Really want a vintage gas range but afraid....

[bradfordwhite]

I used to like gas APPLIANCES too,

.....before I realized how dangerous they are. 

  

In fact, I wanted a gas stove when I built my second house and really liked having it.  It was a mid 90s GE

I don't know why.  I liked the smell of gas. I liked the instant on and off.  I remember the first time making muffins in the oven.

 

Had a gas furnace and water heater and two fireplaces.  

 

<span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 18pt;">But,</span> I didn't realize how dangerous they,

the pipe <span style="text-decoration: underline;">network</span> that makes them work,

<span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 24pt;">AND</span> the efforts that are involved in making NG and Propane gas .....<span style="font-size: 14pt;">is</span>. 

 

 

We don't see most of those things.  We only see the appliances!  That's not reality.

 

As adults, we learn, we make informed educated decisions.  

 

Natural gas should never have been piped to residential housing units.  It's too dangerous. 

Fossil fuels are declining literally.  That's one reason why we have electric cars coming on strong.  

 

---

There are people around who used to drink alcohol heavily, or smoke cigarettes... until they got educated.

If they are smart and concerned, they changed their lives and eliminated the bad habits.

 

That gas network of piping..... that's buried in the streets....in your neighborhood.....in the walls in your house.....it's getting older and rustier every minute that goes by.   

 

I thank the people who made life better with the gas systems but it's time to move forward and BEYOND.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Propane/Natural gas detector

Yes, a home I was remodeling in 1999 I put in a plug-in one, in a specially installed outlet 12" down from the ceiling in the hallway.  

 

I had to redo the gas piping in the basement  because I was moving the furnace, water heater, and the stove.  It was Fall and the heat had been on.  I turned off the heat because I turned off the gas at the meter

 

BUT the valve on the meter didn't turn the gas all the way off.  (ding, ding, ding)

 

There was a small leak which I really didn't think too much of.

 

I dismantled the piping to re-configure the lines.  Starting at the meter I installed the pipes.  Because there was a bit of gas coming through the lines it was coming inside.  

 

It was only a matter of time before that sensor went off upstairs.  I opened the windows on that windy day.

 

They do work. 

 

My question is: for how long?

 

And will they lose effectiveness over time?

 

Will dusty conditions hamper their ability to detect?  There are plenty of people who are messy.

 

And will power surges quietly fry the electronics?  

 

Also, what if you aren't home when a leak starts?  The detector is useless then.

 

And what if you get a defective unit that the light stays on making you think everything is fine?  Are you going to hinge your whole life on a detector like that?

 

[foraloysius]

The man who blew up the apartment building overhere in the Netherlands didn't put his head in the oven like in a movie. He just disconnected a gas appliance and turned the gas valve open and lighted something after a while. We have had a few gas explosions too that weren't deliberate, but were caused by a leak or a faulty connection. It might not happen too often, but the danger is real.

 

[goatfarmer]

If you're going to worry about everything that  <span style="text-decoration: underline;">might </span> happen, might as well stay in bed and hide under the covers.

 

[stan]

Hi

I’ve been cooking on this 1919 gas stove for 30 years
All burners and oven half to be match lit, as there are no standing pilot lights.
No gage on oven to set oven temp.
It works just fine, has never leaked.
There’s a 88 year old gas floor furnace in a hallway (not far from the stove) with original Thermostatic control still functioning.
I ain’t scared. Get what makes you happy dude.

 

[vacbear58]

Kidde Carbon Monoxide Alarm

I recently installed one of these (Kidde unit), not for a gas appliance but in a room where there is a wood burning stove installed. The instructions specifically state that it has a life of 10 years and should be discarded after that time.

 

[yogitunes]

Kenny....you NAILED it!

 

[rickr]

Once again, Kenny hit the nail right on the head. And as for all the doom, gloom, and BOOM, get back on your meds and you will be fine in no time.

 

[maytagbear]

Both

gas and electricity are powerful and are capable of severe damages.  However, as long as one pays respectful attention, all will  be well.    It would not be life as we currently know and enjoy it without gas and electricity.

 

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[yogitunes]

Rickr....so good to see you posting again....

 

[weed30]

Thanks all - I am now debating between two beautiful ranges, a Tappan and a Caloric. I like the design of the Tappan better, but the Caloric was recently inspected and is closer to me. Waiting for an installer to let me know if he'll do the job, then have to figure out pickup/delivery which will no doubt cost more than the range

 

[bradfordwhite]

"It would not be life as we currently know and enjoy it without gas and electricity."

Lots of people live their lives without the threats and benefits that NG or propane appliances can provide. Gas is NOT inevitable.

I've lived probably half my life without gas in my homes.

On the other hand, life is almost unimaginable without some form of electricity.


Gas in the home can only power a max of about 5 dirty appliances:

water heater,

furnace/heater,

fireplace (not as popular as they once were), 

dryer (yuck),

stove,

& the odd pool heater.

