How do you know if your gas stove is dangerous? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Finaddict · 08-03-2011, 08:51 AM

So this place I am renting ... I have discussed this before here back in the winter ... the stove doesn't really work ... it's gas, there are no knobs, but I can still turn the flame on top of the four burners which all work, and apparently the oven works, but it takes a long, long time to light.

The pilot light down on the bottom is on, but when I turn the oven on, it takes several minutes more than five for the row of flames on the bottom to all light. Thus gas fills the house.

When my mother was here last week, she turned on the burner on the top and I could smell the gas all the way upstairs ... and the smell of gas can be smelled throughout the kitchen and even upstairs.

Do I need to call the gas company? I don't have an account with them, the landlord does ... but I have discussed this issue several times with her and she is reluctant to fix it ... she says it's fine, I told her I was not comfortable using the oven and have not since Jan 1.

I even told her I would buy a new one and give her the old one ... but I feel until I get a specialist in to condemn the thing, she won't move on it.

The common sense approach seems just to move, but with the broken leg and having just moved in in January, I don't really want to move just yet.

Thoughts? Thanks for any insight you can share.

The Dad Fisherman · 08-03-2011, 09:11 AM

Move or Blow Up....your Call

Finaddict · 08-03-2011, 09:30 AM

Are you kidding ... or serious?

tysdad115 · 08-03-2011, 09:46 AM

Would a call to the local fire dept or building inspector help? Have you tried any of those avenues yet?

The Dad Fisherman · 08-03-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finaddict

Are you kidding ... or serious?

Serious....if you are smelling gas in the house....and the stove takes forever before it ignites......sooner or later you are probably going to go boom.

Your landlord sounds like an A-hole so I would tell her to screw and move. She won't fix anything....eff her.

you're paying rent so you don't have to worry about these things.....yet she won't respond to any of the issues you are having.

I'd tell her to KMA.....I'm Moving

Finaddict · 08-03-2011, 10:11 AM

No, that is a good idea ... I figured the gas company would be the best ... but the fire department is a good idea as well ... thanks.

I just had an argument with the landlady over a broken stair ... it cracked on Saturday ... I sent her a note that it needed to be replaced, she said it was easy to do ... but did nothing to repair it for two days ...

I am on crutches and have a 6-year-old daughter, so I can't wait for inactive lanlord ... so I hired a handyman friend who fixed the stair and secured another one ... she flipped ... but I told her that I didn't have the luxury to wait for someone to fix it considering the circumstances ... this is the same scenario, until she is forced to do something, nothing will happen.

thanks

Finaddict · 08-03-2011, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

Serious....if you are smelling gas in the house....and the stove takes forever before it ignites......sooner or later you are probably going to go boom.

Your landlord sounds like an A-hole so I would tell her to screw and move. She won't fix anything....eff her.

you're paying rent so you don't have to worry about these things.....yet she won't respond to any of the issues you are having.

I'd tell her to KMA.....I'm Moving

Yeah ... I feel the same way, I have not found anything of equal yet ... but outside of the stove, leaky tub that I just fixed, leaky roof she needs to fix, furnace that breaks down, recent broken stairs that I just fixed, mice that I got rid of (I am missing something)...

... the rest of it is really awesome ... and with the broken leg, moving is not in the pciture for me for a couple more months at best. So I need to get the stove squared up. If you came, you'd think it was great ... unless you ask John Liss (he's been fixing the stuff for me).

justplugit · 08-03-2011, 10:30 AM

As soon as you smell gas call the gas company. They come out free
of charge down here and are there within the hour. Then you can take
their report back to the land lady.
I'm sure she doesn't want her property to blow up.

niko · 08-03-2011, 10:33 AM

Call the board of health if the landlord is unresponsive. They control his occupancy permit
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Finaddict · 08-03-2011, 10:38 AM

Good stuff, thanks

The Dad Fisherman · 08-03-2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finaddict

I have not found anything of equal yet ...

You're telling me you can't find something equal to this....have you tried Lawrence

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finaddict

but outside of the stove, leaky tub that I just fixed, leaky roof she needs to fix, furnace that breaks down, recent broken stairs that I just fixed, mice that I got rid of (I am missing something)...

nightfighter · 08-03-2011, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko

Call the board of health if the landlord is unresponsive. They control his occupancy permit
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Bingo! Write a letter, and they in turn will write to the landlord and come out to inspect the property.

