I am hoping someone can help me with this problem. Our small propane gas company was bought out by a larger company and on their inspection they condemned by kitchen gas stove !! It is very old and you need to light it with a match. Have had it for years and works fine but now they say the only way I can keep it on their propane is to find a MC valve from a mobile home Magic Chef wall oven and put that it for safety reasons.I could hook up to a small 20 gallon barbeque type tank myself but is that really resonable? I realize it is for my own safety but come Monday I will not have a cooking stove !! Called some local mobile home dealers and they don't even know what I am talking about. Any suggestions ??!!! (would like to keep my stove and not purchase a new one which is certainly out of my budget at this time even a used one ) Thanks !!!!

-- Helena Di Maio (windyacs@ptdprolog.net), June 22, 2001

Answers

Helena,

You got to wonder if their really concerned for your safety or they just want to sell you a new stove. If you've been using it safely for some time and the only thing missing is some new safety device you probably don't really need anyway then I would definely go to a bottled setup. I recommend a 40# tank and possibly even twinning two of them. Stoves don't use that much gas so unless you cook a lot 80# might last you for six months. Look at your previous bills and see how much you've been using to tell how often you'll have to fill. If you heat your water and your house with gas too you'll have a problem because you'll be refilling every week or two. You may want to check with an independent gas appliance person and make sure there isn't a real safety problem. Just because it's old doesn't mean it's unsafe if you know the proper operating proceedures.

-- carter (chucky@usit.net), June 22, 2001.

Call around to some appliance parts places in your area and ask them if they know or have what you are needing or if they have even hear of such things. Most of the time you will find parts people to be very helpful if you give them the info.

-- TomK (tjk@cac.net), June 22, 2001.

The gas company is held liable if they provide gas to equipment that is dangerous and so can not. Your stove is dangerous not when used by you but if someone not used to it used it there could be a serious problem. If it is that old its really time to get another. We have two gas ranges one in the kitchen and the other in the summerkitchen, where the wife dyes fabric and does the canning. Both were bought second hand and meet all regulations. One we paid $50 for and the other $35. Much safer and cheaper than rigging up something that could destroy everything you have worked for and even worse, endanger the lives of you and your loved ones.

-- David (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), June 22, 2001.

hmm ,, Im wondering why you let them do an inspection in the first place. But,, ask them you you can install an igniter. I knew one person who hooked up a colman lantern igniter to his stove so he wouldnt have to use matches. If not,, find out exactly what the problem is with your stove,, and the reasons behind it. If you can satify the reason in other ways,, there shouldnt be a problem. Or that 20 gal tank is an idea,, if you get the right adaptors,, you can fill it off their tank :)

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), June 22, 2001.

Id get me another propane co. Bob se ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@hit.net), June 22, 2001.

http://www.theoldroadhome.net/

Check out that website. Lots of information on antique stoves. They might be able to help you.

My mother had a stove that had to be lit with a match (loved that stove). Grandma was visiting, turned on the gas to the oven, then got slightly distracted, opened the oven and tried to light it -- BOOM! blown across the kitchen! Fortunately, she wasn't seriously injured nor burned. But that's why they say they're dangerous. I don't see why pilot lights aren't considered dangerous too -- they can go out, can't they?

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), June 22, 2001.

Joy, Most pilot light appliances have a safety device (can be a thermocouple)that stops gas flow when the light goes out.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), June 22, 2001.

Magic Chef was bought by Maytag so you could check with Maytag for parts. You didn't specify exactly what kind of valve or what model Magic Chef stove it is or I could probably give you better information. I wouldn't do business with them if that's their policy to inspect inside your home. 20lb tanks wouldn't be feasible if you're cooking everyday there. 100 lb tank would last you a while but it'd still be a hassle. You might also want to check around with some used mobilehome dealers and repair services.

-- nobody (nothing@nowhere.no), June 22, 2001.

Well... thats interesting. We just bought a new farm and the house came with an ugly old chambers gas cook stove, has to be at least 40 yrs old or so. When i first saw it in the pics the realtor sent I thought it was awful and would never cook on it. But.... We had to use it as we had to watch pennies. I needed to get more propane to fill the tank to use it. the propane company came out and said they ahd to do an inspection was part of a federal law. i had to sign saying they did.

