How often do you use the self clean function on your oven?

[Chetlaham]

All electronics have a finite life span. If there is for example an electrolytic capacitor, that will figuratively have a best buy date from the day it leaves the factory. A good thermostat will only age slightly when in use, easily lasting for decades.

I will admit variable thyristor controlled heating elements radically improve cooking in toaster ovens. My Breville cooks far better than anything I've ever used toaster oven wise and better than most full size ovens.

In a full size oven with good thermal mass complimented by good heat distribution I am willing to except a small deviation in cooking for simplicity and longevity. In my view an oven ought to last 50 years- nothing inside should be able to fail in that period of time except the light bulb.

Right now the plus button on my GE range is acting up, I need to push it in with a metal spoon to get the temp up, so being honest that might be biasing my views lol. But at the same time it just makes me yearn what I've always craved.

 

[Marky_Mark]

I run the self-cleaning cycle during the winter, when I can have the windows open during the cycle, as the weather is cool and the heat output is welcome. I don’t run it during the blazing heat of summer, when the windows are closed and the A/C is running.

If my oven couldn’t cope with being used as designed without blowing up a circuit board or something, then it would rapidly get kicked to the kerb and replaced by something that worked properly.

 

[logixx]

Let's not forget self-washing steam ovens.

 

[hvtech42]

Pretty much all mechanical parts have a finite lifespan. Electronic boards are not unique in that respect, and in fact their reliability potential is better than average since they have no moving parts. When's the last time you "changed the board" in your car? Electrolytic capacitor lifespan varies drastically based on specifications and operating conditions - they can last decades if properly specified.

Yes, there was a capacitor plague a while back that led to a higher than normal failure rate. As with the scare stories about self cleaning, that was an aberration, not representative of how that technology works normally. Electronic control boards have been used in the vast majority of American made ovens since the early/mid 90s - after that time only BOL models, many Euro import models, and some "commercial style" models were still using manual/mechanical thermostats. I see boards from the 90s/early 2000s all the time that have been working fine for decades.

That's not to say electronic boards are perfect. They have lots of sub-parts and can be complex to design, which creates the potential for introducing problems, and certainly some board designs have had their share of issues. They are relatively expensive to replace and their sub components are generally not designed to be serviced (at least in the appliance industry) so are a contributor to driving up repair prices and junking appliances young. But to say electronic components inherently have shorter lives than mechanical components suggests a profound ignorance of basic engineering.

 

[Chetlaham]

Caps age 24/7 as they hold charge, which accelerates with heat, whereas stats only age as they cycle in use. Can caps trully last 50+ years in bulk?

https://www.xppower.com/resources/blog/electrolytic-capacitor-lifetime-in-power-supplies

Stats also precisely facilitate the repair and preservation of stoves.

If I had to choose between a new electronic stove or one of these, I'd choose the latter:

 

[combo52]

Life expectancy of range controls

Mechanical controls at one time were pretty good but ranges have became more complex. Electronics are just simply the way to go. When I look at how complex my old Thermidor ovens are with mechanical controls and the weird problems they develop as they age mechanal controls at one time we’re pretty good but as ranges became more complex. Electronics are just simply the way to go. When I look at how complex my old Thermidor ovens are with mechanical controls and the weird problems they develop as they age it would be far easier to have an ERC, electronic range control.That could simply be removed and sent away for rebuilding companies like cor centric in Illinois do a beautiful job of rebuilding these controls when problems do arise.

Hi Sam, you replies 16 and 22 are right on the money it’s nice to have somebody else that has actual experience and knows what they’re talking about with regard to Appliance problems on this site.

John

 

[Chetlaham]

Thermostat replacement:

 

[Chetlaham]

Ranges became more complex

Yup, all thats the byproduct of the marketing I spoke of in post #17. When all frivolous gimmicks are set aside whats left is a single pole switch opening and closing in response to a temperature change.

Mode selector consisting of one double pole single pole switch and one single pole single throw switch which either 1) connects the broiler to line two 2) connects bake to line two and broil to neutral 3) or leaves both bake and broiler disconnected.

3 switches total.

