How to use your Argosta built-in gas hob

A built-in hob is the kitchen's workhorse and, done right, the easiest appliance to live with: no oven, no motor, just five burners and a safety system. The three things that matter are a proper installation, the flame-failure habit, and keeping the burner caps dry and seated after every clean.

Models this guide covers

• Built-in Gas Hob 90 cm — Glass Black (5 burners, cast-iron supports, auto ignition, full gas safety)
• Built-in Gas Hob 90 cm — Stainless (5 high-efficiency burners, auto ignition, gas-leakage shut-off)

1. Installation — by Argosta's technician only

1. Worktop cut-out (your carpenter). The opening is cut to the dimensions supplied with the hob and the edge sealed against moisture, with the clearance the manual shows to the back wall and to any cabinet or oven below.
2. Gas (the technician). Tell us when you book whether you have an LPG cylinder or a natural gas line; the injectors differ. The technician connects with an approved hose or rigid pipe, then leak-tests every joint with soapy water.
3. Electricity. Have an earthed socket ready for the auto ignition, and keep it reachable.
4. Fixing and sealing (the technician). The hob is clamped from below and the supplied gasket keeps spills out of the cabinet.
5. Hood height. If you are fitting a range hood, it goes 65–75 cm above the burners.

Before first use, remove the stickers and the protective film, wash the pan supports and burner caps in warm soapy water, dry them thoroughly and refit each cap flat and centred on its burner.

2. Lighting a burner

Every burner is protected by a flame-failure device (FFD): a small sensor beside the flame that cuts the gas if the flame goes out — from a boil-over, a draught, or a child turning the knob. The sensor needs a moment of flame to warm up, which is the only trick:

1. Press the knob in and turn it anticlockwise to the large-flame symbol. The spark fires automatically.
2. Once the flame lights, keep the knob pressed for 5–10 seconds, then let go.
3. If it dies when released, you let go too early — repeat and hold a little longer.
4. Turn towards the small-flame symbol to simmer; turn clockwise to the dot to switch off.

A healthy flame is blue with a clear inner cone. Yellow tips or a lazy, soft flame mean a wet or misplaced cap or blocked ports — fix it before you cook.

3. Which burner for which pan

• Keep the flame under the pan base; flames up the sides waste gas and scorch handles.
• Use flat-bottomed pans so they sit steady on the cast-iron supports.
• Do not use a pan so wide it covers two burners or overhangs the hob edge — it traps heat against the glass and the knobs.
• Never run a burner with nothing on it; the FFD will hold the gas open and you are just heating the kitchen.

4. Safety

• Never leave a lit burner unattended, and keep cloths, paper and curtains away from the flames.
• Turn the knobs to off and close the gas valve when you leave home for more than a day.
• Ventilate — hood on or window open — whenever several burners run at once.
• If you smell gas: no switches, no flames. Knobs off, gas valve closed, windows open, leave the room, call your gas supplier.
• Keep children away from the knobs; consider the hob's own gas valve as the master switch.

5. Cleaning and care

Black glass

• Wait until the surface is cool, then wipe with a soft cloth, warm water and a drop of dish soap. Dry with a microfibre cloth to avoid streaks.
• Use a glass-hob cleaner for grease; no abrasive pads, powders or scrapers — they scratch permanently.
• Wipe sugar or boil-overs as soon as it is safe; dried sugar can mark the glass.
• Lift pans, do not drag them, and never drop a pan or a heavy lid on the glass.

Stainless steel

• Warm soapy water and a soft cloth; a stainless cleaner for fingerprints, wiped with the grain.
• No bleach, no chlorine cleaners, no steel wool.

Burners and supports (weekly)

1. Lift off the cast-iron pan supports and the burner caps and crowns.
2. Soak in warm soapy water; scrub with a soft brush. Clear blocked flame ports with a wooden toothpick — never a metal pin.
3. Dry everything completely and refit each cap flat and centred. A damp or tilted cap is the number-one cause of a yellow flame or a burner that will not light.
4. Wipe the ignition electrode and the FFD sensor beside each burner with a dry cloth; keep cleaners off them.

6. Troubleshooting

Anything involving the gas path, the injectors or the safety valves is a job for an authorised technician — call 17724. Built-in appliances are covered by a 5-year warranty with genuine spare parts; see the warranty guide. Pair this with the built-in oven guide and the range hood guide.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the hob burner go out when I release the knob?

Each burner has a flame-failure device that only holds the gas open once its sensor is warm. Keep the knob pressed for 5–10 seconds after the flame lights, then release.

Can I use any pan on a black glass hob?

Yes — the pans sit on cast-iron supports, not on the glass. Just lift pans rather than dragging them, keep the glass free of grit, and never put a hot pan directly on the glass.

Why is the flame yellow instead of blue?

A yellow, soft flame almost always means a burner cap that is wet or not seated centrally after cleaning, or blocked flame ports. Dry and reseat the cap and clear the ports with a soft brush. If it persists, the injectors may not match your gas type — call service.

What should I do if I smell gas from the hob?

Do not touch any electrical switch or light anything. Turn all knobs off, close the gas valve, open the windows, leave the room and call your gas supplier.