Running a self-clean cycle. Blowing a fan at the control panel, it gets a little warm up there.
Oven Cleaning
- Thread starter DADoES
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Running a self-clean cycle. Blowing a fan at the control panel, it gets a little warm up there.
I ran the self-clean cycle on both the gas and electric ranges right before they were removed from the kitchen for floor repair/replacement. The gas range throws off so much heat. Between the two of them, I heated the whole house for a few hours.
I should probably put a fan next to the control panel on the gas range. That one gets really warm. I'm surprised the electronics haven't given out after 11-1/2 years. (Jinx, LOL!)
I should probably put a fan next to the control panel on the gas range. That one gets really warm. I'm surprised the electronics haven't given out after 11-1/2 years. (Jinx, LOL!)
Mom's house has a Whirlpool Gold smooth top electric
range with self-clean oven that is 12 years old.
The self-clean has been used 4 times. The last time it
was used, the motor that un-latches the door fried.
I haven't fixed it yet, but it's on the to-do list.
range with self-clean oven that is 12 years old.
The self-clean has been used 4 times. The last time it
was used, the motor that un-latches the door fried.
I haven't fixed it yet, but it's on the to-do list.
Temp #1 °F
Left side near front corner.
Left side near front corner.
Temp #2 °F
Top of panel with fan blowing across it.
Top of panel with fan blowing across it.
retromania
Well-known member
I wondered about that with the electronic touchpads.
maytagbear
Well-known member
I am going to
clean my oven tonight.
Csn use the additional heat. Have the furnace set at 66F, and that's getting a bit brisk.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
clean my oven tonight.
Csn use the additional heat. Have the furnace set at 66F, and that's getting a bit brisk.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
Done. Bit of ash not yet wiped out.
kb0nes
Well-known member
Its not bad prevention to provide a little cooling air to the sensitive parts during a clean cycle, it may be just as helpful at slowing thermal aging of the plastic parts too. The fan is a good idea.
Electronics are a lot more robust they they are given credit for. The circuit board was either wave soldered or re-flowed in an oven when it was made (through hole vs surface mount PCB's) and the entire board would have attained a temperature of ~365 degrees F for a time. I used to work for a company that made Vapor Phase reflow machines and we normally saw the boards hit ~418 F which was the boiling point of the Fluorinert we used.
Running any electronics for extended periods of time above 200 F or so does cause degradation though and should be avoided. It does depend on the parts used though. I have a couple RF amplifiers I maintain that will from time to time unsolder all their output transistors from the boards. I switched to a silver bearing solder which melts at 390 F and they don't do it as often now. None of those transistors has ever failed from heat!
Electronics are a lot more robust they they are given credit for. The circuit board was either wave soldered or re-flowed in an oven when it was made (through hole vs surface mount PCB's) and the entire board would have attained a temperature of ~365 degrees F for a time. I used to work for a company that made Vapor Phase reflow machines and we normally saw the boards hit ~418 F which was the boiling point of the Fluorinert we used.
Running any electronics for extended periods of time above 200 F or so does cause degradation though and should be avoided. It does depend on the parts used though. I have a couple RF amplifiers I maintain that will from time to time unsolder all their output transistors from the boards. I switched to a silver bearing solder which melts at 390 F and they don't do it as often now. None of those transistors has ever failed from heat!
toploader55
Well-known member
Funny Thing...
I don't care for Self Cleaning Ovens.
As soon as my oven ia beginning to look soiled, I hit it with some Easy Off in the blue can, let it stand for a hour or so, and wipe it clean.
I think it's faster and I don't have to think about the electric that's used.
I don't care for Self Cleaning Ovens.
As soon as my oven ia beginning to look soiled, I hit it with some Easy Off in the blue can, let it stand for a hour or so, and wipe it clean.
I think it's faster and I don't have to think about the electric that's used.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Eddie:
A typical self-clean cycle on an electric range consumes about 9 kwh. In my area, we're at 8 cents a kwh, making it under a dollar to clean electrically.
Last I looked, that can of Easy-Off would set me back around four bucks here locally.
I think your electric rates in MA are higher than ours, so you'd pay more per use than I do, but even at 15 or 16 cents a kwh, you're still ahead of the cost of quality aerosol oven cleaner.
A typical self-clean cycle on an electric range consumes about 9 kwh. In my area, we're at 8 cents a kwh, making it under a dollar to clean electrically.
Last I looked, that can of Easy-Off would set me back around four bucks here locally.
I think your electric rates in MA are higher than ours, so you'd pay more per use than I do, but even at 15 or 16 cents a kwh, you're still ahead of the cost of quality aerosol oven cleaner.
The range is 9 years old. I clean it on average once per year during the winter season to eliminate the load on air conditioning. The fan has been involved for the last two cleanings.
