Friend of mine is dealing with same "we don't make parts for that anymore" answer from viking while his homeowner has him over the rails because "the breaker wasn't to code."
Hurricane thread(aka kitchen appliances I can't afford thread)
- Thread starter A Potted Plant
- Start date
I have a Viking range and range hood that came with our place (place definitely isn't fancy enough to warrant it, but previous owner was a chef). Can't say that I'd get another one...pretty flaky, replacement parts are insanely expensive, and certainly the range hood is a ridiculous pain to work on.
Captain Brainstorm
Well-Known Member
When we redid the kitchen a few years back, I sprang for a Viking stove. Wasn't planning on it, but the wife is an incredible cook, and it was a floor model that I got for 50% off. Even the sales guy warned me to stay away from the Viking fridge though, Sub-Zero also (not that I was even considering spending that much on a fridge). Stoves are their thing, they make them in Missouri or Mississippi I think. Fridges not so much. Would buy another Viking stove in a heart beat, cooking on it is amazing.
iman29
Well-Known Member
I can confirm all the above statements are facts. 14 years ago we went all in as part of a complete kitchen gut and remodel. and after evaluating all options we settled on Viking Range, Hood and fridge. each one of those has had multiple major repairs including some i did on my own to replace the vent hood fan and or heat lamp switches (and scars on my hands from stainless steel slicing me to prove it).
Lesson learned - we bought a Bosch dishwasher because Viking didnt make one - and at the risk of jinx - its never needed one service call.
I lucked out on a part for my stove - it was the oven selector - with 12 or so settings, and didn't go all the way around - someone decided it should go all the way around.
found it for $50 on ebay - only 1. $400 from the manufacturer. The ice maker on my refrigerator has $100 every 3 years or so. it bends the tray to release the cubes.
the bending motion breaks it. half the parts they send in the rebuild kit aren't needed.
how can something go wrong with a hood - a motor, a light, a couple switches...go figure?
iman29
Well-Known Member
if i could i would place my viking range/stove in the driveway and melt it down for scrap. My wife is an amazing cook so I granted her wish for that stove and we use it every day but it has probably cost me more than I paid for it in repairs out of warranty. constantly needs oven ignitors replaced, and also the stove ignitors constantly click. I am on a first name basis with the local repair guy to the point he personally comes to my house when we call and most times he doesnt even charge me the labor he's supposed to because hes a super cool dude and he lives in my town.
Have a friend who gave up on the Bosch dishwasher after many service calls in the first three months. I just spent 3 hours yesterday repairing the burned out ignitor in a 20 year old range. The whole time wishing something would go drastically wrong so I could quit and just buy a new one. $34 and several knuckles later it's alive again.
Our ice maker broke years ago. I buy ice every time I pick up beer and fill the tray.
Yeah, our ignitors are always clicking. Actually, that was the one advantage of not having power...I was just manually lighting the burners with a small torch and it worked a whole lot better than the built in ignitors. I do like the super low flame heat control. Otherwise, not sure why you'd buy this thing.
Also can confirm that replacing light/fan switches in the range hood is terrible. Managed to do it with all fingers intact, but barely.
Captain Brainstorm
Well-Known Member
The stove igniters click when they get dirty, you have to keep them super clean. Mine are always dirty because my wife often has all 6 burners going at once. She's also a clean freak and takes the cast iron grates off and cleans the thing till it shines.
mfennell
Well-Known Member
We're using a 30yo (white! horrors!) hand-me-down fridge my in-laws gave us almost 20 years ago. They're on their 3rd fridge at last count. They've all looked quite nice at least.
The 25yo JennAir range and wall oven have required one ignitor between them in the 20 years we've been in our house. Talk of a kitchen remodel surfaces periodically but I'm able to tamp it down. 🙂. Maybe I can get by with some nice cabinets from @SmooveP one of these days but keep my fully functioning appliances. Eventually, they'll be retro rather than simply old, right?
The 25yo JennAir range and wall oven have required one ignitor between them in the 20 years we've been in our house. Talk of a kitchen remodel surfaces periodically but I'm able to tamp it down. 🙂. Maybe I can get by with some nice cabinets from @SmooveP one of these days but keep my fully functioning appliances. Eventually, they'll be retro rather than simply old, right?
olegbabich
Well-Known Member
We have Viking Range and Hood, They are pretty to look at. Will not buy again.