Simple Fixes to Common Oven Problems

If your oven is getting older, or you use it heavily throughout the year, it’s not uncommon to encounter some issues here and there. Lucky for you, ovens are fairly simple appliances. So, before you splurge on a brand-new oven, or spend money on hiring professional help to fix your old one, take a look at this troubleshooting guide for common oven problems:

PROBLEM: NOT HEATING UP

Cause: With an electric oven, the heating elements can wear out over time causing your oven or range to stop heating up. To find out if this is the case, simply turn on the oven and/or ranges and look to see if the heating elements are glowing red. If the elements are not glowing, or are they are just barely glowing, it’s time to replace them.

Fix: To make this fix all you really need to do is order the correct part that matches your oven. Once you have that, the rest is a snap. Simply disconnect the oven from power, remove the heating element’s cover, take out the screws holding the heating element in place, exchange the old part for the new one, and screw everything back into place.

Cause: If you have a gas oven, the problem could be a faulty igniter. To find out if that’s the case, test it out by setting a temperature on the oven. If you do not hear the normal clicking and ‘wooshing’ sound of the gas igniting, you should consider replacing the igniter.

Fix: Replacing an igniter can involve a number of different processes depending on the model of your oven, and it is not quite as simple as replacing heating elements in an electric oven. Typically, the process requires unplugging the range, removing a few screws, disconnecting the wiring connection, inserting the new igniter, and then tightening everything back down. However, while this process can seem simple, if you have any concerns about working with gas lines or electrical components, contact a professional. Also, if your appliance is still under warranty, it might be best to seek a professional appliance repair service to ensure everything is kept up to standards.

Problem: Not heating to the correct temperature

Cause: If you notice that your food is undercooked, or taking longer to cook than usual, it might be because your oven’s temperature sensor is not working properly.

Fix: The first thing you should do is make sure that your temperature sensor is not touching the inside wall of your oven, as this will throw off your sensor and cause inaccurate readings. If this is happening, all you need to do is reposition it so that it’s not making contact with your oven walls. If it’s still not heating properly, you’ll probably just need to replace the sensor, which is a quick and easy fix.

PROBLEM: Clogged Burners

Cause: If the burners on your gas range won’t ignite, you could have clogged burners. This usually happens because food and liquid that spills on the burners accumulates over time and hardens into gunk, which can block the gas ports and prevent ignition.

Fix: Turn off the gas supply to your range, and disconnect your appliance from power. Lift the cover off your burners, and remove the burner itself from the range. Then soak the burner in a solution made of water and household detergent, and gently clean it with a soft cloth. When the burner is clean, allow it to dry completely before replacing it and reconnecting the power and the gas supply.

No matter what, make sure you always remember to unplug your appliance before you attempt any repairs. And again, if you are nervous about working with gas or electronic components, call a professional, such as the pros at Absolute Appliances Repair in San Francisco. If you can’t easily fix the problem yourself, you’re better off spending a little bit of money on the repairs than risking injury, or shelling out a big chunk of change on a whole new appliance.