PaulS · 08-03-2011, 02:24 PM

I would first send your landlady a certified letter explaining the problem and stating you feel the situation is dangerous. Give her a week to have the stove totally fixed or replaced. Tell her your going to contact someone (see above) and that you will be escrowing your rent money until the problem is fixed. Maybe give her the option that you can get the stove replaced but that it will come out of your rent money.

Good luck.

Raven · 08-03-2011, 02:28 PM

problem is...when you do that...

they'll want you out.... and/ or raise the rent

i know from experience!!!

they'll want to get someone in there who won't gripe
even though your within your rights to do so

One thing i can tell ya for sure.....
there is a sweet rental one town over
that you'd much rather have ....

but if your not looking for it
you'll never discover it.

hopefully your a tenant at will
and not into a lease....

vineyardblues · 08-03-2011, 03:01 PM

FYI some gas stoves have up to 6 pilot lites
sounds like one or 2 are having issues on that stove ,

Sea Dangles · 08-03-2011, 03:14 PM

If you told her about the stair with a crack on Saturday and it was fixed two days(weekend) later it doesn't sound too bad.Hard to get instant help,especially on Sundays.

The Dad Fisherman · 08-03-2011, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

If you told her about the stair with a crack on Saturday and it was fixed two days(weekend) later it doesn't sound too bad.Hard to get instant help,especially on Sundays.

She didn't fix it....he did

tattoobob · 08-03-2011, 05:48 PM

Andy, I would call her and back it up with a registered letter, tell her that if the stove isn't replaced in one week your calling the board of health

the gas company does not do service calls anymore they tell you to call a plumber. if your that concerned you can turn the gas off at the supply valve behind the stove

spence · 08-03-2011, 07:29 PM

Agree on the registered letter...and once you get an authority involved my guess is she'll get things fixed immediately. If it pisses her off so be it, you're obviously not liking living under these conditions as it is.

Also, I wouldn't contract any repair work unless she's authorized it or you have documentation of a formal request to have things fixed ahead of time. It's not that she won't reimburse, but she may actually use it against you if things got ugly...

-spence

Sea Dangles · 08-03-2011, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

She didn't fix it....he did

I guess you missed my point. She was informed on Saturday and it wasn't fixed by Monday so he had it fixed.Church isn't all day I guess...

The Dad Fisherman · 08-04-2011, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

I guess you missed my point. She was informed on Saturday and it wasn't fixed by Monday so he had it fixed.Church isn't all day I guess...

I guess you missed my point....he's the tenant....he shouldn't have to fix it. I'm pretty sure the rent is supposed to cover those things.

Sea Dangles · 08-04-2011, 06:51 AM

I know it is early so I will talk loud; HE GAVE HER ONE DAY AND THEN TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF. My wife has more realistic expectations than that. Add the fact it was a Sunday and try to digest the information.Thank you for your time.

The Dad Fisherman · 08-04-2011, 07:29 AM

I know its early....and since you suffer from Cranial Rectumitis.... I will put it plain and simple, and try and use small words....HER HOUSE....LET HER FIX IT......there no words bigger than 5 letters...your gray matter should have no problem processing that.

Its like arguing with Rainman....

If you order a meal at a restaurant and it comes out raw.....do you go back in the kitchen and cook it yourself....or did you PAY the restaurant to bring it out cooked....so THEY need to cook it....because you paid for a fully cooked meal

If you rent a car from AVIS and the Brakes don't work.....do you just take it to a garage and pay to have it fixed yourself....or do you expect the rental car company to GIVE you a perfectly functioning car since that is what you are paying for.

Or maybe your mind can grasp this analogy...

If you go to a brothel, grab the tall redhead, and hand over $500 for her to take you "Around the World"....then she brings you in the other room, hands you a Hustler, a tube of lube, and a box of tissues....should you really be taking care of that yourself, even though thats not what you paid for.

If you rent an apartment, the utilities, and the building should be in good repair.....not falling a part. and if I'm paying to have these things repaired or replaced......she better be taking it off the rent...Dollar for Dollar.

I know...a lot of words.....I'll see if I can find a Picture Book for you that tells the Fairy Tale story of a Princess locked in the tower w/ no hot water and a leaky roof....Hopefully it will have a dragon in it to hold your attention.

