Gas control in burners and oven: is it worth buying such a gas stove?

Many apartments and houses still have gas stoves. Most often, owners have no choice, because if there is a gas pipe, then an electric stove may simply not be suitable due to high electricity consumption.

However, gas is a dangerous substance, and its leakage can lead to catastrophic consequences. But manufacturers think about safety, so almost every modern stove has a gas control system. Let's look at what it is - gas control of burners and ovens, how it works and whether it is worth buying a stove with this option at all.

Design and principle of operation

The essence of the gas control is extremely simple - if the fire is extinguished by something, accidentally or not, then the gas stops flowing to the burner, thereby preventing its leakage and accumulation in the apartment. The most popular reasons for the unintentional extinguishing of a fire are considered to be a draft or boiled-over liquid.

But how does the system figure out that the fire has gone out? In fact, the gas control device is extremely simple. The main part can be called a thermocouple - these are two fused metal wires from different materials, the end of which is led to the burner, namely to the fire.

When you turn the stove handle, the fire turns on, the wire heats up and creates an electromagnetic field - this is the basis for the operation of the gas stove thermocouple.

This field affects the magnet to which the handle of the plate is connected. The magnet acts on the spring, opening the gas supply valve. If the fire suddenly stops, the wire will no longer heat up and, therefore, create an electromagnetic field. The gas control valve will simply close without the action of the magnet and the gas supply will stop.

If this happens, then simply repeat the ignition. It will take 5 to 20 seconds for the thermocouple to heat up again. All this time you will have to hold the burner knob in the desired position, otherwise the cold thermocouple will extinguish the flame again.

If previously the thermocouple was connected as a whole to the hob, now it is connected separately to each burner. If one burner stops working due to a breakdown in the gas control system, the rest will be able to cook dinner.

The device is quite simple, but proven, so malfunctions occur extremely rarely. It is also important that the operation of the gas control is completely autonomous and does not require electricity - this will ensure uninterrupted protection of the apartment even when the lights are off.

Gas alarms in your city

Gas alarm. Household gas leak detector. Gas leak alarm.

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To reliably protect your home from gas pollution, proper design and operation of ventilation systems is very important.

When a kitchen hood above the stove is connected to the only natural ventilation channel in the kitchen, then the filters, valves and fan in the kitchen hood practically block the natural draft in the ventilation channel.

A kitchen with the hood turned off remains without ventilation, which impairs air exchange throughout the house and creates a threat of gas accumulation in the room.

Continue reading: “How to properly create natural ventilation in the kitchen”

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantage of gas control is safety. News reports often contain reports of gas explosions in residential buildings. All of them could have been prevented if the stove had a working gas control system.

This option is especially useful for families with small, inquisitive children or elderly and slightly absent-minded parents.

The gas control system allows:

relax a little and don’t sit in the kitchen all the time cooking to watch the fire;
prevent accidental gas leaks, and therefore explosions, fires and poisonings;
provide protection from children who like to twist the handles. When you press it briefly and release it again, the gas stops flowing. Usually the child is not able to hold the handle in one position long enough to allow the gas to turn on.

But such a system also has negative sides:

The first thing people complain about is how long it takes to turn on the burner. The fact is that the thermocouple sensor does not heat up instantly, so the knobs must be held for about 5 seconds before the gas control starts working. If the stove is old or not properly maintained, this time can be increased to 20 seconds.
The second negative point is related to the fact that the gas control is a device made up of several parts. This means that it may break, malfunction, or simply not work. This is quite rare, but still occurs. Replacing or repairing this system yourself is not so difficult, but it is dangerous and prohibited by law.
The third common complaint from people is that the gas control is activated even on a small fire and turns it off. That is, it will not be possible to simmer the porridge over low heat, since it will constantly simmer. This is not a completely correct situation - ideally this should not happen. Most likely, we are talking about loose thermocouple contacts, so it is better to call a technician.

A separate category of people is based on the fact that previously there was no gas control in the stoves, and everyone lived somehow. In their opinion, this option only increases the cost of the gas stove. In fact, the prices for equipment without and with gas control are approximately equal. The difference of a couple of thousand rubles is completely incommensurate with the security that this system provides.