However nearly all use electricity to power the controller components.

And of course electric powers an <span style="text-decoration: underline;">endless</span> list of other devices.

Electric is clean, quiet (that is a POSITIVE benefit, just to clarify), easy to control, 100% efficient, and you can even make it with your own solar panel array. Talk about self sufficient.  So awesome.

 

[oliger]

I live in a historic neighborhood where more than 2,000 houses are 100+ years old. Almost all the houses have gas appliances. In 100+ years only a few have burned down. Mostly from arson, or old wiring. The house I grew up in was built in 1910 and still has it's original gas pipes, 112 years old. It has a 60's magic chef gas stove with 3 standing pilots, gas water heater with a standing pilot, gas furnace with standing pilot, gas fireplace, and a gas dryer.
Long story short, the stove has had a pilot light go out twice in 23 years. You could smell it long before it became dangerous. The house isn't even remotely air tight, it would have taken days for an explosive amount of gas to build up. No other problems, and I haven't known anyone who has had any problems with gas either.

 

[yogitunes]

for many areas.....GAS is way cheaper than Electric.....

and your right, electrical fires never happen!

I have gas powered- stove, water heater, boiler, 3 dryers, gas grill, and backup generator- you know because electric never goes out, yet gas is still available....I will figure out how to get a gas fireplace installed.....

now if you want to pay for all new electrical appliances, and run all the electrical wiring needed, and pay my electrical bill...I am all ears, and have at it....

but until the day comes that you pay my bills, I will buy and choose to use what ever I damn well please....

opinions are like assholes, every one has one!...

 

[maytag85]

I agree with Yogitones, Gas is miles cheaper than electric. If electricity were cheap as water, then it would be more economical since it would be cheaper than natural gas but life and reality completely changes the cost of everything. Many people believed electricity in the 50’s and 60’s would be too cheap to meter since more nuclear power plants would be built and there would be a over abundance of it but since few were built, life and reality changed everything since electricity has gone up in price since the 70’s, and went up again in the 2000’s.

 

[foraloysius]

"get back on your meds and you will be fine in no time"

Let's keep things civilized here please.

 

[ea56]

The way so many here get so agitated about the prospect of having gas outlawed, it reminds me of Charlton Heston saying that they would have to pry his guns out of his cold, dead hands.  Calm down!  

 

You like gas, then use it.  There’s no need to get vicious with those that prefer electricity.   Some of us have no choice but to use electricity as we don’t have gas service.  You can get used to whatever your circumstances require and adapt.  I had to do so over 27 years ago and it didn’t rock my world.  And I actually learned over the years that I prefer electric heat, and I always preferred cooking with an electric stove.   Tomato, tamato, potato, patato, lets call the whole thing off.

 

Electricity handled improperly can electrocute and kill and gas handled improperly can explode or asphyxiate, both can be deadly if not used carefully with proper respect for the danger they may present.

 

Yes, electricity can be expensive, but as far as I know gas ain’t free either.  And should the companies that supply gas service decide to someday bring the price of gas up to the price of electricity you’ll all be at their mercy.

 

Eddie

 

[bradfordwhite]

The average price for a BTU of NG has nearly DOUBLED<span style="background-color: #ffffff;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">since 2020.</span></span>

 

<span style="background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">No wonder a few people are nervous. </span></span>

 

---

 

I started paying attention to electric rates in 2010.  For the last year I've been paying about 0.11 pr KWH. and it's always been within a few cents of that. 

 

 

The only time it was significantly different is when I signed up for Time-of-Use metering back in 2010. 

There my KWH rate was 0.06 per KWH except during two 3 hour periods on week days. 

Those were from about 9 am to noon AND 5 pm to 8pm, when the rates were 0.24 cents a KWH. 

That was great. Of course my water heater was on a crank switch and the heaters were on timers.

I used very little electric during that time and my highest bill was about $160 during February.  This was in the upper midwest (freeze your weenie off) and I used electric heat and everything else was electric.

 

I remember going into the office to pay my bill in February.  I mentioned my concern for how high my bill was to the girl at the desk.  She looked at it and was like "I don't know what YOU'RE doing but that's quite reasonable.  Some of these people have $800 and $1000 a month bills"  

I was kind of shocked and then quite proud.   lol

 

----

 

If electric rates fluctuated like they apparently do for NG I'd have wet panties too.

[this post was last edited: 1/13/2022-20:40]

https://www.api.org/news-policy-and-issues/blog/2021/11/03/qa-whats-up-with-natural-gas-prices

 

[weed30]

Update: I'm now leaning towards the Tappan because it's just so great looking! It's missing one burner knob, but seller thinks she might be able to find it. Even if she can't I'll scour ebay and a few other sites to find a replacement. Otherwise it's super clean and the chrome is perfecto.  I'm hoping to hear from an installer and a mover tomorrow.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Any pics?