Questions About Electric Ranges And Microwaves
As a repairman I get a lot of questions about electric ranges. Here is a list of
the most frequently asked questions about ranges.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ranges
I just purchased an electric range why didn’t it come with a cord?
Years ago the national electric code said that all mobile homes
had to put in a four-wire system then later they said that all houses had to
have a four-wire system. This means before they passed the law all houses had a
three-wire plug for the dryer and now all houses and mobile homes have a
four-wire plug for the dryer. So you must buy the cord separate so that you will
have the right cord for your home. Some appliance dealers will give you the cord
free others will charge you extra.
I just moved and my old range
has a three-wire cord but my new house has a four-wire plug. Can I get an
adapter?
There is no such thing. You need to change the cord on
your dryer to a four-wire cord. Do not attempt to change the plug because your
house has a four-wire system. This page should help
What do I use to clean my glass top?
They
make a special cleaner and normally a sample bottle comes with all new electric ranges or
cook tops.
When I turn the surface unit off on my glass top the
light stays on for a few minutes is this normal?
Yes, that
light will stay on until the surface temperature gets below about 120 degrees to
let you know that it’s safe to touch.
Is it normal for the door
on my oven to stay locked for a while after the clean cycle is over?
Yes, the door will not unlock until the temperature inside the
oven gets below about 500 degrees.
My range is not that so old
why is it broken down already?
I get this question about electric ranges
more than any other and my answer is always the same. Every appliance breaks
down some on the same day you buy it and others in 20 years. Also appliances
have always broken down. Yes I will agree that appliances are not made as good
as they used to be. The average life of most appliances now days is about 8 to
12 years, whereas it used to be about 10-20 years. But you have to think that
the cost of appliances now is about the same as it was 20 years ago, yet labor
and materials are higher. So the only way they can still sell appliances at low
prices is to cut quality. Also appliances do more than they used to therefore,
more to go wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions About Microwaves
My microwave came with a metal
rack but I thought you couldn’t put metal in a microwave?
It is
a special kind of metal that is safe to use in microwaves. You can only have the
rack in microwave if you need it. So if you only have one plate to heat in the
microwave, leave the rack out and only use the rack if you have two plates to
heat at once.
Why is my microwave arcing and sparking (shooting
fire) near the rack holder?
Leaving the rack inside the
microwave all the time causes this. You should only have it in the microwave
when you need it.
Can I turn the turntable off on my microwave?
Some
microwaves have a turntable on/off switch and some do not.
How
can I tell if my microwave is heating fast enough?
The cooking
speed varies with different models. I test it by placing a clear glass with
about two cups of water in the microwave then set it to cook on high for two
minutes. The water should be boiling by the time its finished. If not, refer to
my microwave not heating repair guide.
How tall does my cabinet
have to be in order to install an over the range microwave?
You
must have, give or take, 30 inches above the cook top (about 29-31 inches).
How do I clean the grease filters on my over-the-range microwave?
Manufacturers recommend soaking them in soapy water. I have
found that the dishwasher works very well for this.
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