Knock on wood, but we have had absolutely no problem with the refrigerator (it just keeps hummin' along) and no problem with the stove. Well except for one little thing.
This was the scene in my kitchen today as my dear husband replaced the oven door hinges on the stove. Again. For the fourth time.
Something happens to the hinges having to do with wear and tear on them each time the oven door is opened and closed. The door gets progressively harder and harder to open making an awful creaking sound that gets really loud. Once, one of the deteriorating hinges snapped and the oven door wouldn't stay closed. The only way we could get the door to stay closed was by wedging it shut with a 2 x 4. You can read about that incident and see a picture here. (This was before we remodeled the kitchen in 2011.)
So to summarize, we purchased the stove in 1995, we had to replace the hinges in 1999, again in 2002, a third time in 2008 and a fourth time today.
My optimistic husband commented that at least the manufacturer of the hinges is making them better as they're lasting progressively longer. "Ha," I said. "They may last longer, but obviously they're still defective!"
On top of everything else, it's a tricky job to replace the hinges. One has to be careful because the hinges are very strong and if one is not careful during the process, they can snap shut at just the wrong time and . . .
. . . bite one. The hinge took a piece out of his finger (his protective gloves were on the floor when this happened -- ahem), but it could have been a lot worse. A LOT worse.
Any bets on how long this newly installed set will last? Oy.
16 comments:
That certainly sounds like it was some sort of defect. Let's hope these hinges last a good long time. -Jenn
Mama Pea. I think it's time for a new stove!!! Your range is like our 25 yr. old chest freezer. It has been a faithful appliance but the rubber sealant all around the lid is failing and hanging out on all sides. We keep tucking it in. We are very isolated like you. If the freezer died we would be "up the creek". But, we are smarter than that ole' freezer and have a new one on order. Should be able to pick it up the first week of April. Praying that it doesn't die in the next two weeks. We have in the past waited to replace appliances only until a crisis happens (they die and we're not prepared!) Not ANYMORE on my watch. We are buying before a crisis! Yeah for us (me actually). Hubby's MO is waiting!!! Kiss Papa Pea's boo boo. Looks like his finger is swollen. OUCH!
I agree, sounds like a defect in the model. Hopefully it will last a bit longer for you this time.
That is so odd, I mean, to have a repeated problem with the hinges! There's a lot to be said for being your own repairman. But it's no fun to get hurt doing the repairs. :(
Oh are you okay? I can feel the pain of that snap! eek. I think that it would be an odd day if I wasn't wearing a bandaid here or there...I fully admit I'm a clutz and I too will wonder why those protective gloves are still on the counter when I'm rushing to the first aid kit...I bet the hinges will last until 2022. :)
Jenn - Hubby says the heat of the oven affects the metal in the hinges and that causes the malfunction. But, I say, shouldn't oven door hinges be made to withstand the heat?!?
watcher458 - Ha! Being smarter than your appliances, that is the ticket! I'm hesitant to replace the stove because I've heard that present day ones are being manufactured so cheaply that they don't last at all! (Our throw away economy, ya know.) I'm more like your husband . . . get as much use as long as you can out of something. Maybe not the smartest, are we??
Kristina - We can only hope!
Leigh - He has a high pain tolerance and has never been a cry baby when he gets an owie. But when I saw what happened (and how much worse it could have been) *I* went into a minute or so of the typical, "Ouch! Oh! Owie, owie! Oh, Oh!" :o/
Rain - 2022? At first, that seemed like a long time away . . . but it's not, is it?!
That is downright weird. Have you contacted the manufacturer about this? And thanks for the link - that 2x4 pic was great!
I know...I kind of cringed when I wrote that date...isn't that when all the 1980's movies set the futuristic movies with flying cars and silver suits for all??? Time flies too fast!
Susan - Yep, but the company has been sold a couple of times since we purchased the stove. They still have a website but list the hinges as "no longer available." (No wonder . . . they don't work!) But my research oriented husband found another set (heaven only knows where!) and they have been ordered to have on hand. I just love this little stove (the oven door not so much) and don't want to give it up.
Sounds poorly designed (and the repair sounds painful!). My mate has an oven that has a boost button, ithe gets the oven up to temperature quickly, but if you leave it on for more than 8 minutes it fries a switch but does turn itself off so it's easy done. He's had the switch replaced three times but they won't upgrade the part!
Sounds poorly designed (and the repair sounds painful!). My mate has an oven that has a boost button, ithe gets the oven up to temperature quickly, but if you leave it on for more than 8 minutes it fries a switch but does turn itself off so it's easy done. He's had the switch replaced three times but they won't upgrade the part!
Kev - Another thing that simply does not make sense. All you can do is scratch you head and wonder why! :o/
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