New oven - When does the smell go away? etc.

Hi Lex,

Merry Xmas! My manual (SMEG) recommends running it at maximum temperature to help the 'new' smell go away - I kept mine on for around 1.5 hrs - this seemed to work.

Can't really help with the fan (will go back and look at my manual) as I've only really used the fan forced function when cooking. I know that the fan continues to work even after the oven is turned off to help the oven cool down - but don't know about during normal cooking....

Hi MrsRose
Merry Christmas to you too (ooooh, where are our cutie pics )!!

Thanks for sharing this. I ran mine at the recommended temp (180) firstly for full 4 hours, and then, since I wasn't happy, another 2 hrs the following day or so. Then I HAD to use it, so just baked in it "as is".

Didn't try running it on higher than 185 at any time - maybe I should do that to do the trick!

Yes, the fan "issue" is strange. The air flow is very, very strong (and you can clearly hear it) and it actually comes from right underneath the slim "control" panel on the top of the oven (see pic), NOT from the built in fan at the back wall of the oven . In fact, when I turn on any function, this drought of air remains the same (except, it seems, for plain grill) and it comes constantly out of that wide split above the doors. Nothing out of the fan.
Maybe time to call the Mfr (not keen on this after having read some reviews long time ago).

Thanks DN too for the comment on the constant-and-non-controllable light - probably just another "brilliant" idea by novice team players - ATM I can't attribute this "invention" to anything else but am thinking that it could be along the lines of "enamel" water based paint "invention" .

Strange how companies go out of their way (and our, unfortunately) to "save" the environment in some areas (remember my toilet flushing thread), but running a light in ovens constantly and without a chance fro the user to turn it off manually seems quite ... SUPER (and of course without any need for it).
OK, I see I do need a separate thread for myself for rants about products and services . It could grow quite long quite soon.

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Hmmm ... while I was just re-testing the fan issue, I noticed that I'm "missing" the smell (almost gone). The only thing I could smell (this time) was the cake (I think).

Wait, I think I figured it!!
Since the air blows from under the top panel, running the oven empty (without the fan running inside the oven) did help with the smell in the oven itself, but it couldn't help with the smell coming from above the oven when that secret/misplaced/phantom strong fan (which seems to be hidden in the control panel) runs. Therefore each time I turn the oven on, the hidden fan starts pushing air out of this unreachable area and overtakes any other smells. As you can see, that slot is quite large, about 1 cm high.

I think something smells fishy with either their design or my particualr oven .

Thanks, barkly, I think you've found it - it is the cavity cooling fan (and, of course, it's not illustrated/pointed to on the drawings in the manual, just casually mentioned later on ). Unfortunately, this cooling fan comes on immediately upon dialling a cooking function, not after some time (another inefficient use of electricity). But, that's exactly how it should behave, according to the manual:
"Your kitchen appliance is fitted with a cooling fan. This prevents your kitchen cabinet from overheating and reduces the condensation inside the oven. It will operate whenever you are using your oven and blow warm air across the top of the oven door." Well, it surely blows it, only it's more on the cold side.

At this point I'm still unsure if the internal fan comes up at all (when I select a "fan" function) - still need to do some careful checking. The fan is covered with a much more solid cover than one pictured on the generic above - this cover prevents me to check it properly.

Thanks tm
Does your oven have the light automatically on all the time like mine (uncontrollable)?

I think it's definitely this hidden cavity fan that's still pushing this smelly air, much more than the oven itself (I think I "cleaned" it by baking some nice smelling cakes couldn't wait).

Another difference to my old gas oven is the actual baking result. Seems that sponge cakes are a bit more moist and I don't want them to.

Thanks, tm. Yes, the fan (the internal, "real" one) is these days built into the particular function - the user can't any more control it 100% via a separate switch - which is OK as long as they didn't forget to create the "add fan" funtion to every possible function (but they did).
The issue with light is ... well ... beyond my comprehension. Ah, the progress ... one does have to get used to it

Come to think of it, it was the same here

Maybe I should run it on a high for a bit too ... just in case