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Gas Cooktops & Rangetops

Cleaning & Care

Appliance
Which cleaners should always be avoided when cleaning gas appliances? Do not use flammable cleaners.
How to clean the surface of my gas cooktop or rangetop. Stainless steel surfaces - Clean stainless steel areas by using mild soapy water and a soft cloth. Wipe in the direction of the stainless steel grain when washing and drying. Rinse with water and wipe dry to avoid watermarks. Do not use cleaners that are abrasive or contain chlorine since both are corrosive to stainless steel. For added shine, apply a stainless steel conditioner and wipe off the excess with a soft cloth.

Visit the How-To Videos page and watch the "Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances" video to learn more.

Warning: Stainless steel conditioners and cleaners can have negative effects on materials other than stainless steel. Do not apply stainless steel conditioners and cleaners to control markings, labels, logos, black or smudge-proof stainless steel, and appliance interiors.


Porcelain surfaces - Immediately wipe up acidic spills like fruit juice, milk, and tomatoes with a dry cloth. Do not use a damp sponge or cloth on hot porcelain. When the porcelain is cool, clean it with hot, soapy water and a soft cloth. Rinse and dry. It is normal for porcelain to show fine lines with age due to exposure to heat and food.

Painted surfaces - Wash with hot, soapy water and a soft cloth. Rinse and dry. Do not use powdered cleaners, steel wool pads, oven cleaners, and other abrasive cleaning materials.
How to clean the grates. Turn off the cooktop. Remove all pots, pans, and utensils. Carefully remove the heavy grates once they have cooled down. Wash them with mild soapy water and a soft cloth. Rinse and dry.

Acidic and sugar-laden spills deteriorate the enamel, so remove these spills as soon as safely possible.

Abrasive cleaners can mar the grates. Do not clean them in a self-cleaning oven.

Visit the How-To Videos page and watch the "How to Clean Gas Cooktops" video to learn more.
Over time, the grates become shiny. This is caused by using inexpensive, non-coated, aluminum pans. The texture of the grates can remove bright, shiny aluminum from the pans because the pans are non-coated. The shiny aluminum fills in the areas on the grates and makes them shiny. There is nothing wrong.

If you use non-coated, bright, non-colored, aluminum pans, try to gently clean off the shiny spots with a clean, new Scotch-Brite abrasive pad or a coarse, steel wool pad.
How to clean the burners. Burner caps - Wash the burner caps with hot, soapy water and a soft cloth. Do not soak the burner caps. Rinse and then dry thoroughly. Non-abrasive cleaners and liquid cleaners may also be used.

Burner bases - Make sure the cooktop has cooled completely before cleaning the burner bases. Clean the burner bases with hot water, mild detergent, and a soft cloth. Use a stiff nylon toothbrush to clean the port openings and do not scratch or gouge them. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Gas igniters - After the igniters have cooled down, carefully wipe the igniters with a cotton swab dampened with water. Gently scrape the soil off with a toothpick. Avoid exposing the igniters to excessive water, as a damp igniter may not light up. Remove any lint that may remain after cleaning.

Visit the How-To Videos page and watch the "How to Clean Gas Cooktops" video to learn more.
How to clean the control knobs. To remove the knobs, simply pull them straight forward. Wash them with hot, soapy water and a soft cloth. Rinse and then dry. Do not soak the knobs or use abrasive cleaners and scrubbers.
Accessories
How to clean my rangetop's grill and griddle. Grill - Clean the grill after each use. Place the grill grate into a sink and pour boiling hot water over the grate. Lay a dishtowel on top of the grate and pour more hot water over the towel. Allow the water to soak into the residue. Scrape away the debris with a soap-filled scouring pad. Rinse and dry.


Griddle - Wipe the griddle surface with warm, soapy water. Then, rinse with warm water. Wipe dry with a soft cloth. To clean the grease tray, remove the tray after the grease has cooled. Discard the grease into a grease-resistant container for disposal. Wash the grease tray with warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry. DO NOT clean any part of the griddle in a self-cleaning oven.

