Oven repair

I've had the same problem many times in various apartments. Before you pay money to have the oven fixed, check to make sure that the gas valve is open enough, if you haven't already, as sometimes pilot lights need a teense more gas. Follow the metal hose out the back of the oven and there should be a valve. See if you can turn it open any further (be careful.) Obviously, this may involve moving the oven, which can be a chore if it's shoved into a narrow nook. Also, try cleaning the nozzles where the gas comes out in the fixture at the bottom of the oven. Be VERY gentile.

N.B.: I'm a fairly handy guy and comfortable with fire and gas lines, but if any of this makes you nervous, call a professional. I don't know any local ones, but searching local.google.com for "oven repair near 11215" seemed to work.

Does the pilot light on the range top go out too? If not, there's probably something wrong with the oven, not the gas supply. My own oven does the reverse (the range top pilot lights go out sometimes, but never the oven), but it doesn't happen often enough to concern me and I have adequate ventilation. I just relight it with one of those wand-shaped butane lighters sold for fireplaces.

The whole concept of pilot lights is wasteful and dangerous now that electronic-ignition gas stoves and ovens are available. Try telling your landlord to replace your old oven with a new one for free, though ](*,)

—BezierBoy, who's feeling helpful tonight apparently