When you wash the surface of your gas stove, use very little water and be very careful not to splash any around the knobs that turn on the burners. If you do, the water can run down the stem of the knob and into the igniter switch. This can cause the igniter to try to light the burners. Since the gas is turned off they will not light and the igniter will continue to click.
Unplug the igniter and dry as much of the surface as you can. Plug the igniter back in, but if it continues to click, unplug it. Wait a day and the wetness should dry enough so that the problem is solved. If after a day the igniter continues to click, you will need to call a factory serviceman.
Securing a Patio Sliding Door
A couple issues ago, we told you about a way to secure your sliding patio door by driving two screws up into the upper track so that they protrude 3/8” to 1/2”. This will prevent the door from being lifted out of the track and removed. A reader wrote in to say he solved this same problem by slipping a 1/2” dowel, 36” long into the space above the sliding door. I tried this fix on my door and found that a 1/2” dowel would not fit but that a 3/8” dowel did the trick. The dowel rides on top of the door and does not move as I opened and closed the door. Just to be safe I secured the dowel with a small piece of white tape. Remember, all you are doing is filling the gap over the top of the sliding door so it can’t be lifted out of the track.
Maintaining shut-off valves
There is a shut-off valve under every sink and toilet in your house. These are there so that if there is a leak or you need to change a faucet you can turn off just the affected fixture and not the main water valve to the house. If you ignore this valve, when you finally need it, it may be corroded open and you will not be able to close it. Every year you should go around the house to each shut-off valve and turn it off and then back on. This will break away any corrosion that has built up and the valve should be good until next year, when you turn it off again. If you can’t turn the valve, do not use a metal wrench to close it. There is a plastic wrench designed for this job. It is called the Gordon wrench. On gordonwrench.com there is a video to show how it works and information on ordering one.
Garbage Disposer Jam
Occasionally something put into the garbage disposal will cause a jam. It will hum when you turn it on or it will make no noise at all. There is a wrenchette that came with your disposal that fits into a hole in the bottom center of the disposal. If you turn this wrench clockwise and then counter-clockwise it will usually dislodge the jam. After dislodging the jam, turn on the disposer switch. If it does not start but it buzzes the jam has not been dislodged. If when you turn on the switch and the motor is quiet, either the breaker on the disposer has been tripped or the house circuit breaker has been tripped. Reset the breaker on the disposer by pressing the small round button. The house circuit breaker is located in your utility panel box.
• If you have suggestions for future tips or have questions about maintenance around your home submit them to ask.the.woodchucks@gmail.com