Residual heat indicators

Residual heat indicators are installed in electric hobs under the ceramic surface and are designed to warn users of the possibility of getting burned. The warning system works like this: when a burner is turned on, the corresponding indicator lights up; it continues to light even after it is turned off until the temperature of the burner becomes safe for humans.

As they say, there are things that do not depend on a person, they are called accidents. But care can be taken to keep them to a minimum. Therefore, when choosing a stove or oven, pay attention not only to the functions and amount of energy consumed, but also to the safety systems. You can also read about security technologies in our articles:

Electric ignition to help you Choose a hob

View and buy a kitchen stove in the Tekhnostudio online store

How to determine a breakdown?

Usually, if we are talking about a breakdown of the gas control, this becomes immediately obvious, since the hob simply will not work. In this case, they most often talk about a broken thermocouple. A failed thermocouple is considered a potentially dangerous breakdown and therefore requires immediate repair.

But there are also a number of not so obvious signs that will help identify the problem. These include:

the fire goes out for no reason during cooking;
the fire goes out after lowering the handle;
the fire ignites after a long time interval after turning on the stove;
when the flame is blown out, gas still flows;
gas control of the oven turns off the flame during operation;
the oven does not turn on;
other malfunctions or malfunctions of the mechanism.

Personality Traits

The gas control function on the burners and burner of the oven guarantees the user safety in any, even unforeseen, situations, by timely and reliable shutdown of the gas. The presence of such effective protection solves several problems simultaneously:

When the flame goes out, the gas supply is automatically turned off, regardless of the reason.
The user does not need to constantly be in the kitchen: the system will automatically work if the flame goes out due to a gust of wind from the window or due to liquid spilled during active boiling.
Effective explosion prevention: no leakage, no gas contamination and no health hazard.

The system response on modern models varies, but does not exceed 60 seconds.

Causes

It is important to understand why the gas control system may fail.

If we are talking about a long time to ignite the fire when turning on the stove, then most likely the problem is a dirty thermocouple. Someone solves this problem by simply fixing the handle in the required position so as not to hold it manually.

It is better to eliminate the problem itself and call a specialist for this. If you have the skills to repair electrical equipment, then you can do it yourself - simply by removing the hob and cleaning the heating element.

If after this the problem does not disappear, then we can talk about a malfunction of the gas control system. It could be:

solenoid valve wear;
displacement of the thermoelement relative to the flame;
stupor of the burner tap;
bad contact.

There are also possible more distant reasons for the unsatisfactory operation of the stove - for example, insufficient gas pressure. It can be caused either by problems at the gas distribution substation or by a gas tap in the apartment that is not fully open.

If the problem is in the tap, then you just need to open it all the way. If the reason is in the substation, then you will have to submit an application to the local gas department.

There are few options for what to do if the gas control breaks down. It is best to immediately contact a specialist, since independent repairs are prohibited.

Rating of the TOP 18 best built-in gas hobs of 2022

Gas 4 burner hobs

Beko HILW 64225 SW
Weissgauff HGG 640 BG
Hansa BHGI631301
MAUNFELD EGHG.64.1CB\G
Gorenje GW6D42CLI
Electrolux GPE 363 MW
Bosch PGH6B5B90R
GEFEST PVG 2231-08 P3

Gas 3 burner hobs

Simfer H45V30M411
MAUNFELD EGHG.43.33CB\G
GEFEST PVG 2150-01 K93
Weissgauff HGG 451 WGH

Gas 2 burner hobs

GEFEST PVG 2003 K12
Weissgauff HGG 320 WGH
LEX GVG 321 BL

Inexpensive gas hobs in terms of price/quality ratio

Simfer H45V30B400
GEFEST SG CH 1210 K2
Beko HIZG 64120 X

Is it possible to turn off the gas control yourself?

Correct and safe installation, connection/disconnection and even operation of gas stoves rest on the shoulders of apartment owners and tenants. This responsibility is spelled out in the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, in Article 210.

If you want to turn off gas equipment without permission, you must read the document called “Building Codes and Rules for Gas Supply 2.04.08-87.” It says in black and white that it is necessary to call a qualified specialist with a certificate from the Gas Inspectorate and a certificate.

