NPR - Changing heating element in oven

[Gimpy]

Well, it could very well have been pain related.

The lower heating element in my Maytag oven went out. I called their parts department directly about getting it serviced. I asked if it was difficult to replace and was it something I could do myself and save the service call. The women (idiot) on the line said that the element just popped in and out, easy fix. So went and bought the part today. I couldn't bend over all the way to screw the bracket out so I had my 17 year old daughter stick her body in the oven and do it. When she was done, I reach down with my bare hands and yanked that thing, were were both blinded by a flash electrical fire and thrown from the oven. The element does NOT just slide in and out like the Maytag service rep. told me, it is soldered in place.

We are luck to both be a live. I am still slightly blinded in one eye and my arm hurts. That was live 220 electricity.

I called Maytag and threw one of my prouder fits about their incompetancy. It's possible I fried the whole stove/oven and will have to buy a new one. They won't even schedule a repair now because of possible lawsuit until their damage control managers contact me with in 24/48 hrs. We can't cook or anything. I'm sure it will take a week to get someone out here, if I get someone at all. I can't believe they don't train their employees on repairs. They should have told me that it had to be done by technician, not that I could do it myself.

Can you say furious???? And extememly scared.

Gimpy

[Pharmacist.steve]

NEVER ....NEVER.....NEVER ... take something like that apart without turning off the BREAKER FIRST !!!

[moose53]

OMG, ((((((Gimpy)))))),

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/moose53/MINIS/HUGS/huggiebears-mini.gif http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/moose53/MINIS/HUGS/huggiebears-mini.gif I'm glad you're both safe.

Steve's right. Lessons about home repair:

Lesson One: Make sure the electricity is OFF before you touch anything. I'm good at fixing electrical stuff and I would never do anything without unplugging the appliance or breaking the circuit.

Lesson Two: Never believe tech support, because most are reading from a piece of paper (if that much) and do not really know the product). Better to get the schematics yourself.

OMG, I'm glad you're both OK.

Don't sign anything until you're sure you're both OK. AND:

(1) Matter of fact, it probably would be a good idea for both of you to go to your respective doctors.

(2) Make sure the stove is working OK.

(3) AND, make sure you notify the president of the company and get an apology from him in writing and an assurance that customer service will be given the CORRECT directions.

Hugs.

Barb

PS: For future reference:
http://www.super-happy-shopper.com/ratings/appliance_parts/r_replacement_parts_appliances_ovens_dryers.html
http://www.pcappliancerepair.com/

[alex44]

Hi There -always turn off the breaker - iwent to replace mine, saw a little spark when i unscrewed the element, end result - no ove. had to buy a new stove. Good Luck and I am glad you werre not seriously hurt although it does not sound as though you got off easy. Hope you wn an apolag at the very least and hopefully monetary damages.
Love and Light
Alex44

[BrokenBladder]

Gimpy,

Thank God you and your daughter are okay!! I'm so sorry that this happened to both of you.

I have to agree with everyone else here, always turn off that breaker before messing around with electricity. Lesson learned.

Also I wouldn't let this go with Maytag. At the very least they owe you an apology and I would stay on them about this until they acknowledge that they gave you bad information.

Honestly in the meantime I think you and your daughter should see your doctors just as a precaution.

Take care!!

[Kathi49]

Gimpy,

OMG! After reading your post I will NEVER touch my oven! :eek: As Lisa said...I would definitely go to the doc and get checked out. And I wouldn't let it go either. I am glad you and your daughter are alright...but, boy, scary!

[debhun]

I think you two should go to the Doc's ASAP. You don't want to wait on this. The DR needs to see what happen to you. And I would make them pay for it too. If you need a new oven they would pay for it too. I am sorry that thay didn't tell you how to do this. Yes aways unplug any thing you are working on. I hope you two will be okay,But go to the Dr,s. You will have it in writting what happen to you both.

Glad you both are okay like many have said it could have been worse.

HUG
Deb

[Mark N]

You have heard how to avoid the problem in the future so I will just say I am glad you and your daughter are okay. If you are still having problems I would see the doctor to check the two of you out.

[Gimpy]

First, we are both fine. No doctor needed.

What's funny is I won't even remove stuck toast from the toaster without unplugging it. I know about electricity and how dangerous it is. I have never turned the breaker off to remove my burners for cleaning, nobody does that. When I was instructed they snap in and out like the burners I never suspected that it would be dangerous. I was told it was a simple, easy fix.

When I was talking to them, the "instructional" conversation was documented in their phone records. I'm extremely surprised that they even confirmed this with me. I'm not looking for lawsuits or anything like that, I just want my oven fixed. I don't think the electrical is totally fried as the oven light and stove clock were still working when I turned the breaker off. I just want my oven fixed correctly now and they wouldn't even let me make the appointment until the "suits" reviewed everything.

This is one of the drawbacks to being on disability. You have to try and do what you can do by yourself because you can't afford all the services charges. It's that simple. We have to get by with what we've got and if I can save $65 I'm going to try.

But like I said, I also would never have tried to do this if the technician on the phone hadn't told me that it was something I could definately do by myself.

Gimpy

[Peter B]

Gimpy,
I don't mean to sound petty but I'd try to get a new oven out of this whole mess. It's the least they should do. I'm not one of those "sue everyone" type of people but a new stove doesn't sound unreasonable to me.
Pain free days,
Pete

[Gimpy]

I finally threw enough of a fit that I got to speak with a superviser today. It was ridiculous that wouldn't even let me schedule the repair. So after being passed around to every slacker that worked for Maytag, I finally made it perfectly clear what I thought about them. Needless to say, they will be here tomorrow around noon to repair my oven, paid by them. If it is fried, we'll go from there. I think they were very thankful that I wasn't claiming bodily injury.

Hopefully, this will be the end of it.

Gimpy

[debhun]

I hope so too. You don't need this stress. Hope every thing goes well for you today.

Deb

[Mark N]

I hope you get the repair done today without any trouble. Hopefully the range isn't toast. It is too bad you had to raise such a fuss to get them to move on this but that seems to be pretty common.