Adjusting the simmer flame on a gas stove
We recently installed a stove in our home. This stove required a conversion from natural gas to propane (LP). The installation instructions walked us through the process, which included changing the pressure of the regulator valve, installing smaller orifices in each of the burners, and adjusting the air flow for proper combustion.
When we were done, everything worked fine, except the range burners would not go lower than this:
This, the lowest flame, would still sustain a full boil in a large pot. That’s far too much heat for slow cooking for rice or stews.
I called Whirlpool to ask if there was any way to adjust the burners to give a lower flame. They asked a lot of questions about the conversion – had I changed the orifices, had I changed the regulator’s pressure, did I adjust the air flow – and suggested I call an appliance repair service to take a look at it.
While searching the web for answers, I came across this text on DavesRepair.com:
One detail that’s commonly overlooked on these is the simmer settings. Each top burner valve has a small screw inside its shaft that can be adjusted to provide a low simmer. This adjustment must be made on each burner once the range has been converted, or ’simmer’ settings will be far too high to be useful.
A small-bladed screwdriver is needed for most of these. If you can’t find one small enough, it’s possible to grind one down to fit. I’ve noticed some of the most recent ranges are using a larger screw that’s a lot easier to access, and that’s a welcome change.
You’d think if this were true for our stove, this information would have been in the installation instructions, or at the very least, that someone at Whirlpool would have mentioned that when I called. I had to pull off a knob and see for myself.
What’s in the center of the shaft? It looks like a small, flat-head screw.
Sure enough, none of our screwdrivers were narrow enough to fit into the shaft. I took a bench grinder to one that I wasn’t particularly attached to, and ground down the flared sides to make it fit into the shaft.
I put the knob back on the oven, lit the burner, turned the knob to its lowest setting, then pulled the knob and adjusted the screw. It didn’t take very much movement to significantly change the flame – maybe 1/2 turn from smallest to largest.
After the adjustment, the high flame is the same as before, but the low (simmer) flame is much, much lower.
CAUTION: If you set the simmer flame to be too low, the flame may go out. If this happens, the stove will continue to send a steady trickle of gas to the burner, which will not be burned. This is VERY DANGEROUS and could even lead to an explosion if it is allowed to continue. Make absolutely sure that the simmer flame will not extinguish, and monitor it closely while you are using it. A rule of thumb is to set the simmer flame so that it stays burning even if you blow on the burner (from a safe distance, of course). If you are able to extinguish the flame by blowing on it, it is probably set too low. If you are unsure, get a professional to make this adjustment for you.
Posted: February 1st, 2007 under Home.
Comments: 20
Comments
Comment from Jenn
Time: April 2, 2007, 12:35 pm
You officially rock my socks for posting this. My husband and I just purchased a home and had the very same stove installed and converted from natural gas to propane.
After a week of burning everything from grilled cheese sandwiches to vegetables to bacon, sausage and pancakes (the last three were all done last night), and thus setting off my smoke alarm and deafening everyone in the house, I went to google to try and find an answer on how to adjust the simmer flame. Your site was the first result.
My husband is adjusting our stove right now. 
Thank you so much!
Pingback from kitty.nu » Blog Archive » Untitled
Time: April 2, 2007, 2:56 pm
[...] And found this. [...]
Comment from Joe
Time: March 9, 2008, 1:30 pm
thank you thank you thank you…. i too had the same experience as above… i put up with it for 4 years. I feel like I just got a brand new stove! AND the pictures are awesome!
thanks a million… cheers!
Comment from Anonymous
Time: April 14, 2009, 4:29 pm
thanks, huge help! not on whirlpool site!
Comment from ernie
Time: May 12, 2009, 6:06 pm
Thanks, we just had our new premiere gas range hooked up today and almost did backflips when we were cooking a pot of rice tonight … it was boiling instead of a low simmer like our old stove … we stacked the old stove top trivets on top of the new stove 3 high and it was still simmering too high to make a nice pot of rice … my wife said, well maybe we should sell it with a very sad look on her face … she’s been waiting months for this pro grade stove to arrive (on order) hahaha and really looking forward to it. A momentary massive disappointment … luckily I thought to google how to adjust the burners and found this!! Duh!! Thanks so much for posting this simple fix. (There was no information in the Premiere Range owners manual about it either, even in the trouble shooting section) I guess you’re supposed to call the dealer and have him come out and give him another hundred dollars to adjust the burners besides the $100 he charged to hook the hose on the back! Jeez! Anyway … thanks.
