Home Gas Stoves History

The first gas stove was unveiled to the world back in 1851, during the World Fair in London. However, the technology of gas stoves did not start to become a commercial success until the 1880s, partly due to the slow growth of the gas pipe network. The first stoves were somewhat awkward and clumsy to use but that soon changed once the manufacturers incorporated an oven into the base and reduced the overall size of the appliance in order to fit and match in with other kitchen equipment.

There are two basic types of ignition systems used in the cooking stoves of today, which are either electric or standing pilot. A standing pilot refers to a small continuous burning gas flame called a pilot light that is under the cook top, usually between the front and rear burners. When the stove is turned on, the flame lights the gas that is flowing out of the burners. The advantage of this type of system over electric stoves is that it is easy to use and is totally independent of any other type of external power source. The one downside is that the flame consumes fuel on a continuous basis, even when the stove is not in use.

Home Gas Stove

The early gas stoves did not have pilot lights, as they had to be lit manually with a match. If somebody inadvertently left the gas on with the door closed, then gas would fill the stove/oven and eventually the whole room. Even the smallest of sparks, such as the small arc that sometimes occurs when a light switch is turned on, could ignite the gas resulting in an explosion. To stop this from happening in the future, the manufacturers developed and installed safety valves. The safety valve uses a pilot flame that ignites the main burner when it is turned on, heating a thermocoupler that sends a signal to the valve to stay open. If for any reason the pilot goes out, then the thermocoupler cools and signals the valve to close, which shuts off the gas to the stove.

The modern fireplaces/stoves are designed to burn either propane or natural gas; they require very little maintenance, emit little pollution and can be installed virtually anywhere in your home. Most often, gas fuel stoves can be made to appear like wood burning stoves with the large flames and glowing embers.

Fireplaces stoves can also help save you money on heating costs through zone heating, which means the stove is used to heat only a specific area of the home, such as a family room. In addition, newer gas stoves can be vented out through an existing chimney or even directly vented through a wall that is behind the stove. Not all of the models require outside venting, although the Environmental Protection Agency does not support their use due to the degradation of indoor air quality if venting to the outside is employed.