To season the griddle, spread a small amount of vegetable oil evenly while heating (avoiding corners). Bake the griddle plate in a 180°C (350°F) oven for one hour. Allow the griddle to cool. Repeat this process two more times and re-season as needed. Seasoning will help protect the griddle from rusting and prevents foods from sticking to the surface during cooking.
How do I protect the wood block accessory cover for the griddle from absorbing stains? Protect the wood from harboring soil and bacteria by applying unscented mineral oil to the surface. Use small amounts of oil and repeat until the surface does not allow the soil to penetrate. Do not use any other types of oil for this function, as it will turn rancid over time. Reapply after scrubbing with detergent and hot water.
How do I clean the ceramic briquettes and the tray I purchased for my rangetop? Tray for ceramic briquettes - Wash the tray with hot water and mild detergent. It can also be washed in the dishwasher.


Ceramic briquettes - Here's how to clean the ceramic briquettes:

  • 1. Gently place the grease-saturated ceramic briquettes in a 5.5-liter or larger pot.
  • 2. Fill the pot with clean water so that all briquettes are covered at least .5" deep.
  • 3. Bring the water to a steady boil and then continue to boil for 10 minutes.
  • 4. Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool to a safe temperature.
  • 5. Remove the briquettes from the water and pat them dry with old towels or paper towels.
  • 6. Allow the briquettes to air dry for at least 2 hours. Some visible grease stains may remain on them after cleaning.
  • 7. Reassemble the clean, dry briquettes back into the tray.
CAUTION: The ceramic briquettes must be replaced when they begin to turn black. This means that they are saturated with fat and may smoke heavily during operation or the fat may catch fire.

Click here to learn how to purchase replacement briquettes.

Usage & Operation

Burners
The burners do not start. There are several solutions for this problem:

  • The main gas supply may not be turned on. Make sure it is turned on.
  • Check the power supply and make sure the unit is plugged in and the circuit breaker has not tripped.
  • Make sure the burners are properly positioned.
  • The igniters may be dirty. Carefully wipe the igniters with a cotton swab dampened with water after they have cooled down. Gently scrape the soil off with a toothpick. Avoid exposing the igniters to excessive water as a damp igniter may not light up. Remove any lint that may remain after cleaning.
  • The ignition will be quicker if a cooking pan is on the grate. Ignite the gas at full and once alight, turn it down to around 50%. It should lock on within 6 seconds.
  • Does the burner click when the burner knob is in the ON position? If yes, you may have a wiring issue at the outlet that the appliance is connected to. Turn off the main gas supply and contact a qualified electrician to fix this.
  • Does the burner click when the burner knob is in the OFF position? If yes, check for the following:
    • 1. Check to see if the burner cap is properly placed and the igniter is not wet or dirty.
    • 2. Check to see if the regulator supplied with the unit is installed properly. The arrow on the regulator should be pointing to the appliance. Please call a professional installer or schedule a service visit if the regulator has not been installed properly.
The burners keep making a clicking sound or there is intermittent sparking. There are several solutions for this problem:

  • The burner caps have been moved. If so, make sure the burner caps are properly positioned.
  • The burner ports may be wet or clogged with food particles. Make sure the ports are dry and clear clogged ports with a wire or straightened paper clip.
  • The igniters may be damp. If so, dry the igniters with a dry cotton swab and remove any lint that remains after drying.
  • The gas shut-off valve may be off. Check to make sure it is on and that the gas supply to the building is not turned off.
  • This can also be caused by air movements or gusts in the room. Make sure there is no draft in the room.
For cooktops purchased after September 2018, the ignition spark operates continuously if a knob is held down past the child lock position.
The ignition spark operates continuously. There are several solutions for this problem:

