Repair of gas stoves Hephaestus: the most common breakdowns and methods for eliminating them

Calling a professional gas fitter to repair the slightest malfunction of the stove can be inconvenient, don’t you agree? You need to meet him at home during working hours, often wait for your turn, and also pay for the work and the house call. So wouldn’t it be better for Hephaestus to learn how to repair gas stoves himself?

After reading our article, you will be able to repair the stove yourself and carry out preventive maintenance so that the kitchen assistant works like new. We will tell you how to disassemble a gas stove yourself and name the most common breakdowns. For those faults that you can fix yourself, we will provide detailed repair instructions.

How to get to the internal equipment?

To independently repair and access all parts, you will have to learn how to disassemble a gas stove Hephaestus, but in most cases it will be enough to remove or raise the table.

It’s not difficult to figure out how to remove the top cover from the Hephaestus gas stove:

1. Remove the burners. Place them in the same way as they were placed on the stove, so as not to confuse the two medium-sized ones and avoid guessing when assembling.
2. Unscrew the screws, which fix the table. Most often there are two of them - under the front burners, but on some models they are placed on the front side.There may also be 2 screws under each burner.
3. Carefully lift the table topso as not to chip the enamel. If it still does not give in, check for self-tapping screws on the side surfaces.
4. Place a support under the raised table. If the table has been completely removed, place it horizontally next to it so that the fall does not damage the enamel or glass.

It often happens that one of the bolts has become stuck and does not budge. In this case, bend the washer and cut off the head of the screw with a hacksaw.

Under the table you will have access to burner nozzles, gas control and electric ignition systems - almost everything that can be repaired

To repair handles and control buttons, or access to gas valves, it may be necessary to remove the front panel. It is usually secured with two bolts from the bottom or sides, but on some models it is secured with latches. Please note that the front panel is removed with the top cover raised and the gas switches removed.

The oven burner is covered with a tray. If you pull it out, you will have access to the burner itself, the gas control sensor and the piezo ignition spark plug.

Repair of electric ignition of Hephaestus stove

If you turn the knob, hear a characteristic hissing sound, press the button, but the gas does not light up, then there is a problem with the electric ignition of the Hephaestus gas stove, and you can try to fix it yourself.

If you hear characteristic clicks, it means that somewhere the system is triggered, there is no spark only on the burner in use. If there are no clicks, then the button or block generator of electrical impulses is broken.

The electric ignition of one burner does not work

It happens that characteristic electric ignition clicks are audible, but one of the burners still lights up only from a match, which means the problem is in the candle or the wire from it.

First of all, check the condition of the candle - it may be covered with a layer of dirt and grease.

It is easy to distinguish an electric spark plug from a gas control sensor: it is thick, in white ceramic insulation, located closer to the middle of the burner, in the recess of the divider.

A layer of grease and dust on the spark plug can act as an insulator that a spark cannot penetrate. Try to thoroughly wash the candle by removing the burner, and finally degrease it with alcohol or acetone. Blot dry with a paper towel or toilet paper, let it dry completely, return the burner to its place and check its functionality.

If cleaning does not help, you should look for the problem further. Lift the stove table and inspect the wire that goes from the spark plug to the generator block, while trying to press the auto-ignition button. Perhaps the wire touches the foil on the oven insulation, or the pipe, and a spark breaks out in this place? It will be better visible in the dark or twilight - close the window, turn off the light.

If there is a spark somewhere other than the spark plug, wrap that area with electrical tape and move the wire so that the spark is only on the spark plug, near the burner.

If this does not help, carefully inspect the spark plug along its entire height: perhaps the ceramic insulation on it is cracked, causing the spark to jump lower than necessary? If so, this part will need to be replaced. Before doing this, be sure to unplug the stove from the outlet.

When going to the store for a new spark plug, remember where you put the alligator clip, it is necessary for installing the new part

To remove the spark plug, remove the rubber gasket from it, squeeze and pull out the alligator clip under the spark plug, and then locate and pull the corresponding wire from the generator block. After purchasing a new part, repeat the steps in reverse order.

Electric ignition does not click

If the button does not light up a single burner, there are no characteristic clicks, or the button is not pressed, the problem is not with the candles. In the latter option, it is obvious that the button will need to be cleaned or replaced, but if there is no such confidence, you need to check the functionality of the unit.

To do this, do this:

1. Unplug the stove from the outlet, lift the table and find the block to which the wiring from the candles and the auto-ignition button goes.
2. Remove all wires from its connectors, remove from the fastening (bolts or latch).
3. Insert a long piece of cable into the two thick connectors on the edge, and into the remaining sockets - pieces of wire of the same length, stripped of insulation on both sides.
4. Place the free ends of short wires in a row or square, at an equal distance from each other.
5. Plug the long end of the wire into an outlet.

There should be sparks between the free ends and rhythmic discharge sounds. If everything is so, the unit is working, the problem is in the button or wiring. If not, take it as a sample and go to the store for a new one.

When connecting, the main thing is not to confuse the two power wires with the others. Usually the plug on them is thicker, and the connectors for them are at the edge of the block. The wires from the burners can be swapped. If the unit is working, the problem is in the button or wiring.

