OVEN APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING OVEN APPLIANCE

1 . An oven appliance that defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction that are each perpendicular to each other, comprising:

a cabinet defining a cooking chamber, the cooking chamber configured for receipt of items to be cooked and comprising a top wall and a bottom wall spaced apart along the vertical direction;

a baking gas burner disposed adjacent the bottom wall and configured to heat the cooking chamber;

a broiling gas burner disposed adjacent the top wall and configured to heat the cooking chamber; and

a controller in communication with the baking gas burner and the broiling gas burner, the controller operable to activate a preheat mode wherein the baking gas burner and the broiling gas burner are simultaneously on.

2 . The oven appliance of claim 1 , further comprising a valve in communication with the controller and the broiling gas burner, the valve operable to control a firing rate of the broiling gas burner based on signals from the controller.

3 . The oven appliance of claim 2 , wherein the valve is a two-stage valve having a high stage and a low stage.

4 . The oven appliance of claim 3 , wherein the controller activates the valve to the low stage in the preheat mode.

5 . The oven appliance of claim 2 , wherein the valve is a proportional valve.

6 . The oven appliance of claim 2 , wherein the valve operates in the preheat mode at a firing rate such that a maximum vent capacity of the oven appliance is not exceeded.

7 . The oven appliance of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further operable to activate a bake mode wherein the baking gas burner and the broiling gas burner are on.

8 . The oven appliance of claim 7 , further comprising a valve in communication with the controller and the baking gas burner, the valve operable to control a firing rate of the baking gas burner based on signals from the controller.

9 . The oven appliance of claim 8 , wherein the valve is a two-stage valve having a high stage and a low stage.

10 . The oven appliance of claim 8 , wherein the valve is a single-stage valve.

11 . The oven appliance of claim 8 , wherein the valve is a proportional valve.

12 . A method for operating an oven appliance, the method comprising:

activating a baking gas burner to provide heat to a cooking chamber defined in the oven appliance when a preheat mode is selected; and

activating a broiling gas burner to provide heat to the cooking chamber when the preheat mode is selected;

wherein the baking gas burner and the broiling gas burner are simultaneously on in the preheat mode.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the broiling gas burner is selectively operable at a low firing rate and a high firing rate.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the broiling gas burner operates at the low firing rate in the preheat mode.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the broiling gas burner operates at a firing rate during the preheat mode such that a maximum vent capacity of the oven appliance is not exceeded.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

activating a baking gas burner to provide heat to a cooking chamber defined in the oven appliance when a bake mode is selected; and

activating a broiling gas burner to provide heat to the cooking chamber when the bake mode is selected;

wherein the baking gas burner and the broiling gas burner are simultaneously on in the bake mode.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the baking gas burner is selectively operable at a low firing rate and a high firing rate.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the baking gas burner is operable at a single firing rate.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the broiling gas burner is selectively operable at a low firing rate and a high firing rate.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the broiling gas burner operates at the low firing rate in the bake mode.