Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Carlton
The main gas valve will not open until the ignitor reaches full temperature. However, the valve cannot know the temperature of the ignitor, it simply functions based upon resistance. Once the resistance gets to a specific level, the valve will open and allow the gas to flow at the maximum rate.
The problem occurs when the ignitor ages and its resistance changes. You see an ignitor that appears to function properly, but the gas valve doesn't see the required resistance and it won't open.
The ignitor has to be changed in this situation and, apparently, there is quite a brisk business in these devices because they fail with an unacceptable frequency. On one stove I had, they would fail every two years. At $50., it gets a bit expensive.
If you replace the ignitor, the stove will function properly.
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Hey buddy! Thanks for checking in. That's what I was coming around to, just replacing the element and going from there. The stove is in good shape, and the landlady has plenty of other large $$ going out the window at this point - $50 is a reasonable investment.
Our dryer years ago was fixed with just the new magnetic switch - the element was getting hot enough but the magnets wouldn't open the switch unless they were cold. It was a pain - you'd checks your clothes but if they needed a bit more time, it wouldn't light up til about 8 hours later.