Stove Maintenance

Knowing how to care for your stove, what is covered under warranty, and the homeowner’s responsibility is important.

Please refer to the stove’s instruction manual for a complete user guide.

Important notice:Cracked and broken stove hobs are NOT covered under warranty. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to repair or replace.

Causes of broken stove hobs

If you take proper care, you can prevent damage to your stove hob. Here are some things that cause preventable damage to the hobs:

• Dropping heavy objects such as pots and pans on the glass top.
• Dropping cold water on a hot surface.
• Incorrect cleaning methods.
• Storing heavy objects on the glass.
• Sliding heavy pots on the surface instead of lifting the pot.
• A pot or pan that boils over or boils dry.
• Dirty pot or pan bottoms.
• Placing hot pots on a cool stove surface.

Troubleshooting

If your stove is not working, check the following before logging a query:

• Check if the circuit breaker at the DB board tripped or if a fuse has blown.
• Test the wall socket with another appliance, such as a kettle.

You may be charged for a service call during the warranty period if any of the above causes a fault.

Cosmopolitan Projects will send a technician to inspect the unit when you report a faulty stove within its warranty period. If the fault cannot be repaired, it will be logged with the supplier, which may take an additional 48 hours to resolve.

Cleaning tips:

DO:

• Switch off the electricity at the main switch before cleaning the stove.
• Clean spills immediately.
• Use a soft cloth, synthetic sponge, or nylon brush to clean the stove surface.
• Use a mild soap or dishwashing liquid.

DON’T

• Use a steam cleaner, flammable liquids, acids, or abrasive cleaning powders or gels.
• Do not use scourers, steel wool, or metal scrapers.
• Do not use ammonia cleaning products, like Handy Andy.

Safety tips

• Never leave cooking oil on the stove unattended, as it can easily catch fire.
• Turn pot handles away from the stove's edge so small children can’t grab a handle and pull the boiling contents onto themselves.
• Children should be supervised to ensure they do not play with the stove, which poses a serious safety risk.

Gas stove regulations

All gas installations must have a certificate of conformity according to the Pressure Equipment Regulations of 2009 promulgated under the Occupation Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993.

This certificate states that the installation has been properly inspected and is safe and leak-free. It must be issued by an authorised person registered with the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Association of Southern Africa (LPGAS).

Any homeowner with a liquid gas installation installed in their home must have this certificate. If you are considering a gas installation, you must ensure that you, the homeowner, have this certificate in your possession and not the installer.

If the installation was done incorrectly and not inspected and certified by the relevant association, you risk putting your family in danger as leaking gas can cause health complications or even an explosion.

If your home is damaged or destroyed due to a defective gas appliance and you do not have a valid certificate issued by someone registered with LPGAS, the insurance implications could be significant. An insurance company would be within their rights to deny a claim, which could have severe financial repercussions for the homeowner.

The types of gas installations that require this certificate include gas fires or braais, gas stoves and ovens, and hot water systems.

Regulations for gas installations

Gas bottles must be installed:

• More than 1 metre sideways from doors and windows.
• More than 2 metres from drains and air vents.
• More than 3 metres below windows (unless a non-combustible roof is installed).
• More than 1 metre from the property boundary wall (unless it is a firewall).
• More than 5 metres sideways away from a switchable electric point or plug switch.
• Light bulbs must be at least 1.5 metres above a gas bottle.

Other installation rules:

• Only class 1 or 2 copper pipes, or other approved gas piping, may be used. Note: This is not the same copper piping used by plumbers.
• Copper pipes going through a wall must be sleeved.
• An approved flexible gas hose may not be more than two meters long and may not go through any partition (including wood, drywall, cupboard wall, etc.).

LPGAS also provides these useful tips regarding gas safety:

• Always use a registered installer.
• Always use a qualified gas dealer.
• Always use a verified and tested gas product.
• Always check that the seal on a cylinder matches the brand of the cylinder.
• Always check gas appliances before use.

If you suspect your gas appliance is unsafe, turn off the appliance immediately and do not touch it until a registered gas engineer has checked it. Open all the doors and windows to air out the room, and ensure you have shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve.

To ensure your gas installations are always in proper working order, ask a registered gas installer to perform an annual maintenance and service check.

It is vital for all homeowners with gas installations already installed on their property, or those planning on doing so in the future, to ensure compliance with all the above regulations – not only so you adhere to stipulations within your homeowner’s insurance policy, but also to ensure you and your family are safe from any gas related disasters.