The guy who inspected the lines and stove was really great, he told me some stories about some folks he has been to their houses and have old cookstoves. He cautioned me on lighting the oven with a match and not letting pressure build up, But he lit the burners and said that they wilols tay lit by the pilot light. This stove is so old it has only 3 burners and the 4th is a well of some sort. I guess i need to check out that website as I have no idea as to how to use it. It also has a griddle and the brioler isn't in the oven but under the griddle.

I would have to wonder about having to get rid of the stove, afterall, there must be fiolks there who have old stoves. Good luck!

Bernice

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), June 23, 2001.

Oh, lost my train of thought and forgot to mention that after i learned how to use the stove i LOVE it now. It cooks food so good, tender in the oven and just perfect on the stovetop. the guy who came to check the lines told me that the newer stoves these days are not made accurately for lp gas. He said the holes or orfices are made for LP.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), June 23, 2001.

Since when does a propane company inspect stoves unless you request it?? My stove has an electric igniter that doesn't light the burners very well so we always use a match. This is one of the blessing of this stove - if the power goes out, I can still use the stove.

I think I would be checking out to see if they even had the right to do an inspection. If you want the stove fixed, call a local appliance store that also fixes appliances and they should be able to fix you up.

-- beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), June 23, 2001.

I always much preferred oven you light with a match and regulate the constant flame with a valve, like you do with the burners, over standard pilot light stove where oven lights to full flame, then shuts down when oven reaches set temp, then relights to full flame when temp drops certain number of degrees, etc. I even converted couple pilot light stoves back to simple valve for my own use over the years.

And I am sure it is very dangerous for the easily distracted. Had no idea propane dealer inspected house, but then when I used LPG for stove and small refridgerator, I bought it in 100# tanks which I took to be refilled so no dealer involved on my property. Guess government has to try and make everything idiot proof.

Guess if I had delivery to big tank and knew about inspection, I'd have found an old junk electric stove for free somewhere, plugged the gas outlet for gas stove, removed gas stove, set junk electric stove in place and let them inspect to their hearts content. Then put the gas stove back after the inspection. I'm sure this is probably a one time inspection but never heard of them doing it here in the ozarks.

One safety precaution anybody especially anybody with older gas stove, pilot or otherwise needs to do is remove knobs and dab some soapy water onto gas valves, also connection where gas appliance hooks to gas line. If you see bubbles, you have a leak. Leaks for sure not only cost money for escaped gas, but could make things go boom bigtime when you light a match.

-- HermitJohn (Hermit@hilltop_homestead.zzn.com), June 23, 2001.

Where we live propane is cheaper by 20 cent a gallon if I go get it than having it delivered, I can't figure that out? I pay $1.94 per gallon for 150 gal. delivered or get a 20# cylinder filled at the gas station for $1.75. I use to consume about 50 gallons a year for cooking, I had 2-100# tanks. Lasr fall we had 2-Vermont Castings LPG space heater installed, they took our wood stove out and then told me that the stoves, new gas line had to be inspected before they hook them up, (this is the day before thanksgiving) I told the installer that I could not go without heat for 3-4 days and that I would connect them myself. As it turned out, they connected them anyway and we had not inspection.

-- Hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), June 23, 2001.

Dear Helena,

This is treading a VERY thin line, but I did it while dealing with the local gas company over the water heater. Go to Your hardware store and ask for a gasline plug. They're usually brass and made to screw on to the line in front of the shut-off valve. You'll need a pipe wrench to loosen the top (front) nut on the valve, then lift the line away from the valve. Screw the plug onto the end of the gas line.

When the company inspects on Monday they should pass You and keep the gas on. Tell them You've made arrangements to correct the problem, but DON"T go into details. When the inspector leaves, remove the plug and replace the line in the valve.

The company can only inspect when service is connected and have NO right to enter Your home otherwise, despite what they may say. If they threaten to disconnect if You don't let them in Your home, suggest You will go to the public utilities commision or take legal action. The company knows its limits and will back off.

This suggestion is in a definate grey area, but it sounds like the company may have violated Your rights with the 'inspection'. I think You're justified in doing what's in Your best interest. Let them go blow, I say.

Hope this helps!

Randle

-- Randle Gay (rangay@hotmail.com), June 23, 2001.

My stove is match lit, but you must hold in one of the controls to get the gas to flow to the pilot (i.e. there is a thermo-couple shutoff). Although I'm certainly no expert... I doubt very much that the devices you require must be from a certain manufacturer. I'd call an appliance repair person who has experience with propane stoves. Be safe.

cheers,

-- Max (Maxel@inwindsor.com), June 23, 2001.

