Okay, let’s talk about the self-cleaning function on your oven. That magical button that promises to do all the dirty work for you. But is it really as magical as it sounds?
Well, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it’s incredibly convenient. Just press a button, walk away, and come back a few hours later to a sparkling clean oven. On the other hand, it’s a bit like letting a toddler loose with a can of spray paint.
You see, when you use the self-cleaning function the temps get up to between 800º to 900ºF, so your oven basically turns into a miniature crematorium. It gets so hot that it can literally turn grease and grime into ash. But the problem is, at these temps, if anything isn’t working up to specs, fuses can pop and control panels burn out, among other possible issues. That’s no good with the holidays looming near!
Newer ovens pretty much always have hidden heating elements under the oven floor and above the oven ceiling. This is a fantastic improvement over the older units that have exposed heating elements. But, using the self-clean in any model is pushing it to perform a task that is pretty extreme, so there is a risk factor. It boils down to, do you feel lucky?
Is the self-cleaning function worth the hassle? Well, that depends on how much you hate cleaning your oven. If you’re the kind of person who would rather do anything else than scrub away at grease and grime, then the self-cleaning function might be a lifesaver. But if you don’t mind indulging in a little elbow grease, you might be better off cleaning your oven the old-fashioned way. Soap and water! Don’t even think about using that can of Easy-Off in a self-cleaning oven! It will damage the finish and you will no longer have that “magic button” option.
If you do decide to use the self-cleaning function, we suggest doing so now… well before the holiday spirit hits and relatives begin to descend. If you have used your self-clean and it has never had any issues? That’s great, just understand you do run at least that small risk when using the cycle. So there you have it, folks. The self-cleaning function on your oven is a bit like a double-edged sword. It can be incredibly convenient, but it can also be a bit of a nightmare. Just use it wisely, do it early and don’t wait until right before the holidays… you should be fine.
If you do roll those dice and come up with a non-functioning oven, don’t panic! Call one of our friendly folks here at Guinco Service (817-657-4104) and we will get one of our fantastic technicians out to your home to check it out and get your kitchen back in holiday working order. You can also set up a service call through our website at www.guinco.com.
May the odds be ever in your favor!