None of the weird failure modes or complexity to speak of.

 

[ryner1988]

Not even sure my apartment range has a self-clean function, LOL. It's a BOL Frigidaire with knobs for each burner and one knob for the oven. Believe the only electronic part on it is the clock.

I just wipe up spills when they happen, which is admittedly rare because I take care to cover dishes that are prone to splattering anyway.

Ryne

 

[Chetlaham]

BOL none self clean range

@Ryne: Consider yourself lucky! These are the best ranges one can use. When coupled with a large cavity, door window, interior light and built like a high end unit these are the best ranges money can buy. There is nothing to go wrong. Simple, dependable, reliable, accurate, time tested.

No self clean to simulate accelerated aging tests on behalf of the manufacturer or add complex failure points. Just cook, cool and wipe down as needed.

I've attached the wiring diagram for your make to show how truly simple a range can be for the skeptic here. L1 is routed into the thermostat, upon leaving it is routed into through a single pole double throw mode selector switch whereby power is sent to either to the bake element or broil element. The other side of the bake and broil is then run through a single pole single throw off switch before connecting to line two. One stat, two switches. Full thanksgiving meal guaranteed. No complexity and repair can be done by anyone.

 

[henene4]

Ahhh chetlaham

If it was to your taste, my car would still have a crank start and 4 speeds max, right?

Luckily, they still make ranges for your type of folk:
https://www.geappliances.com/appliance/GE-30-Free-Standing-Electric-Range-JBS160DMWW

Don't think many would be happy with this, but hey, you do you.

 

[Chetlaham]

More like a 1970s Cadillac, Rivera, Impala or Chevelle LOL.

Those ranges are really popular in apartment buildings.

This GE model is better built, though sadly appears to have the self clean feature:

https://www.geappliances.com/applia...ectric-Radiant-Smooth-Cooktop-Range-JB480DTWW

I see no reason for ovens to gain any more complexity than they had in the 50s. Instead manufacturers should be looking at more durable coatings, thicker metal and running the elements with more surface area so they don't burn out eventually.

 

[panasonicvac]

We've done ours about every couple years or so. Usually if they get dirty, we try to scrub and wipe them off first since it's much easier to do but if it gets really dirty or smelly, then we'd do the detail by self cleaning. I have a brother who just bought a house and they're about to have their condo sold, I overheard my sister-in-law who said she had spent almost all day trying to clean her oven out by hand. She said it was really bad but she refused to use the self cleaning feature because she heard that it can break the oven even faster. Well our Whirlpool wall oven and Jenn-Air stove oven we've had since 1991 has NEVER had any problems with after using the self cleaning feature. That's one of the things I had missed about the Jenn-Air, we replaced it a couple years ago with a LG that uses a steam clean feature. It's not as good at cleaning as the Jenn-Air.

 

[ryner1988]

Chetlaham and Henrick

This is just a classic example of some people like tech, others don't. Some people are more open to innovation. Others prefer the tried and true classics and just want to get the job at hand done.

Sounds like y'all are just at complete opposite ends of that spectrum, and that's perfect. Variety makes the world go round. Would be a pretty boring world if we all liked the same thing.

I don't mind new tech really but honestly will choose not to have to deal with it if I don't have to. I don't enjoy learning curves very much, especially for daily tasks like cooking and laundry. So in that spirit my non-techy oven works great for me. So does my basic washer and dryer. Why do I need it to have a million options or sing me a little pretty song? LOL

 

[ea56]

Well stated Ryne! Different strokes for different folks. There is no need to tech shame members. After all isn’t this a website that is on some level devoted to vintage appliances? People should buy and use the appliances that best suit their needs and level of comfort with technology.

I happen to like my GE electric stove with the electronic control board, which I had been dead set against buying. But in order to get all the features that I wanted when I bought a new stove I had to accept a stove with an electronic control board. I use the delay start for the oven every single day and I really like this feature. As stated previously I had a self cleaning stove 20 years ago that after the 3rd SC cycle the electronic control board was fried making the oven useless unless I was willing to spend approx. $475.00 for the parts and labor to repair it. My new GE stove has the control panel located on the backsplash which is supposed to protect the control board from the intense heat from a SC cycle. I hope that this proves to be true, because I sure love not having to clean the oven by hand anymore.