Redsoxticket · 08-04-2011, 07:47 AM

The past generations of folks that rented along with home owners would clean their stoves.
This involves flipping the top cover off then removing and cleaning the modular components. I would guess could be wrong this stove was not cleaned.
I learned this by watching my dad clean the stove regularly. The new generation has no clue.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Redsoxticket · 08-04-2011, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vineyardblues

FYI some gas stoves have up to 6 pilot lites
sounds like one or 2 are having issues on that stove ,

The gas stoves have one pilot on the top section. The are tubes that feed the burners from the centrally located pilot. It is similar to the tube that connects to burners of an out door gas grill. The interior of the tubes get greasy dirty and not allow the gas to travel effectively.
Soak, scrub, floss, etc all components

Edit. There could be more then one pilot, I forget it has been awhile
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile d
evice

tattoobob · 08-04-2011, 08:45 AM

This stove must be old because all the newer stoves have electronic ignition and not a standing pilot

PaulS · 08-04-2011, 09:19 AM

I had a cousin who rented a condo for 2 years. When he moved out he was charged $25 to clean the stove. He asked if the prior tenants were also charged the $25. The guy said yes. Cousin replied, well I haven't used the stove in the 2 years I was there so if it was clean when I moved in, it's still clean. He got his $ back.

Slingah · 08-04-2011, 09:43 AM

I googled this in 2 seconds.....have her buy you a new stove for chrissakes........a couple hundred bucks and no go "BOOM"

Galaxy 30" Freestanding Gas Range 6071

Saltheart · 08-04-2011, 11:26 AM

In my 20's and early 30's I lived in really bad tenements in Worcester. I was in the middle of the highest crime neighborhood in the city but we were all young and big and fearless. We made the decision to live in these places to save money. What I found was if you have a "gooddeal" on a pace, the landlord isnot going to do anything to repair etc. We pretty mucgh did without but for things like the heater ,I would tell the landlord , give a few days to fix, then I would call in a repair guy then deduct it from the rent. There was always an argument but in the end that seemed to be what worked best. In the final month I simply told the landlord to keep the security deposit instead of paying rent.

The overall theme is some landlords just want to collect rent. All problems are your. But those same pesonalities were also so detached they didn't want to look for a new tenent. Missing just a momths rent or them while the place was empty was more than all the foolishness about basic repairs. They also kow that if they go below certain requirements , the health department will give them mandated expensive repairs and often the tenants pay no rent until the minimum standards are met.

We did have one guy who kept pushing and pushing ad eventually he started stating he would keep our security depost and raise the rent. We called the health department who found thousands in required improvements and the guy had to fix them to rent out again. We didn't stay after the big riff but all said and done, the landlord caused himself thousands in expenses when a few hundred would have made the place liveable for us.

Now this is all slum apartment, slum landlord related. If your place is nicer and depending on the deal you have , its your decision to push the landlord or not. In the better places with high rent , I always found the landloard or often someone who managed the property for them would be all over any complaints and especially basic stuff like heat or anything where someone could get hurt (stairs) were fixed immediately.

BYW , get the stove looked at by the gas company when there is a smell of gas. They will respond to a complaint of gas mell and will track down the causae. They don't want whole buildings blowing up. They will likely tag the old stove as NG and then the landlord will have to fix or replace it.

Sea Dangles · 08-04-2011, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

I know its early....and since you suffer from Cranial Rectumitis.... I will put it plain and simple, and try and use small words....HER HOUSE....LET HER FIX IT......there no words bigger than 5 letters...your gray matter should have no problem processing that.

Its like arguing with Rainman....

If you order a meal at a restaurant and it comes out raw.....do you go back in the kitchen and cook it yourself....or did you PAY the restaurant to bring it out cooked....so THEY need to cook it....because you paid for a fully cooked meal

If you rent a car from AVIS and the Brakes don't work.....do you just take it to a garage and pay to have it fixed yourself....or do you expect the rental car company to GIVE you a perfectly functioning car since that is what you are paying for.

Or maybe your mind can grasp this analogy...

If you go to a brothel, grab the tall redhead, and hand over $500 for her to take you "Around the World"....then she brings you in the other room, hands you a Hustler, a tube of lube, and a box of tissues....should you really be taking care of that yourself, even though thats not what you paid for.

If you rent an apartment, the utilities, and the building should be in good repair.....not falling a part. and if I'm paying to have these things repaired or replaced......she better be taking it off the rent...Dollar for Dollar.

I know...a lot of words.....I'll see if I can find a Picture Book for you that tells the Fairy Tale story of a Princess locked in the tower w/ no hot water and a leaky roof....Hopefully it will have a dragon in it to hold your attention.

I agree,he should have given her an opportunity to fix the crack
Where we disagree is on what is considered a reasonable amount of time to make the repair.
Go back and read it again just to make sure you comprehend my syntax.
Thank You for being a big boy and remember,I agree.
Stop trying to reenact your signature line whydoncha.