You can try to disable the gas control system yourself only if you have already had experience in repairing similar devices, and their structure seems familiar.

The most important thing to do is turn off the gas supply. In addition, it is important to follow the following safety rules :

completely de-energize the kitchen and remove all self-powered appliances - even smartphones;
open the window wide;
turn off the tap on the gas stove and unplug the appliance from the socket;
put a plug on the pipe;
check the quality of the plug using a soap solution - it should not bubble;
If the solution bubbles, there are whistling sounds or a smell of gas, you must urgently call emergency services.

After that:

Open the gas control system;
Disconnect the thermocouple - this is done with a key;
Remove the solenoid valve;
Remove the spring from the valve;
Insert valve;
If desired, attach a thermocouple;
Assemble the slab;
Check the quality of the connections with a soap solution.

How to turn off the oven gas control. How to do it directly at GEFEST

The procedure does not look complicated, but you need to understand that there is interaction with an explosive substance. If such repairs are discovered, the regulatory authorities have the right to impose a fine.

If a person considers the gas control function unnecessary and wants to disable it, then it is best to call a specialist who will carry out this procedure. After this, the controller must make entries in the device operation book indicating the date and reason for this procedure.

Installation, installation of a gas alarm

Installation of gas alarms in a house or apartment can be carried out by organizations and individual entrepreneurs authorized for these types of work.

Recommended locations for gas alarms in the kitchen

Gas alarms are installed on the wall of the room, near gas equipment. Gas sensors should not be placed in blind areas where there is no air circulation, behind cabinets. For example, it is recommended to install the device no closer than 1 m from the corners of the room. In addition, it is prohibited to install devices in close proximity to supply and exhaust ventilation devices and heat sources.

The alarm for natural gas (methane, CH4) is mounted in the upper zone, at a distance of no more than 30 - 40 cm from the ceiling, since this gas is lighter than air.

Alarms for liquefied gas (propane-butane), which is heavier than air, are installed below, at a height of approximately 30 cm from the floor.

For carbon monoxide, it is recommended to install the alarm in a person’s working area, at a height of 1.5 - 1.8 m from the floor. The density of this gas is approximately equal to the density of air. Carbon monoxide enters the room heated from the boiler. Therefore, the gas rises up to the ceiling, cools and is distributed throughout the entire volume of the room. A carbon monoxide alarm can be installed near the ceiling, next to the same device for methane. Taking this circumstance into account, some manufacturers produce a universal gas alarm that reacts immediately to both gases - methane and carbon monoxide.

The shut-off electromagnetic shut-off valve is installed on the gas pipe , in a place convenient for access to the manual cocking button.

The installation of a shut-off valve on the gas pipeline should be provided: - in front of gas meters (if a disconnecting device at the inlet cannot be used to turn off the meter); — in front of household gas appliances, stoves, water heaters, heating boilers; — at the gas pipeline entry into the room, when placing a gas meter with a disconnecting device in it at a distance of more than 10 m from the entry point.

Some models of gas alarms, in addition to the shut-off valve on the gas pipeline, can control the activation of an additional light and sound detector or an electric fan in the ventilation duct.

Popular models of stoves with gas control and reviews of them

When purchasing a stove, you need to check the presence of gas control not only on the burners, but also in the oven. Different stove models have different equipment. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the rating of the most popular gas stoves with gas control.

Gefest 6100-03 0001

This model has a gas control system and electric ignition on the burners and in the oven. The stylish brown color will allow the device to fit into the kitchen in a classic style. Of the four burners, one has a quick heating function. Produced in Belarus.

There is a grill mode with a power of 1.9 kW, as well as a spit. It is convenient to use, there is a display and a drawer for storing utensils. Easy to care for. No disadvantages identified.

Cost: about 20 thousand rubles.

Review analysis: all customers like this copy. There are no complaints about the functionality or quality of parts. There are nuances that could have been avoided, but they do not cause any problems. For example, an electronic watch could only be replaced with a mechanical timer - it is simpler, cheaper and more convenient. In general, people are absolutely satisfied with their purchase - this is one of the best models on the market.

