise heat application for those recipes that demand care. At the turn of the knob, homeowners are opening intake valves that allow natural gas (or sometimes propane) to flow through a venturi tube. This tube is of a particular design that allows the gas to combine with oxygen and make it combustible. Once properly mixed, the gas flows into a metal disk where it meets the pilot light, creating the flame you can cook on.
Far more often, homes will have electric stoves in their kitchens. While they provide less heat control than their natural gas counterparts, they’re a much more efficient appliance, transferring nearly 75% of its energy directly into your pot. When the knob is turned on this kind of stove, electricity is funneled into wires that are housed in the telltale coil on the top of the oven. As the heat increases, the coil will glow a brighter red. For those electric stoves with smooth-tops, a similar process occurs when you turn on an element; however, the coils are housed underneath a tempered ceramic range.
This is a simplified look at how your stove works when you turn it on, and it’s full of intricate parts that are necessary for its operation. There are many places where things can go wrong, all of which can be exacerbated by bad habits and poor maintenance. Perhaps your elements stop working properly and fail to heat your food; or maybe your elements won’t turn off at all and are constantly at full heat. When faced with these situations, it’s best to leave it for the professionals. In many cases, faulty wiring is to blame, and no one but a fully qualified technician should attempt repairs. It’s a matter of safety. When you’re in need of some expert help, get in touch with our operators. They’ll connect you with a trained appliance technician who can inspect your stove for problems.
Our team of dedicated technicians are qualified to repair any of your appliances, not just stoves. Refrigerators, freezers, washing machine, and many more appliances fall under their purview, so they’ll be happy to help with any problem within your home. And for more advice and quick repair tips, keep checking our media pages. As your friendly local repair team, we’re committed to keeping your appliances in the best shape.