Wolf gas cooktop 'explodes' while on simmer

18 years ago

We have a Wolf gas cooktop, Model CT36G, installed about 2 1/2 years. Sometimes, when we turn the largest burner (lower left) to simmer, it "explodes," the only term I can think to describe it. Of course we assume a flame is on , but maybe not because it seems as if a reservoir of gas must be building up that "catches" at some point and we hear a big "whoof." The pot of water or pan on the burner at the time actually moves a bit, or seems to.

Anyway, we don't know if there is a setting that needs to be adjusted; or if there's dirt or something in the burner; or if there's just something defective with our unit.

Anyone else had this experience or heard of it? Any suggestions? (We've got a call into our appliance store but since it's out of full labor and parts warranty, we'd like to correct it ourselves...although come to think of it, the first time it happened, it was still under warranty.)

Thanks.

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Comments (3)

rhome410
18 years ago
This happens with our rangetop, too...Most often when turning burners on, but also when turning things off or down to the point where the outer ring goes out and only the smaller one stays on. Do you have LP or natural gas? We have LP and someone on the kitchen forum said she believes this is just one of the things to endure with propane. Not sure of all the facts or the why's, but hearing it from someone else helped. It's aggravating that it happens, because it rarely fails to startle me!
markw
18 years ago
Echoing rhome410's question, are you burning LP or NG? If it's LP and it happens only when you first turn the burner down (and not later), I wouldn't worry about it. I'm not sure why but many LP appliances (from ovens to fireplaces) do this when they're turned off/down. If this is happening with NG, it's a little more unusual.
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waldo1
Original Author
18 years ago
Well, we found out what the problem was. I was going to try to upload a photo to help explain the problem, but apparently that's not possible on this forum.

It was not the lower left burner that was the problem, but the middle, back burner, which is also the next largest burner. The round piece that sits on the stove top is supposed to be flat. Ours was ever so slightly warped, which allowed gas to seep out. We had noticed that when the middle burner was on low simmer, it would keep clicking meaning there was not enough gas going to the burner, resulting in the automatic starter constantly "clicking." The reason there was not enough gas going to the burner was because some was leaking from the warped "flange" resting on the stove top. That gas would build up because there was not enough flame to light it. It would build up and apparently float over to the big burner where it would catch all at once resulting in the "explosion." When the large burner was on full blast, it probably burned off the little bit of gas seeping out. But when on simmer, I guess it allowed enough to collect (under pots?) until there was enough to catch.

The repair guy took the flange off and flattened it out with a mallet and a piece of wood and screwed it back on. It is now flush to the stovetop. The middle burner can be on low simmer without clicking because all the gas is going to the burner. None should seep out toward the large burner.

The tech guy is also ordering a new part.

I don't know if any of this made any sense. The technician had never seen this before so he felt like he had learned something. Me too. Hope this is of some help to someone. Thanks for replying.

BTW, we use natural gas.