Lada 14.120-03 WH

Budget and small-sized model made in Russia. There is a grill mode with a power of 1.5 kW. Simple controls, excellent oven lighting, automatic ignition of burners and gas control - all these functions make the stove an excellent purchase for older people who need simple and understandable appliances.

Cost: about 7 thousand rubles.

Analysis of reviews : this model is popular due to its price, but the quality is criticized in the reviews - the iron is thin, the paint does not stick to the grates, the sides of the baking sheet are low. Rather, this budget option is suitable for a summer house or a rented apartment.

Gefest 5502-03 0044

Another stylish stove from Belarus. This time it's black. Oven with a capacity of 52 liters with grill, spit, convection and even steam cleaning. It will look great in a modern style kitchen. No deficiencies found.

Cost: about 24 thousand rubles.

Analysis of reviews : not everyone can quickly get used to the electric ignition of this model, but it is not complicated. Most reviews emphasize the appearance of the device. But they also notice some disadvantages, for example, the black glossy surface needs to be washed almost every day, because after cooking every spot is visible on it. The functionality of the stove is simple and reliable.

Darina S4 GM441 101 W

Another white classic model without any frills. But this time it’s worth highlighting a powerful grill - 2.6 kW - perfect for lovers of baked poultry or barbecue. Russian production. An excellent budget option with the usual dimensions for the kitchen. The switches are mechanical, but comfortable. The oven has double glass, but it’s large—you don’t have to open the door to look at the dish being prepared. No drawer for utensils.

Cost: about 10 thousand rubles.

Review analysis : users note that the instructions include a drawer for utensils, but in reality there is none. Since the model is budget, no complex things or functions are expected from it in advance, so buyers are satisfied. The only common problem is rust on the burners.

Gorenje GI 5321 XF

Gas stove from Slovenia with a huge 67-liter oven. There is gas control, auto-ignition and even an electronic timer separately for the hob and oven. You can highlight telescopic guides - the baking sheet itself moves out when you open the oven door.

Cost: about 34 thousand rubles.

Analysis of reviews : the main disadvantage of this model is the lack of a thermometer, so it is not clear whether the oven is warm enough to cook in it. Some people don’t like the fact that the electric ignition turns on on all burners at once, and not just on the one whose handle is turned. But these are trifles; the advantages like electronic separate timers and a thermostat outweigh. They are satisfied with the stove.

Gorenje GI 62 CLI

Another model from the Slovenian manufacturer with full gas control (both hob and oven). It is not made in the classic white color, but has an ivory tone, which is suitable for a classic interior, Provence and similar trends. The advantages include: timer, alarm clock, bottled gas nozzle and Aqua Clean cleaning.

Cost: about 33 thousand rubles.

Analysis of reviews : in this case, buyers agree that they are overpaying for the beautiful appearance of the stove, since it does not represent anything special in terms of functionality. It works well, but there are also minor flaws - for example, the grate is not quite level, the oven door is not closing quite smoothly, and so on.

Gefest 3200-08

Another Belarusian stove. It is distinguished by good quality and budget price, which determines the enormous popularity of this model. It has a small width of 50 cm, so it will fit even in the smallest kitchen, but for a large family it may not be very convenient. One burner has a quick heating function. There is a drawer for dishes. An excellent classic model without unnecessary bells and whistles.

Cost: about 9 thousand rubles.

Review analysis : buyers note that this is the best budget model on the market. But there are also small drawbacks, for example, for some, after two months of active use, the handles begin to turn tightly - you need to make an effort. Some people find the grate slippery because pans and pots roll around. The main reviews of this stove from Hephaestus boil down to the fact that the stove is simple but reliable.

In reviews, many tell stories about how gas control came in handy. For some, children were simply playing, for others, elderly parents set the soup to cook and forgot. After stories like this, they have no questions about whether gas control is needed in a gas stove and oven or not.

Electric ignition

Another device designed to simplify and secure working with gas kitchen appliances is electric ignition. The name of the system speaks for itself - the flame is ignited using an electric current when a special button is pressed or when a switch is turned, when a spark is generated as a result of closing the circuit. Electric ignition eliminates the need to use matches and minimizes the risk of getting burned.

View models of gas stoves with electric ignition function