Having an oven that gives up at the last minute can be a frustrating situation. Even if don’t use it every day, your oven is one of the most important kitchen appliances. So, if something goes wrong, you need to be aware of some troubleshooting tips that might help you get it running back to normal before you consult an appliance repair technician.
The Oven Is Not Heating
An oven that is not heating is mostly due to a faulty igniter. However, in the case of an electric oven, it can be faulty heating elements. If you have the required skills and experience, you can replace the heating element of the oven and the ignitor without the help of an expert.
Firstly, you need to turn off the oven. Consult the user manual to find the correct instructions. Then, take a screwdriver and take out the existing igniter or heating element. Even though the heating element or igniter are located in more or less the same area but might vary depending on the make, model, and variant of your oven.
And if you are still not able to locate the heating element, you will need to call the professionals.
The Oven Isn’t Reaching The Right Temperature
If you observe that your oven is not heating to the desired temperature, there might be a problem with the heating element or the temperature sensor. Then again, the temperature sensor is located inside the oven.
To fix the heating issue of the oven, you will need to shut down the oven and let it cool down if it is hot. Once you have located the sensor, use an ohmmeter to determine if it is functional. If the sensor shows no resistance, it means the sensor is faulty.
And if that does not fix the issue, you might need to check the gas line. It may be that someone has accidentally turned off the valve, cutting the gas supply. Keep in mind that if you need to replace the temperature sensor, you will need to recalibrate the oven.
The Oven Door Won’t Shut
If your oven simply fails to turn on or ignite, you should check the main door. The oven door should latch properly and lock itself in place. Otherwise, as a safety feature, the oven won’t turn on. Even though it is a basic issue but is quite common among old ovens.
The reason is that the hinges, shocks, and lock tend to weaken with time which won’t allow the door to shut properly. Therefore, before anything else, check the oven door to see if it is secured and if the problem does not go away, move on to the next solution.
The Oven Won’t Self-Clean
If you use your oven on a regular basis, it is supposed to accumulate oil, grease, dirt, etc. As a result, the performance of your oven will decrease and in the worst-case scenario, won’t ignite as the burners will be blocked. That said, it is important to thoroughly clean and maintain the oven at least once a month.
If you can’t do it or are busy, you should consult an expert. The maintenance will also help the expert identify any potential damages, repairs, or replacements and fix them before turning serious down the road.
Fuse Issues
If you are working with an electric oven and it’s not turned on, you should check the fuse. Fuse malfunction is common in all electronic appliances as they prevent the items from getting damaged. Furthermore, electric fluctuations can also result in blown fuses.
Replacing a blown fuse is easy but can also be complicated due to wiring issues. Keep in mind that while replacing the fuse, you should replace it with a similar fuse.
And if the fuse seems normal, you should check the circuit breaker. Locate the switch that controls the oven and make sure it is switched on.
Final Word
That was all about troubleshooting a non-functional oven. Depending on the situation, you may or may not need to contact an oven repair Northern VA service. However, make sure that you look after and maintain your kitchen appliances by reading their user manuals to prevent frustrating situations when you need them the most.