When removing the button from the latch, hold the parts on both sides so that the inner part does not fall between the oven and the cabinet wall

First, wash the button thoroughly - it often gets stuck and stops working due to fat accumulation under the skirt. It is convenient to use an anti-grease spray or remove the button from the panel.

Read more about why piezo ignition on a gas stove does not work read on.

Gas control malfunctions

Such a breakdown often confuses housewives: the burner or oven lights up as usual by turning and pressing the knob, but goes out as soon as you release the knob. The gas control system automatically shuts off the gas if the burner goes out or the knob is turned but not pressed - to protect it from children.

Usually it is enough to hold the knob pressed for 3 - 5 seconds, the manufacturer recommends 10 - 60 seconds to be sure. If the burner goes out even after holding the knob for a minute, the leakage protection system is faulty.

Gas control can be installed only in the oven or on all burners. The tip of the thermocouple is located near the burner; it is metal and quite thin; it quickly warms up from the burning gas. The heat from it is transferred through a copper tube to the gas control sensor installed in the tap behind the burner switch handle. As soon as the heat stops flowing, the magnetic valve of the sensor opens, cutting off the gas supply.

It happens that the gas control sensor does not work on an almost new Hephaestus stove. The reason is simple: at the factory, the nut securing the thermocouple to the sensor in the gas supply tap to the burner was loosely tightened.

Just in case, check and tighten the thermocouple mounting nuts from all burners, so as not to disassemble the stove again later

Open the stove top, find where the copper tube attaches to the faucet (behind the burner control knob) and tighten that nut until it's snug.

Over time, on the sensor thermocoupleslocated near the burner, carbon deposits and scale may form. As a result, it heats up more slowly and does not work correctly. The problem can be easily fixed - clean the sensor using a thick cloth or fine sandpaper.It is not recommended to use coarser material: if scratches remain on the spark plug, it will clog faster next time.

The reason why the oven immediately goes out in a Hephaestus gas stove usually also lies in a problem with the thermocouple, but there is another option in the oven.

The oven burner is large, and the sensor is located at the very edge - at the first gas supply nozzles. It happens that the flame does not reach the sensor, or warms it up too weakly. Try bending the sensor with a screwdriver, or unscrew the fastening screw and move the thermocouple a little forward.

When none of the 3 proposed solutions helps, the thermocouple must be replaced. It is secured with a nut on one side and a clamp on the bolts on the other. After removing the faulty part, be sure to take it with you to the store for a sample.

Usually a thermocouple is inexpensive, but if you are ready to give up gas control on this burner, there is a free solution: connecting directly, bypassing the sensor.

The solenoid valve, which shuts off the gas supply when the burner goes out, can be fixed folded - just don’t wrap it too much

To connect directly, do this:

• turn off the gas;
• unscrew the thermocouple - a copper tube from the gas tap with the sensor;
• Using a 17mm wrench, unscrew the sensor housing from the back of the tap;
• the sensor looks like a plug with a rod on a spring. Lock it and insert it into place;
• Screw the sensor housing into place and tighten. Screw in the thermocouple;
• open the gas riser, check the tightness with soap foam.

Errors when assembling the valve can lead to a gas leak and the possibility of an explosion - be careful and be sure to check the gas valve for leaks after assembly.

The burners are burning weakly

It happens that no matter how you turn the knob, the burner burns only at minimum power. If no measures are taken, over time it may stop burning altogether. Most likely, the reason is that the nozzle supplying gas is clogged.

Escaped food rarely gets into the nozzle, because during cooking it is protected by the upper part of the burner. More often, the cause of blockage is cleaning products, especially those based on soda.

Cleaning the jet is quite easy: first you need to remove the top part of the burners and raise the table, in some cases it may be necessary replacing jets on the stove. A burner nozzle is a small part, the top of a gas pipe, with a thin hole in the middle.

This hole needs to be carefully cleaned. This is best done with a toothpick. It is not recommended to use metal objects for cleaning, so as not to damage the hole.

Escaped food rarely gets into the nozzle, because during cooking it is protected by the upper part of the burner. More often the cause of blockage is cleaning products, especially soda-based ones.

To ensure that the cleaned dirt flies out and does not spill into the gas pipe, we recommend periodically opening the gas supply to this burner - literally for half a second, but at full power. For safety, you need to open a window or turn on the hood.

You can read more about how to increase the power of a gas burner in this material.

Problems with burner control knobs

Gas supply handles for the burner are one of the most necessary parts; without them it is impossible to use the stove. Behind the outer skirted flag, which you turn, there is a gas tap, which can have a gas control sensor built into it.

Electric ignition built into the handle is rare on Hephaestus stoves - it is usually located with a separate button.

Over time, the knobs may stop turning, become stuck, or become loose. We'll tell you what to do about it later.

The handle is difficult to press and turn

This problem is not uncommon; if you start it, the handle may stop turning completely. The cause is usually grease that has accumulated between the flag, skirt and front panel of the cooker.

Hot, it splashes during cooking and easily flows into all the cracks, and then cools, thickens and turns into a kind of glue.

