I tried to make some roasted veggies a few nights ago. After about 15 minutes, I heard a loud pop from the oven. It sounded suspiciously like an element breaking (BTDT). The element looked intact, but it wasn’t working, so I turned on the broiler to heat up the oven, then turned it off. That provided enough heat to almost finish cooking the veggies. After another 15 minutes, I turned on the broiler again, and there was a giant flash of blue between the back of the stove and the wall.
Eeep!
I turned off the oven and flipped off the breaker. Electricity scares the hell out of me. I had to wait until this morning to call maintenance, though, so I spent the weekend without a stove. This, of course, means that everything in my house requires stove-type cooking.
Anyway, the maintenance guy showed up at a little after 4pm, with an extra element. I told him that I didn’t think the element was going to fix the problem. I don’t think he believed me (though I couldn’t swear to it, as I could only make out every 5th word he said[1]), but he did finally pull the stove out. Apparently, one of the wires had either come loose or hadn’t been properly attached, because it had burned through. That was the giant flash I saw. He went to get a replacement, and now my stove is working again.
Wheee!
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1. I’m usually pretty good at deciphering the local patois, but lordy, was this guy’s speech unintelligible! I think he and Boomhauer must be long lost brothers.
red paper boat 