Should I fix the gas stove I broke?

Question

Tenant called and said she had a gas leak. She's not always completely accurate but I was in the area and went by to check. Sure enough, there is a slight gas odor in the kitchen. Have the stuff with me, check the unions, they're fine, no leaks. Check stove burners, everything working as it should. Gas odor is dissipating. I'm pretty certain she has bumped a burner slightly on and inadvertently created this situation. She wants me to look under the top of the stove. I raise it up, higher than it was intended to go and break the feed to the front burner... it looks like it just snapped off but I can't really tell because I'm afraid if I keep lifting, I'll break the other ones...

Is this a DIY or should I call the appliance guy who will then charge me half the price of the stove just to show up? Naturally, this is my first and only Section 8 tenant and the Section 8 inspection is tomorrow.

Is this a DIY or should I call the appliance guy who will then charge me half the price of the stove just to show up?  Naturally, this is my first and only Section 8 tenant and the Section 8 inspection is tomorrow.

Aaron Mazzrillo · Answer

Eeesh! Fixing appliances is by no means rocket science. I am an exceptionally un-gifted handyman and have fixed my washing machine and dishwasher just by Google-ing the name and some other key word like 'repair manual' or something similar. I found the part numbers online and ordered them. Obviously, this is all time consuming stuff and you are under a deadline. You might jot down the make/model of the stove and see if there is an appliance repair center in your area. They may have the parts in stock. I can't imagine anything on a stove to be so difficult to fix it couldn't be done with a good set of Fisher-Price starter tools.

Deborah Burian · Answer

Section 8 passed the unit, saying the tenant promised him I would fix it... that I'm a nice lady and I take care of things :-).  Appliance dude coming out on Monday.  There is no leak, just a broken stove.

Deborah Burian · Answer

@Uwe K. - the question was me versus the appliance guy, not if it would get fixed at all.  And that's exactly what I did as it turns out, popped the top on  a sealed burner gas stove without taking out the screws first.  Broke, as it turns out, both front burner feed tubes.

@Dawn Anastasi - exactly.  Wheaties girl, that's me.  It's not the first time I've broken something by acting like a bull in a china shop.  *sigh*

Dawn Anastasi · Answer

@Deborah B. you must have been "eating your Wheaties" and didn't know your own strength!

Uwe K. · Answer

well, if you broke it, you should fix it. If the tenant breaks it, you will charge them, too, right?

I killed the two front burner tubes the same way once (stove was still in my garage). Those are models where you have to unscrew the top part before you can lift off the cover. Didn't know and pushed a bit too hard :) My models were out of production, so hooray for the scrap dealer.

In your case I would have just gotten a used stove for $150 or $200, that will be cheaper than the appliance dude. That is assuming you're not providing them with a stainless steel, self cleaning, 6 burner commercial Wolf model...

Ryan M. · Answer

Sounds like a sealed burner stove. They are a lot harder to work on.

Deborah Burian · Answer

Thanks for all the feedback.  Frankly, I don't have time for the drama right now (@Ben R. was so right)  Appliance dude or new stove it is.

One more time... there is no leak.  Not gonna blow up the tenant.  Or the unit.  Or the Section 8 dude.

Shawn M. · Answer

Sounds like you have a Maytag range and need a Stove Orifice & Tube Assembly. you can get it online @ partadvantage.com.

Mine cost $26 to replace. If this is leaking make sure you turn off the gas to the stove immediately.

Ben R. · Answer

Lot's of drama in this post but I am in the used/scratch and dent camp and believe that everything five years old or less is Chinese Crapola and not worth fixing...there are used appliance stores all over Raleigh and Atlanta, and Craigslist will produce lots of used stuff as well...

disclaimer: one thing I am not is a lawyer...

Tom Goans · Answer

@Deborah B.,

Ask your attorney which is cheaper, hiring a professional to address the problem or defend a lawsuit filed by the tenant.

Another consideration, what if the place blows up and someone or someones loose their life. How will you feel about this for the rest of your life?

Should I fix the gas stove I broke?

Most Popular Reply