Regards to cost of electricity for a cleaning cycle ... I don't have a reference for current price of a good-quality can of oven cleaner but the power cost may be equivalent, or less.
I think even CU thinks its cheaper to use the clean cycle instead of chemicals. I noticed that WP is no longer marketing that stupid "low temp" clean thing they tried. I rather enjoy using my self clean. Frequently it looks like a fireplace as the grease catches fire!
I had that same model range in my old house in PA. It never got that hot when I cleaned the oven. But is was on the end of the row of cabinets as seen in this photo. I miss that range really bad. I have almost the same one here in FL but with out the proof button and I used that a lot when I made my yeast dough for sticky bun, and breads.
mrb627
Well-known member
Self Cleaning Hater Here
I always hated the self cleaning function on my Kenmore Elite Gas Range. I figured if I was gonna have to get down on my hands and knees to wipe it out anyway, what is the point. I switched to using the EZ Off for Self Cleaning Ovens years ago and never looked back...
Malcolm
I always hated the self cleaning function on my Kenmore Elite Gas Range. I figured if I was gonna have to get down on my hands and knees to wipe it out anyway, what is the point. I switched to using the EZ Off for Self Cleaning Ovens years ago and never looked back...
Malcolm
Stupid "Low Temp" Cleaning
Our lower-end Westinghouse Electric Fan-Forced oven has that feature.
Basically, you have Catalytic Liners that dissipate grease and dirt when the over is set over about 180ºC (355ºF). The trouble with this feature is, it only protects the side walls of the oven, not the ceiling nor does it protect the floor from spills.
The good thing though is it does reduce oven cleaning to some extent, but one still has to crank the temperature dial and get the elements glowin' every so often to keep it clean.
So in my opinion, it should really be more along the lines of "You have Pyrolytic Cleaning or you have NO Self-Cleaning." This halfway-hill really doesn't help much when your thrills and spills occur on the ceiling and floor of an oven...
Our lower-end Westinghouse Electric Fan-Forced oven has that feature.
Basically, you have Catalytic Liners that dissipate grease and dirt when the over is set over about 180ºC (355ºF). The trouble with this feature is, it only protects the side walls of the oven, not the ceiling nor does it protect the floor from spills.
The good thing though is it does reduce oven cleaning to some extent, but one still has to crank the temperature dial and get the elements glowin' every so often to keep it clean.
So in my opinion, it should really be more along the lines of "You have Pyrolytic Cleaning or you have NO Self-Cleaning." This halfway-hill really doesn't help much when your thrills and spills occur on the ceiling and floor of an oven...
dustin92
Well-known member
We have a Whirlpool electric range from about 1990, and I love the self cleaning feature. I han truly say I will never willingly own a manual clean oven again. Ours allows you to set the cleaning time for any length you wish, I usually set it for about 2 hours, but just let it heat until the "oven heating" light goes out and then either about another hour or until the wisps of smoke stop coming from around the door. Yes, it uses a bit of electricity, and yes, it stinks up the house for a bit, but not having to spray that nasty oven cleaner, and then breathe in (and choke on) the toxic fumes is worth it for me. I love opening the door to just a tiny bit of ash, wiping it with a damp cloth, and looking at a perfectly clean oven.
I love the self clean oven. I use it 2-3 times per year. If something has been invented to reduce manual labour then I use it LOL
Gary
Gary
iheartmaytag
Well-known member
Love my self-cleaner
Best invention since the dishwasher.
Our first was about 1977-78 GE P-7 system. Boy that range would get hot, and clean. even cleaned around the door and the gasket.
My next one came about in 1997 a Maytag convection. Worked ok, but was always compared to the P-7 system; which it did not match.
My current range is another GE, I have had since March. Though I have not used the high-heat clean yet, I have used the steam clean cycle several times with good results. I currently have a spot on the oven floor that if the next steam cycle doesn't take care of it I will use the pyro-clean cycle sometime after Christmas.
Best invention since the dishwasher.
Our first was about 1977-78 GE P-7 system. Boy that range would get hot, and clean. even cleaned around the door and the gasket.
My next one came about in 1997 a Maytag convection. Worked ok, but was always compared to the P-7 system; which it did not match.
My current range is another GE, I have had since March. Though I have not used the high-heat clean yet, I have used the steam clean cycle several times with good results. I currently have a spot on the oven floor that if the next steam cycle doesn't take care of it I will use the pyro-clean cycle sometime after Christmas.
whirlcool
Well-known member
I found the same thing to be true. Our P-7 oven cleaned perfectly with only a moderate amount of heat around the unit. Our 4 year old Maytag gas convection oven was self cleaned one time. The surrounding air got so hot it almost melted the control panel of the microwave above it. It even heated two rooms in the house to 85F while it was cleaning. And then anything in the adjoining cabinetry was too hot to touch after the cleaning was done. And that was only after an hour!