Eddie

 

[henene4]

Ryne

No, I totally understand the mindset of "simple is better" and I totally support anybody saying "I don't want anything of that kind".

I recommend simple solutions where ever they make sense. I encourage anybody to share their negative experiences with technology.

I however DESPISE framing anything that is not what one prefers as bad.
There is a lot one can read between the lines.
There is a BIG difference between saying "I wouldn't want that" and calling those things "frivolous gimmicks" and trying to harp on something that's just A solution - not THE solution.
Especially if that is ENTIRELY BESIDES the point of a conversation.

There's a whole larger issue behind that kind of talking that's even less in place here.

I could write pages about why the view "simplicity is the only way to longevity" is just inherently NOT how engineering an appliance works.

I made that very point several times on here before.
There is very much physical proof of that. The technology behind the self cleaning oven is more than twice my age, almost as old as my mum, older than humanity having walked on another celestial body.
And some of those are still around.

The point he is making is A point, but not THE fact. Somebody saying they like that isn't the same as saying what they like is better and trying to make their points valid with presentations of things that show nothing of note to the discussion.

 

[mattl]

Put me on the tech end of the scale.  I just did my baking/roasting in my new Samsung steam oven the replaced my Electolux oven. everything turned out perfect, cookies evenly browned, my sourdough rye had a great crust, and my beef ribeye roast was perfectly browned with a nice medium rare center.  I think the dual convection fans did a much better job than the single in the Elux.

 

That said I still do my pumpkin pies in my trusty Frigidaire CI from '58. The vented oven gives a much nicer finish to the pies. I also use the rotisserie a fair amount in the winter. However I will second John's comment about the complexity needed in some older high end ranges, as a kid the repairman spent a lot of time fixing various parts of this range. The CI was a daily driver for a total of 7 years, then relegated to second string after we moved.  The new house had a very basic drop in 30" Hotpoint that crapped out in 7 years, so much for low tech.

 

[Chetlaham]

Not to stir the pot, in fact I fully agree with you that simplicity is not the only way to longevity. Design, material, wear, equations used, ect all play a role. In fact that is one of my peeves, some of the most simple appliances like Potscrubbers from the 90s (for example) were so simple yet so deprived of quality parts and duty factors that they often didn't make it past 10 years.

Good appliances are both simple and over engineered for what few parts there are.

Regarding the downfalls of tech here is my latest example. The plus button is broken inward- it does not work when depressed. You have to use a metal object to get it to work- until that is- it gets stuck "on" and the control throws an error code 5 minutes latter aborting the cooking cycle. A single knob would have prevented this.

Reason I bring this up in the self clean thread is because I feel self cleaning is a solution to a none existent problem. A sponge and cleaner has always worked for me.

 

[Chetlaham]

My Oven

I use this oven every single day, sometimes twice a day, for the last 10 years. Stuffed peppers, meatballs, lasagna, frozen chicken, zucchini casseroles, french fries, frozen foods, and the like. Less so the past few weeks since the Sharp micro came in, but that doesn't count I think.

Minus the resent grease spill over Christmas, the oven is fairly clean for 10 years of hard use. The spill will get cleaned up with cleaner and a sponge. I don't think a self clean cycle will make the inside look any better.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Honestly, if I didn't have a self-clean function on my oven... I wouldn't even miss it...I'm really careful when using the oven and if there is some accident in the oven I'm going to clean it right then because if I don't it will bug the hell outta me... If there are crumbs.. I start with a wet paper towels to get the crumbs until there are no more... Then take racks out...spray easy off mostly just on the bottom....if I see something on the side I'll spray it there... Obviously let it sit to do the work... Put rubber gloves on....wipe/rinse (windows open)... It's really not hard at all and it looks great afterwards....the reason it's not hard is I never let it get to the state of no return where it's filthy caked baked on grease... If I were dealing with something like that I'd definitely probably use the self-clean function and hope for the best