Today I had my O'keefe and Merritt oven fixed. The pilot light wasn't working. I made arrangements for a repairman to come here Saturday morning, but asked them to call me if they had an opening during the week.
While I was at the beach this morning, my phone rang. It turns out they could send someone to my home in fifty minutes. I explained that I would have to ride my bike to the parking lot in Malibu, and then drive down Sunset Blvd. to the 405 North. The man on the phone said that the technician would wait for me if it took me longer to arrive. When I pulled in the driveway he was already here.
It turns out it was an issue with the oven flame sensor. He did some testing, and replaced it. He told me that I was fortunate that I had already had the valve replaced. It can be difficult to do work on appliances from the fifties. Sometimes they no longer make the original parts, and you have to buy them used on EBay.
I had a gas leak in the kitchen last year and had to shut off the gas and replace the line. This can cause trouble with gas appliances. I also hadn't been using the oven during the summer, because it gets so hot. He told me that gas appliances need to be used. (like plumbing.)
When my my mom was still alive she bought an expensive Viking stove and regretted it. She told me that she wished she had one like mine. Her new one kept breaking and having problems with the electric parts. I found mine used, for $250.00. Sasha said that the simplest models are the best. Even if we have a power outage, (which happens often,) I can still cook and eat.
It's a wonderful feeling to be cooking and baking in the oven again. Life is calmer and more secure when we can repair and fix what we own.
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You must have been relieved for it to have been a straightforward repair. Goods manufactured these days are often not built to last. Sadly, it seems to be far easier and cheaper to just replace them when required. X
ReplyDeleteOh, this stove will last forever, Jules. That's what the Russian technician told me when I first had it brought up to code. It's just beautiful, and built to last.
DeleteWell done - I'm very glad repair was a comparatively simple thing and great that they could fit you in. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joy. So am I. It is a relief to be able to bake in the oven again. I had been using a small toaster oven for potatoes.
DeleteThat's wonderful that your oven could be repaired. When I called the gas company technician to check my stove, he said that because the top of the stove was sealed, there was no way he could get to any parts under the cover (one burner's automatic ignition doesn't work). He suggested I get a new stove/oven (mine was bought in 1994).
ReplyDeleteI would call an appliance repair company, Bless. I'm sure they can get inside to fix it.
DeleteIt's definitely the season for home cooked food so your oven is going to get plenty of use.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, Cherie. I am looking forward to making an apple cranberry cobbler.
DeleteYour oven was a sound investment for sure. It will be nice to bake again! Having a reliable repair man or handyman is a blessing.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, Anita. It was a four hundred dollar repair, but it is worth it. Some of the new appliances only last for five years and then they need to be replaced. This one has been perfect for fifteen years.
ReplyDelete