Carefully pry up the skirt and handle with a knife, screwdriver or other flat object. Do not use too much force - you may damage the enamel or plastic.

To get rid of the problem, the flag with the skirt must be removed from the stem and washed thoroughly. The handle needs to be pulled towards you - it is simply pressed tightly onto the rod, without latches or other fasteners. For convenience, you can grab it with pliers, preferably through a non-slip cloth, one of those sold for cleaning.

The skirt usually comes off on its own after removing the handle, but if it does not turn with a flag, it can be secured with a latch. In any case, you can pick it out with a knife. Remember its position so that when assembling, the latches close to the panel or flag.

Many models have a reinforcing metal plate in the handle; do not lose it. After washing all the parts, as well as the front panel under the handle, put everything back in place. Don't forget to install the spring if you had one.

The checkbox scrolls or jumps off

This problem is rare with Hephaestus slabs, but it does happen.The reason is usually that a metal plate has fallen out of the flag and is lost, which clings to the recess on the rod.

You can cut such a plate from a metal preservation lid and insert it into a special groove, or buy a new flag. If the handle on your model is completely plastic and its inside is licked off, only buying a new one will help.

The handle turns hard

It happens that even after the flag and skirt are perfectly washed, the handle still turns tightly. The reason is that the lubricant on the gas taps has run out.

It is better to invite a specialist to carry out preventive maintenance, because mistakes during such repairs can lead to leakage or clogging of gas supply pipes

If you decide to lubricate the gas taps yourself, buy a special graphite lubricant for this. Turn off the gas supply to the stove. Then remove the handles and the front panel - we described how to do this above.

In Hephaestus slabs, the stem is fixed in the tap with a flange connection; to remove it, simply unscrew 2 bolts on the sides. Immediately wash the stem from grease and dust.

Then the spring and the tap plug are removed - the last one needs lubrication. This is a cylindrical part with a through hole and a cut on the side, through which gas is supplied to the burner. You need to lubricate the cork very little; the layer should be invisible, but noticeable to the touch. It is more convenient to put a little lubricant on your finger and rub the plug.

After assembling the faucet, do not rush to replace the front panel. First, put the flag on the stem without it, open the gas and apply a soap solution to the tap. If no bubbles appear anywhere, wipe everything dry and reassemble the stove.

How to fix the Hephaestus stove timer?

You can only remove and repair a mechanical timer yourself; with an electronic one, it is better to contact a specialist. The alarm clock mechanism looks like a large metal tablet.

To get it, remove the handle, lift the stove table and unscrew the fasteners. Then open the timer case, blow it out and brush off the dust, lubricate the pendulum and gears.

To avoid pouring too much, use machine oil in a special oil can with a thin spout or an ordinary syringe

Try turning the knob to start the timer. Started ticking? This means you can assemble and install in place. No? Try taking it to a watch repair shop, or buy a new one.

Oven door

Most often, there is only one complaint about the oven door: it doesn’t close well. A well-adjusted door should slam shut enough to hold a sheet of paper.

Otherwise, the gap is too large, which means heat loss will be higher, dishes will cook unevenly, and the top panel and plastic handle will turn yellow. Problems can be prevented by promptly repairing the oven door of the Hephaestus gas stove and adjusting it.

The manufacturer uses 2 types of hinges to secure the oven door - with a latch, dismountable, or solid, screwed on.

The first ones are easy to remove: just lift both latches, close the door and pull up and slightly towards you. Then the door can be conveniently washed, or immediately returned to its place, already in the correct position. After inserting the door into the grooves, pull it up a little, and then open it completely and lower the latches.

To adjust a door on solid hinges, the screws securing them to the door must be loosened, but not completely unscrewed. Then loosen the door until the hinges are in place and tighten the screws.

The design of most components of these budget stoves is intuitive, and simple repairs of your particular model are described in the instructions

In addition, over time, the rubber seal may need to be replaced - it dries out and cracks due to temperature. It is secured on hooks and held under tension, so the only problem that may arise is finding a suitable new seal in stores.

In addition to repairing the door, you may need to remove the glass to wash it from the inside or replace broken glass. The outer glass is inserted into a metal guide at the bottom and pressed against the top by the door handle. To remove it, just unscrew 2 or 3 screws holding the handle on the oven door - just hold the glass so it doesn’t break. Don’t forget to wash and dry the handle itself, otherwise drips from it will stain the glass during the assembly process.

The inner glass is attached differently, depending on the size. The small ones at the top and bottom are clamped with bolts and large washers. To remove the inner glass, which occupies almost the entire door, you need to unscrew the fasteners at the bottom end of the door.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

We invite you to watch the video on how to fix the most common malfunctions of the Hephaestus stove.

Cleaning the gas burner nozzle:

How to disassemble and wash the handles on the front panel:

Now you know more about your stove and its repair, and you will no longer call the gas man for every little thing. However, let us remind you that any repairs related to disassembling the gas pipeline - lubrication of taps, replacement of burners or nozzles, replacement of the gas control sensor in the tap - is best left to a professional.

Did our article help solve your problem? Perhaps you have encountered other Hephaestus plate malfunctions or repair methods? Write your stories and questions in the comments.