Redirect of excessive heat from commercial range in Church kitchen

pvs2487 · November 22

Our church in Cape May, NJ is equipped with a restaurant grade gas range with 6 burners, two ovens and a flattop. Unfortunately, it is a standing pilot unit (as are most ranges of this type, I understand) and while it's great to cook on, it throws off a great deal of heat with just the pilots. Temperatures above the range have been documented as high as 100 degrees.

The obvious answer would be to retrofit the unit to electronic ignition.We've spoken to the manufacturer of the range (South Bend) and a retrofit kit for electronic ignition is not available, nor would they recommend an after market kit if one were available.

We could also shut off the gas to the stove when it's not being used (which is most of the time), but feel that there is a liability in having folks light all 11 pilots and, more importantly, remember to turn off the gas valve when they were finished.

It's been suggested to use a line voltage thermostat to the existing exhaust fan to get rid of the excess heat, but I'm not crazy about dumping all the heat into the outside.

Alternatively, I was thinking about trying to direct the excess heat via ducting back into the parish hall via a fan and ducting, which will help in the heating season, but not so much in the summer. The Parish Hall has it's own hydronic /air condition zone.

Short of replacing the range,which is out for financial reasons, is the thermostatic exhaust to the outside the best option?

Thanks for any input. Shout out to @EdTheHeaterMan from Cape May!

Peter Van Syckle

Jamie Hall · November 22

Yes. Whether or not you believe all the hype about gas ranges and health hazards, the fact remains that the combustion of gas in gas ranges isn't all that complete or well-controlled, and the air in the immediate vicinity isn't the greatest stuff around. For a big commercial range, such as the one you have, much the best is to exhaust it outside. A thermostat in the hood, to activate the exhaust fan above a certain temperature, is a good idea. This will also help to make sure that the fan is on when the range is actually in use — not a bad idea in itself…

If someone is bothered about the efficiency and loss of heat thing, you could spend the extra bucks and duct the exhaust through a heat recovery ventilator to be used for makeup air to the kitchen area…

pecmsg · November 22

turn all the pilots off. Use a lighter to light the burners.
it’s done all the time.

I really what’s the pilots cost to run a few dollars a week?

bburd · November 22

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1821805#Comment_1821805

Nearly all gas ranges these days are self-igniting. The practice of lighting them manually is history. My grandmother did, but I haven't seen anyone do this on anything but a gas grill or a camping stove in a long time. In a church kitchen where people unfamiliar with the range are likely to use it, it seems like asking for trouble.

You do not want your church kitchen to be the answer to the question "But where's the KABOOM?"

Jamie Hall · November 22

Oh please don't turn the pilots off. Unless you also manually close the gas valve to the appliance at the same time, you stand a very real chance of having the pilots continuing to flow gas. In a setting where the appliance is used three times a day — not really a problem. In a setting where it's once a week… I'd not be so sure.

Also… not here to say anything bad about the dedicated individuals who work from time to time in that kitchen (and trust me, I do know about this sort of thing. They are wonderful wonderful people, but even getting the altar candles lit is a struggle…), counting on them to light all the pilots every time they come down to the kitchen … no. Just no. I know church budgets are tight (I know about that, too!) but… not that tight.

pvs2487 · November 22

Thanks for the thoughtful comments.

I agree that it's not the worth the risk to rely on folks to have to relight pilots.

We'll get the thermostat hooked up to the exhaust fan before the next Pancake Breakfast!

Peter

ratio · November 23

With that much cooking equipment, you really should have an exhaust hood over it, with fire suppression. At least around here, current codes requires it. It would be expensive but significantly safer, and would deal with your excessive heat handily. Make-up air is likely to be needed as well.

Larry Weingarten · November 23

Hi, I'll add that it sounds as thought the pilots are burning too big. There are ways to make them only big enough to light the burners and no bigger. That measure could take care of the problem. I agree with @Jamie Hall , that you should not put these products of combustion where people are. There are studies showing asthma rates in children being much higher in homes with gas stoves.

Yours, Larry

pecmsg · November 23

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1821822#Comment_1821822

The OP is talking Commercial Stoves.

bburd · November 23

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1821984#Comment_1821984

Yes, I know the question refers to a commercial range. I am familiar with them. This one is in a church, so it's used mostly by non-professionals accustomed to household ranges.

What's your point?

Redirect of excessive heat from commercial range in Church kitchen

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