Vulcan Stove Repair

In a commercial kitchen, a Vulcan stove often means a stock pot stove or the open-burner section of a heavy-duty range. Stock pot stoves are low, sturdy units with one or two large burners designed to heat heavy kettles of stock or sauce. Open-top burners on ranges use cast iron burner heads under heavy grates. Both typically rely on standing pilots and manual gas valves, and both see heavy spillover that eventually works its way into the burner.

Weak, yellow or uneven flames are the most common complaint. Spillover and grease clog burner ports, and an air shutter that has shifted or become dirty starves the burner of air. Pilots on open burners shrink when their small orifices clog, so the burner lights slowly or not at all. On stock pot stoves, the large burner rings can crack or distort after years of heavy kettles and high heat. Valve stems stiffen when grease bakes onto them, making knobs hard to turn.

With gas valves off and the stove cool, owners can lift grates and look for debris and spillover on the burner heads. Cleaning visible grease from the burner surface with a brush is reasonable. Do not enlarge burner ports or pilot orifices, and do not adjust gas pressure. If you smell gas, leave the building and call the gas utility or 911 from outside.

Our visit starts with watching each burner and pilot. We clean ports and orifices, check air shutter adjustment, test valves for smooth operation and inspect burner rings for cracks or distortion. On equipment with thermocouple-protected pilots, we test the thermocouple and safety valve. We tell you the findings and the price before replacing any parts.

Burners, pilots and valves are very repairable on Vulcan stoves. Replacement makes sense only when the frame is damaged or corrosion is extensive.