applnut wrote: >>>"GE does have their own service--a rarity today--"So, with Monogram appliances you still get actual GE service? I ask because GE signed a deal last year to outsource at least some warranty service to A&E, the Sears subsidiary which has a pretty dismal reputation here. === Yes, in my experience, here in the midwest at least, we always received GE factory service. GE uniforms. GE-badged service van. And, frankly, the same three GE repairman for all of our many, MANY service calls for our Monogram appliances. This included service through our extended warranty, as well in-warranty repairs. I didn't have non-Monogram GE appliances, so I can't really say if that applies for the other lines and, yes, depending on where you live and what's available, your mileage may vary. But that was my experience. GE the company/product line, I have some issues with. The service people they sent out? Not a one. Hard working. Diligent. Patient. Friendly. Kind. They always went above and beyond to try and get my oven working right. Including often being at my house well beyond normal business hours trying to find a fix that would get it up and running for an important meal/holiday/etc. And even coming up with their own solutions when nothing in the manual or their past experience worked. And, by the way, these guys had all been working for GE, and working on appliances, for 15+ years. I never doubted a one of them knew what they were doing. Again, this is all a rarity, as the service people I've had out for every other appliance that's needed it have ranged from great to terrifying. I've had people come to my door--sent by the extended warranty dealer--that literally looked homeless. No teeth. Looking, and smelling, like they hadn't bathed in weeks, if not months. Matted hair. People that, had I had the option, I probably would have gone out of my way to avoid and definitely didn't feel comfortable welcoming into my home while I was all alone. More often, there were those that were nice enough, but I knew more about the appliances they were supposed to be there to service than they did. A lot of wasted time and uncomfortable situations. (Usually with names like A1 or AAAA ... Something that would put them at the top of Yellow Page and search results.) And that's when I was "lucky" enough to get someone to show up. The number of companies that "took" the call from the extended warranty and then I just never heard from (no phone call, multiple missed appointment times) is fairly staggering. (I'd put it at fully HALF.) All that was never an issue with GE. Prompt, courteous, knowledgeable service seems to be the exception, rather than the rule.

I've been there, done that with new ovens from several different brands over the years. They all smell, it's due to residual oil from the factory burning off. From my experience, I actually would NOT recommend running the self clean cycle to burn off the initial smell, especially with no ventilation. Yes, it will burn off quicker this way, but there will be a good deal of smoke and a really nasty burning/chemical smell that will make the kitchen and the rooms surrounding it unusable. I'd rather just use the oven normally and let the milder version of the smell burn off on its own, even if it takes a little longer.

Can someone speak to the griddles on their range/rangetop? I have been considering appliances not based on the number of burners, but the inclusion of a griddle. How are these cleaned? I am anticipating more than pancakes and tortillas. Animal proteins make quite a different greasy mess, and I want to be able to thoroughly and easily clean a griddle. I took a brief look in a modest price range and saw one that had a non-stick surface. That would never hold up in the long term with my cooking. I want a scrape-able heavy duty surface with a receptacle to collect the debris. Any thoughts?

Ask the installer exactly what flashing tape was used. It could be the slider but it might be the bitumen flashing tape that is smelling like oil or petroleum. Get your hands on a some of each of exactly the products were used for the installation and put each in a separate glass jar. Then when you open the jar you'll know if that is matching the smell. If those installation products are not the problem, then it could be the Ultrex itself which does have a smell. If so, I do not think it ever improves and replacing the door with a different brand is an answer. But if it is the flashing tape part or something else used, then you might get the installer to take it out and change the tape to a different kind and reinstall the same door. Or perhaps it could be a terrible smelling caulking or low expansion foam or some other product. Insist on seeing the label of every product used in the installation (look at the MSDS and cure times) to try to find out what is going on and then once you are sure of the source of it, you will have to deal with it. Installer should be able to send you pictures of their installation products. In the mean time, perhaps get pallet wrap (huge saran wrap rolls) and seal up the area with that to try to cut down on the smell by taping the pallet wrap plastic to the wall or sheetrock to cover the whole thing up. If you can get your hands on a sample of the Ultrex you could jar test that, too, to try to identify the specific odor. Running a carbon filter air purifier might be helpful. I'm just a mom, not a professional at all, so these are just my ideas.