It needs it again, fortunately there is a window nearby. I'll wait until the temps are in the low 30's and direct a fan in the window right at the stove while it's self cleaning and see how that works. If the house don't burn down first.
It needs it again, fortunately there is a window nearby. I'll wait until the temps are in the low 30's and direct a fan in the window right at the stove while it's self cleaning and see how that works. If the house don't burn down first.
Cool Self Cleaning Oven Thread
I consider SCOs to be one of the 3 best appliance inventions in the last 40 years for the kitchen. Not only do they save at least an hour of work each time you have a really dirty oven, but they are also cheaper to clean compared to using chemical oven cleaners, much more environmentally friendly as well, AND they save far more power during normal baking than you could ever use during self cleaning cycles.
Hi Sandy, where did you find the 9KW figure for power usage during the SC cycle, I have cleaned at least a dozen different SC electric ovens in my shop over the years while they were attached to an electric meter, and have found they they consume only between 2 and about 4 1/2 KW hours of power for the cleaning cycle.
Hi Glen, I would be very careful about having a fan blowing on a SCO during the cleaning cycle, for one thing it is not needed, but more importantly if it blows air into the ovens vent it could cause a dangerous reverse flow of air through the oven, this could be an especially dangerous problem on a gas oven and it is the back of the electronic control that might need cooling.
I consider SCOs to be one of the 3 best appliance inventions in the last 40 years for the kitchen. Not only do they save at least an hour of work each time you have a really dirty oven, but they are also cheaper to clean compared to using chemical oven cleaners, much more environmentally friendly as well, AND they save far more power during normal baking than you could ever use during self cleaning cycles.
Hi Sandy, where did you find the 9KW figure for power usage during the SC cycle, I have cleaned at least a dozen different SC electric ovens in my shop over the years while they were attached to an electric meter, and have found they they consume only between 2 and about 4 1/2 KW hours of power for the cleaning cycle.
Hi Glen, I would be very careful about having a fan blowing on a SCO during the cleaning cycle, for one thing it is not needed, but more importantly if it blows air into the ovens vent it could cause a dangerous reverse flow of air through the oven, this could be an especially dangerous problem on a gas oven and it is the back of the electronic control that might need cooling.
I cook a lot, so the ovens get cleaned about four or five times a year. Don't miss manual-cleaning ovens a bit.
Malcolm--- You'll find the electric range gives off far less heat than your gas range did, during both baking and self-cleaning.
Malcolm--- You'll find the electric range gives off far less heat than your gas range did, during both baking and self-cleaning.
LG Self Cleaning Ovens
LG has been advertising a new self cleaning oven that is supposed to take minutes vs. hours. Does anyone know anything about how these work or how good they are?
I also cook a lot and run my self cleaning function as needed and I suspect that's every couple of months or so. I don't use a spray can of anything vs. turning it on and walking away but that's just me. I'd like to say its about the smell or the use or harsh chemicals but it is neither of those. I just don't want to ruin a good manicure cleaning the oven. OK I'm honest!! I'll ruin one in a bowl of pizza dough but oven cleaner? Never!
LG has been advertising a new self cleaning oven that is supposed to take minutes vs. hours. Does anyone know anything about how these work or how good they are?
I also cook a lot and run my self cleaning function as needed and I suspect that's every couple of months or so. I don't use a spray can of anything vs. turning it on and walking away but that's just me. I'd like to say its about the smell or the use or harsh chemicals but it is neither of those. I just don't want to ruin a good manicure cleaning the oven. OK I'm honest!! I'll ruin one in a bowl of pizza dough but oven cleaner? Never!
whirlcool
Well-known member
Our GE P-7 was the first self cleaning oven we owned. We ran it for two hours the first time we cleaned it. We were in awe when it was done and cooled down. Only a light coating of grey dust remained. When we wiped that out the oven looked like new again.
What year did GE stop making the P-7 ovens? Anyone know?
What year did GE stop making the P-7 ovens? Anyone know?
danemodsandy
Well-known member
John:
That 9 kwh figure was something I picked up off the Internet; I certainly haven't hooked a meter up to a range like you have.
Your figure is very reassuring, but I wonder if the difference between your figure and mine isn't due to your reading being one for a 1960s GE P*7 range, and mine being for a newer model?
As you know, there are a lot of new ranges out there that are built so flimsily that it's a wonder they don't burn houses down in normal use, let alone during the self-clean cycle. A classic GE has much heavier insulation and a much more conservative oven window design, if it has an oven window at all. I can see how power consumption would be much lower for an older GE.
Consumer Reports used to regularly remind readers that self-cleaning ovens were capable of "payback." The feature cost more, but that cost was offset by savings on oven cleaner and a lowered cost on all oven operation due to heavier insulation. Haven't seen that claim in a while!