Hi, everyone, I'm new and stumbled across thhis site looking for info on repairing old gas stoves. I've got two. One is a 1925 American stove company that works, but sometimes is a little tricky when lighting the oven (singe arm hair). My other one is a 1915 Fortune left stack stove which needs valves rebuilt. (Just bought it for $25) Can I just buy valves and guts for a new gas oven and install into the old one? I too, have had problems with the propane co and ended up signing a release so I wouldn't sue them in the evennt of a fire. Thanks for your responses in advance. BTW those chambers stoves are selling for BIG money at the old stove websites. Better hang on to it...

-- Peg (Ashlinep@localnet.com), June 27, 2001.

Hello,

An old stove owner e-mailed our web site with the above question.

I am the founder of The Old Appliance Club and owner of J.E.S. Enterprises which has specialized in classic stove restoration, products, books and services for the past 30 years.Over this time period we have restored and refurbished over vintage 17,000 ranges.

In our vintage appliance quarterly, The Old Road Home, and in our free bi-weekly newsletter The Old Applaince Communique, e-mailed from our web site, I have covered this issue many times --- in fact, we deal with it on a regular basis for most members of The Old Appliance Club that are using vintage stoves before safety systems were put in place on gas stoves.

The problem is this....without a safety system in your range, the oven, left on by accident or due to a faulty or broken valve, will fill with raw gas. Once the gas hits any ignition point -- top burner pilots or even a light switch (if the room has filled with enough gas) an explosion can occur.

To keep the gas company happy and your home and family safe, you can do 2 things which will depend on your budget.

1. You can eliminate the stove you have and find a later model "CP" Certified Performance edition which is an approved stove that has safety features that qualify. We covered all of the requirements that were set down for this "CP" rating in our spring issue 2001 of The Old Road Home magazine. It is available through our web site at www.theoldapplianceclub.com. You don't have to purchase this or anything else we sell, but once you see all of the features of a CP stove you will probably know more than any service tech and sometimes even the gas company.

I have been hired to solve problems on this level with code violations and untangling the "hazy" areas which do and do not support old stove "use" issues.

2. The second way in which you can keep your stove is by installing a safety system in your stove. You cannot Mickey Mouse this no matter what anyone tells you. We recently designed and now market the new Chambers safety system and also fabricate systems for some older Magic Chef stoves. The stove has to be replumbed and all parts used must be approved. It is not cheap to hand fabricate a system to these old stoves, but if you plan on keeping it for life and factor the estimated cost over the years of use, it does make sense to do.

Some folks put a new stove in place until the gas compay leaves the home and then reinstall the old unit after they leave. If you are considering doing this, you might want to give it some more thought. In the event of a fire or explosion, if the old unit is discovered as the source, your insurance company may put you through the wringer.

I hope this helps the folks that have this situation. Please visit our web site at www.theoldapplianceclub.com whenever you wish, sign up for the free Old Appliance Communique (newsletter) on our home page and enjoy your old appliances.

Respectfully yours,

Jack Santoro American Antique Appliance Historian Founder of The Old Appliance Club Editor of The Old Road Home vintage appliance magazine www.theoldapplianceclub.com toac@antiquestoves.com

-- Jack Santoro (toac@antiquestoves.com), September 08, 2001.

I think I can shed some light on why the propane company did their inspection. Used to do that very thing a while back. Whenever a gas company agrees to sell you gas they are buying into a situation where they might be sued by some bonehead who thought he knew more than he did, got hurt, found an enthusiastic lawyer who agreed to help him pass the blame. The propane company is supposed to be the expert. They should know about recalls (such as the old servel refers)and what is a safe installation. In more than one instance we avoided lawsuits thanks to records acquired while invading someones privacy with an inspection. We documented and informed the customer of the danger. When he chose not to remedy the situation, it was his tough luck not his ticket for some easy money from the good old gas company. You can move a #100 tank with a handtruck. It should last you approximately 4 months. What you hook it up to will be no one elses business. I grinned when you reminded me oflighting the stove with the big wooden matches we had by the kitchen stove. All the singed eyebrows and the time the whole box started on fire and shot fire all the way to the ceiling.

-- jz (oz49us@yahoo.com), September 10, 2001.