I just joined this sub, not sure if it's allowed but i don't know where else to turn to.

They recently replaced the gass lines outside my home and the gas was shut. Its fixed now.

I have a very old stove that uses pilot lights. The oven pilot light is usually always on. I don't use the over because it's an old stove. I was wondering if it is safe to keep the pilot light off or if it needs to be on for safety reasons.

The stove is a Magic Cheff 3100 PPW. I've already read the manual online and it didn't help.

Please please please help or at least point me to the right direction.

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Sir_JumboSaurus OP t1_ja1bysj wrote on February 26, 2023 at 2:36 AM

#2,012,606

I've currently turned off the gass valve at the back of the stove until I can figure it out or get the proper help.

AlcoholPrep t1_ja1qunm wrote on February 26, 2023 at 4:44 AM

#2,015,532

A pilot should be on so you're not leaking gas into the house. It's not a severe hazard, unless it accumulates somewhere (as it might in an oven), but gas stinks (due to an added odorant).

yolef t1_ja1sfdd wrote on February 26, 2023 at 5:00 AM

#2,015,851

Most pilot lights have a thermocouple which is basically a heat sensor that shuts off the gas to the pilot unless it senses that the pilot is lit. So usually a pilot light won't leak gas if the pilot is not lit.

4shotsofnespresso t1_ja22n37 wrote on February 26, 2023 at 6:53 AM

#2,017,586

Here's a page that might help. YouTube video embedded in article as well.

https://missvickie.com/how-to-light-pilot-on-magic-chef-rv-oven/

Puzzleheaded_Web3984 t1_ja2g8f3 wrote on February 26, 2023 at 9:49 AM

#2,019,589

This might sound strange but what do you call a boat gas fitter. They specialise installing gas on boats gas ovens gas fridges and pilot water heaters. Sounds like you need to clean your pilot out it could be blocked.

BeginningCharacter36 t1_ja2x0yr wrote on February 26, 2023 at 1:17 PM

#2,022,345

I have an old gas stove, too. Gas has gotten so bloody expensive in Northern Ontario, we literally turn the feed to the stove off when not in use because pilot lights use gas.

Do you have to hold a little button down while lighting the pilot light? That button is a bypass on a box with a safety valve in it connected to a wee probe in the oven that confirms there's flame in the pilot light. No flame, probe cools off, safety valve closes. It's completely independent of the stove top. I only light my oven pilot light if I know I need the oven.

If your stove is REALLY old, like the one at my husband's family cabin, no such luck. It has no bypass for the oven, and all pilot lights MUST be lit or you're spewing propane into the cabin.

If you literally never use the oven, you can actually just disconnect the feed to the oven and put a cap on that line. You can do that yourself, but if you know nothing about gas fittings, better to have a professional come do it. The fitting probably costs $2, so you're just paying for their time and expertise.