That 9 kwh figure was something I picked up off the Internet; I certainly haven't hooked a meter up to a range like you have.
Your figure is very reassuring, but I wonder if the difference between your figure and mine isn't due to your reading being one for a 1960s GE P*7 range, and mine being for a newer model?
As you know, there are a lot of new ranges out there that are built so flimsily that it's a wonder they don't burn houses down in normal use, let alone during the self-clean cycle. A classic GE has much heavier insulation and a much more conservative oven window design, if it has an oven window at all. I can see how power consumption would be much lower for an older GE.
Consumer Reports used to regularly remind readers that self-cleaning ovens were capable of "payback." The feature cost more, but that cost was offset by savings on oven cleaner and a lowered cost on all oven operation due to heavier insulation. Haven't seen that claim in a while!
Self-Cleaning ovens ...
If you clean up spills as you go, you'll never have to "clean" the oven. Ever.
Ditto with the microwave (which I never use anymore anyway).
That said, electronics and heat are never a good mix. I like my 2006 Frigidaire gas range (with knobs for the burners), but what I don't like is the oven controlled by electronic "touch" buttons. A couple of times I've turned on the oven by accident just during routine cleaning, wiping down the control panel. And I hate that my oven is always just one short-circuit away from turning on when I'm not home (a particular danger for those New Yorkers like myself who are cabinet-poor and use their ovens for storage).
If they MUST be electronic, there should be a good old-fashioned master power switch that's mechanical that you have to flip on before turning on the oven with the touchpad.
If you clean up spills as you go, you'll never have to "clean" the oven. Ever.
Ditto with the microwave (which I never use anymore anyway).
That said, electronics and heat are never a good mix. I like my 2006 Frigidaire gas range (with knobs for the burners), but what I don't like is the oven controlled by electronic "touch" buttons. A couple of times I've turned on the oven by accident just during routine cleaning, wiping down the control panel. And I hate that my oven is always just one short-circuit away from turning on when I'm not home (a particular danger for those New Yorkers like myself who are cabinet-poor and use their ovens for storage).
If they MUST be electronic, there should be a good old-fashioned master power switch that's mechanical that you have to flip on before turning on the oven with the touchpad.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
NYCWriter:
Evidently you never make meat loaf, roast chickens, turkeys or ducks, bake hams, broil steak or make ribs.
You are not going to get an oven clean after these operations with a simple wiping. The one that is worst in my book is roasting a turkey. The spatters and the horrid smell of turkey fat are such a problem that I Will. Not. roast a turkey if I don't have a self-cleaner. Otherwise, the smell hangs in the house for days and days, or I must pay a heavy price for my holiday by dealing with aerosol oven cleaner.
Evidently you never make meat loaf, roast chickens, turkeys or ducks, bake hams, broil steak or make ribs.
You are not going to get an oven clean after these operations with a simple wiping. The one that is worst in my book is roasting a turkey. The spatters and the horrid smell of turkey fat are such a problem that I Will. Not. roast a turkey if I don't have a self-cleaner. Otherwise, the smell hangs in the house for days and days, or I must pay a heavy price for my holiday by dealing with aerosol oven cleaner.
norgeway
Well-known member
I dont want..
A self cleaning oven, I cover just about everything I bake and NEVER broil anything,if its going to be messy I use my roaster, I clean the oven maybe twice a year.
A self cleaning oven, I cover just about everything I bake and NEVER broil anything,if its going to be messy I use my roaster, I clean the oven maybe twice a year.
I love the self clean ovens. I have a whirlpool electric range from 2010 and another from 2012. Both clean well except the cabinet near the door gets so hot that it actually melted the veneer from the drawers of the cabinets on both sides. I guess there should have been a spacer between the cabinets and the stove. Both stoves have done this. Had to have service on the newer one because it was not cleaning properly. The tech said I should pull the stove out a couple of inches while cleaning to avoid this problem. The reason the newer stove was not cleaning properly, he stated because you left the racks in the oven. When in cleaning mode it burns off some of the coating on the racks which in turn coated the temp sensor in the oven. He replaced that and all is fine. No more cleaning the racks in the oven during self clean. Which sucks as far as I am concerned. I remember my moms first self cleaning fridg stove and we were able to put the drip pans in along with the racks and no problems. I guess they have cheapened the racks to no longer be able to stand the heat.
Jon
Jon
My racks are porcelain-coated, can be run through the self-clean cycle.
John, the oven vent is at center/bottom of the panel far as I can determine. I moved the fan fully back to the corner after the pic was taken, so that it blew behind and across the face of the panel. The range is electric, no gas in my house (would have to be propane if there was, natural gas is not available).
The window glass gets hot during self-cleaning but barely warm during normal baking.