Comment from Barb
Time: July 30, 2009, 10:51 am
Oh so many thanks from me too! Also a Premier Pro owner and also stacking trivets to achieve “low” temps. Can’t wait to try this tonight. And thanks for saving me the $$ too!
PS the photos are perfect!
Comment from steve in VA
Time: August 2, 2009, 11:54 am
Your post was as marriage saver. Thanks!
I adjusted the burners on my Jenn Aire after changing from a gas grill insert to a double burner inset. I didn’t know to I could adjust the simmer until I found this site. I thought I had bought the wrong burner set!
I now have my gourmet chef wife happy because she can simmer our food properly, and now thinks perhaps I am a genius (well, not quite).
Comment from rhiamom
Time: September 13, 2009, 6:51 am
Woohoo! I just moved into an apartment with a Whirlpool gas stove, and have the same problem with all the burners being set way too high. I will be adjusting them later today!
Comment from GEstove
Time: November 3, 2009, 7:44 pm
THANK you!!! I’ve had my stove for about 6 years. I love it, but could never cook rice without it sticking to the bottom of the pot. Thanks to you, I’ll have fluffy rice forever now!
Comment from Anonymous
Time: November 27, 2009, 2:54 pm
The svc tech came out and said there’s no way to adjust for a lower simmer. The company said the same by phone. Thanks to your post, I will no longer risk serious injury. I’ve had a few near misses with large pots of stew slipping off my make-shift spacer to get the pot further from the flame.
My small screwdriver shaft was not long enough, so I fashioned my own tool from a bamboo skewer with a razor blade. Thanks ever so much.
Comment from Kellie
Time: December 26, 2009, 1:54 pm
YOU rock!! That is all I can say. We have been dealing with this for four years and then it just hit me…maybe we can adjust the flame. We would have had no idea where that adjustment needed to be made without your photos. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Comment from Carmen
Time: January 18, 2010, 1:49 pm
I can’t thank the person who posted this solution enough!!!! I moved into an apartment with a brand new Whirlpool gas range that has been giving me this problem all along, and driving me nuts since I couldn’t simmer anything. I made the adjustment and now the flame is low like it should’ve been to begin with. THANKS SO MUCH for the post!!
Comment from dave
Time: January 25, 2010, 10:43 am
thank u so much.we just got a new stove and found that not one thing was not getting burnt.after ur post all is well your a life saver.well done!!!
Comment from Luke W10196161C
Time: February 24, 2010, 8:12 pm
I just adjusted my whirlpool W10196161C range. Excellent. I can’t believe they don’t put this info in the conversion instructions. Thanks
Comment from Scott
Time: April 2, 2010, 8:43 am
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Enjoying toasted pine nuts now as opposed to pine nut cinders.
Comment from Dean
Time: May 2, 2010, 8:19 am
thank you so much now my wife can make her sause which needs to simmer for hours thanks again.
Comment from James
Time: May 18, 2010, 8:15 pm
Thank you! I thought it was the new reality with a propane gas stove. I am very relieved to know that it can be adjusted.
My wife will be very happy we can cook dinner without burning it!
Comment from s. willey
Time: May 23, 2010, 3:13 pm
Hi, your advice is right on…i already have done this effective procedure years ago to my Sears gas range top…Now, perhaps you can help me with my problem with the same range (Sears Kenmore model#75885…propane gas fueled): Is there any way to adjust the broiler flame? Since i’ve had this unit, there is no difference between the “Hi” and “Low” broiler settings. In addition, the broiler is very inadequate (i usually have to take food outside to my Weber grill if i want it broiled (not fun in the snow) …it takes forever for the food to cook, and it never gets that just right “sear,” I can’t even broil a grapefruit or caramelize brown sugar. The broiler flame is not a “drawer” style, but rather is mounted on the top or “roof” of the oven box. Any advice you may have would be most gratefully appreciated!!!
Thank you very much!
Comment from Joe
Time: May 24, 2010, 10:40 pm
OMFG! You’re a freek’in genius! Thank you so so much! Home made spaghetti sauce is now a possibility! Wooot!
Comment from Esther C.
Time: June 26, 2010, 1:07 pm
Found your site by accident. But a divine one, indeed. I had the same problem with my gas range. Got my very slender screw driver and wouldn’t you know, IT WORKED. Thank you so very much.
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