  • The knobs may be in the LIGHTING / SPARK position. Turn the knobs to the OFF position.
  • Make sure there is no draft in the room. Select models have a re-ignition function, which is part of the flame recognition feature. The re-ignition function will attempt to reignite a flame that has been blown out or disturbed.
  • This may be caused by the presence of water due to cleaning the cooking surface with excess water or water boiling over and entering the appliance. This problem will resolve itself once the cooking surface dries.
  • If you have tried all of the above and the problem continues, you will need an authorized servicer to dismantle the appliance and repair it. You should never attempt to dismantle a gas appliance unless you are officially qualified to do so. You will need to schedule a service visit.
For cooktops purchased after September 2018, the ignition spark operates continuously if a knob is held down past the child lock position.
The igniters spark even though the cooktop is turned off. When the electrical power connection has been activated at the first power-up or reconnected after an outage, the igniters may spark once or twice even though the cooktop is off. Make sure all burner knobs are not stuck or pushed down. This will cause sparking in the OFF position.
The flames go out unexpectedly, are too high, or are uneven. The flames go out unexpectedly. - Make sure there is no draft in the room.


The flames are too high or uneven. - There are several solutions for this problem:

  • The burner caps may not be installed properly or may have been moved. Make sure they are properly positioned.
  • The regulator supplied with the unit may not be installed. Please ask your professional installer to install it or schedule a service visit.
My gas burners have the automatic re-ignition feature. Occasionally, one burner will not light while all the others do light. The burner cap is out of alignment. Adjust the cap so that the tabs fit into the notches on the burner base.
What is the Star™ Burner and ExtraLow®? Star™ Burner - It is a 3-in-1 burner that is exclusive to Thermador and features high performance, 5-point design, and ExtraLow® burner capability. The re-engineered Star™ Burner provides unsurpassed flame spread, faster time-to-boil, and rapid recovery time. Designed in a star shape, it provides more even heat to your cookware.

ExtraLow® - This feature keeps a consistent or low simmer, which prevents your food from burning or scorching.
Ventilation & Odors
Do I need ventilation over my gas cooktop or rangetop? Yes, all cooktops need ventilation.
Can I use a downdraft with my gas cooktop or rangetop? Yes.
There is a gas odor. There are several solutions for this problem:

  • The burner knobs may not be completely turned off. Turn the knobs to the OFF position. If the smell does not disappear, turn the main gas supply off and schedule a service visit.
  • It is normal to smell gas for up to 4 seconds after igniting the burner. If the smell does not go away after ignition, turn the main gas supply off and schedule a service visit.
  • The burner caps may be out of alignment. After the cooktop has cooled, adjust the caps so that the tabs fit into the notches on the burner bases.
Cooking & Other
The food is cooked unevenly. There are several solutions for this problem:

  • The base of the pan may be warped. Use a different pan.
  • Make sure to place the pan over the center of the burner so the heat is evenly distributed.
What are the BTU levels of Thermador gas cooktops and rangetops? The BTU levels vary depending on the model. Refer to your owner's manual for this information. If you do not have an owner's manual, you can download it here.

Thermador Professional® ranges and rangetops have higher amounts of BTUs than Thermador Masterpiece® gas cooktops.
Can an oven be installed below a gas cooktop or rangetop? Any Thermador oven can be installed below any Thermador gas cooktop. The following standards are required for installation:
  • There has to be a countertop height of 36”.
  • The toe kick height has to be 4.75” (including the height of the base plate).
Please refer to the installation manuals for the cooktop and oven for additional information on feasibility. Click here to access the manuals.

It is not possible to install a Thermador oven below a rangetop.

Accessories

Replacement Parts, Accessories & Cleaners
How do I purchase a replacement part? Click here to learn how to purchase a replacement part.
What accessories and cleaners are available for my gas cooktop or rangetop and where can I purchase them? Refer to your owner's manual to learn what accessories and cleaners are available for your gas cooktop or rangetop and click here to learn how to purchase them.

If you do not have an owner's manual, you can download it here.