The DRSNews
July 2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!   

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by Dave's Repair Service, (c)2008 All Rights Reserved

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A Special 'Welcome' to my new subscribers!  Glad to have you aboard!

In this issue:

1) Installation Quick-Tips, Part 3: Your New Range
2) It's Refrigerator Maintenance Time Again!
3) The Glossary of Appliance Terms

1) Last time, we ran through some quick do's and don'ts when
installing your new refrigerator. This issue, I'd like to briefly
touch on some of the same type details you'll want to pay attention
to when installing a new range.

We'll talk primarily about electric ranges in this article. Gas range installation is limited to trained and licensed installers in many parts of the US, and if you do it yourself and mess up the pipe fitting, it can really ruin your day!

Converting a range or oven from natural gas to LP is a pretty straightforward DIY procedure, though, and I've written about that before. You'll find that article at:
http://www.DavesRepair.com/DIYhelp/RngNAT-LPconv.htm

One gas stove installation detail I will mention involves GFI ('ground fault interruption') receptacles. I might've mentioned this in a previous issue, but it's been a long time (at least 10 minutes ago - the limit of my memory!) If plugged into one, most modern gas range electronic surface (spark) ignition systems can trip a GFI receptacle or breaker regularly, so stay away from that if possible.

The worst 'horror story' I heard on this one was when an installing company returned a huge batch of new gas ranges installed in an apartment building, assuming they were all defective. Guess what? All of the next batch of replacements tripped the GFI's, too! Now that's downright embarrassing - but one of those 'life lessons' you never forget!

Anyway, just be aware of that. As we've discussed before, there's a place for GFI's (dishwashers, for instance) and they've saved a lot of lives. But there are also applications where they should be avoided (like plugging your food freezer into one, for instance).

Anyway, electric range installation is pretty simple, with proper leveling and anti-tip the two main details I'd like to discuss.

First, I always start by using my short 'torpedo' level on one of the oven racks, using it to check both front to back and side to side. Level oven racks are more important than perfectly level surface burners (a 'leaning' cake tastes OK, but just doesn't look that  good).

Make sure the range doesn't 'rock', with all 4 feet solid to the floor, and then move up and double-check the burners. They should be close, although I have replaced a few cooktops that were warped enough from the factory to be really noticeable when doing the morning eggs! 

Ranges equipped with bottom storage drawers are normally a lot easier to level with that drawer pulled out and set aside, making it easy to reach the adjustable feet. Some range brands have feet with holes on top of them to insert a 3/8'' square socket to turn them, and you'll love those. A cool idea.

Range anti-tip devices have been on the scene, and their installation legally required, for quite a while now, and with today's lighter weight range frames (I'm trying to be kind), they're a must!

There are several types packed with new ranges, and I used to recommend they be installed only if there were small children in the house, and we just had most homeowners sign off on them after explaining what they were for.

(Our 30 year old electric Amana 'tank' is so heavy, the door hinges would probably break off before it'd ever tip forward, but that's a thing of the past)

These days, some type of anti-tip device just has to be in place. They can be a bit of a nuisance to install if you've never done it before, and it'll add a few extra minutes to the job. But with today's lighter appliances, it takes very little weight on an open oven door to tip a range forward and dump anything boiling on a surface burner onto whoever happens to be in front of it! Ouch! That's just not worth saving 10 minutes on installation.

I'm trying to keep this short, but one other detail on countertop openings like ours that are a bit generous with their 30 inch width, is two finely smoothed beads of caulk.

I've tried different style seals made to close the gap on each side of ranges over the years, but always come back to silicone caulk. Sealing those gaps keeps an amazing amount of debris from finding its way between cabinet and range, and when a range does need to be pulled out (only twice in 30 years in our case!), just cutting the caulk with a sharp knife or razor blade's a piece of cake.

2) I don't know how it rolled around so fast, but here it is July again, when I always remind (nag!) you (and myself) to clean your refrigerator's condenser coil and lube its door seals.

As you know, these two little jobs will make your refrig breathe easier and save you a bunch of money in the long haul, so they're definitely worth doing annually.

And seal lube is especially important these days when seals are no longer held on with screws, making them really tough to replace. This little trick prevents your ever having to replace them, if done correctly - and annually (our refrig is 30 years old and its seals still look new, even though its 'Harvest Gold' color's really getting hard to live with <grin>). 

So this is your 'official' annual reminder (we all need something more to  add to our 'to do' list , right?!)

Seal lube instructions

How to clean your refrigerator's condenser 

3) I'm nearly done with this new project, and would love your opinion.
The text portions are finished, even though it's a work in progress.

I call it a 'glossary of appliance terms', and have nearly all of the
illustrations added. And it'll be available as one downloadable pdf file
when I get it 'tweaked'. That's where you come in:

Please let me know what you think when you get a chance. Any ideas
you have for improvements, changes, more ease of use, terms you'd
like to see added, etc, are welcome. Here's what I have so far:
Glossary

There's been a lot of demand for something like this; sort of an
abridged 'encyclopedia' of terms used in appliance service every
day. I tend to assume that everyone knows what I'm talking
about, but it can get confusing. This project is an attempt to list
common (and not so common) words and phrases used in the
profession.

Thanks again for inviting me into your inbox. I don't take the invitation
lightly!

As always, if you have any topics you'd like to see discussed here
or covered in an online article, let me know and I'll do my best to
oblige. And don't forget those testimonials! Many thanks to those
of you who've already sent yours in!

May God richly bless you and yours, and may He continue to have
mercy on America!

Warmly,

Dave Harnish
Dave's Repair Service
New Albany, PA
drs@sosbbs.com
www.DavesRepair.com


"God who gave us life gave us liberty.
Can the liberties of a nation be secure
when we have removed a conviction that
these liberties are the gift of God?
Indeed I tremble for my country when I
reflect that God is just, that His
justice cannot sleep forever."

- Thomas Jefferson
(Plate 3 on the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC
 

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