Many of us have been in that situation before where you have spent time preparing food ready for roasting or baking only to find that our once-reliable electric oven isn't giving off heat. Being faced with an electric oven which won't turn on can be frustrating but it provides a good starting point for problem-solving AND, with a little know-how, you can normally narrow down what the problem actually is. When you find out what the problem is, then you can consider what electric oven repair options you have.
Common Problems
- No Power
If there is no electrical current in the oven, then it will not heat up. The first thing to do in this instance is to check if the switch in the circuit breaker box (assigned to the oven) is on. If it isn't then the most common reason is that the circuit breaker box has tripped due to an electrical overload. All you need to do is flick the switch back to the on position.
If the breaker switch flips back and forth and does not lock into either switch, then it will need to be replaced. The last step you can take is to check that the electric oven is plugged into the correct outlet and that the outlet is functioning properly.
- Defective Components
The heating components inside an electric oven are what keep the oven functioning properly. If the components have malfunctioned, then they will not heat the oven. These components can usually be replaced quite easily and often plug in without the needs for complicated tools or technical experience. Just follow the instructions which come with the parts. And don't forget that an oven should always be unplugged and turned off when carrying out repairs.
- Faulty Temperature Sensor
The temperature sensor is a very important component in your oven and unfortunately one of the most common causes of this problem. The temperature sensor regulates the temperature of your oven and once it stops working it will prevent your oven from turning on. Most modern electric ovens will display an error code if there is a problem, which makes any issues easy to spot. We would recommend that you consult an oven repairer for replacing or fixing the temperature sensor.
- Bake and Broil Problems
The bake element wiring and broil element wiring are heating elements of an oven. The bake wiring normally does around 90% of the heating in a bake cycle. If it is defective, then the oven will take longer to reach the set temperature, thus the food will burn to the top. To help determine if the bake element is defective you should first do a visual check. If the element is blistered or separated then it should be replaced. If the element appears to look normal, then turn the oven on to a bake function for a minute and then turn it off.
- Thermostat
If the thermostat is malfunctioning, it might not be able to turn the heat on. With the power turned off at the breaker or the unit unplugged, an electric meter will test the continuity of the thermostat. This is a simple test for most appliance repair technicians.
Check the element for signs of heating and if it is still cold then it may be old or defective. Disconnect the power and then remove the back panel. First, check the wires as they may have become loose or corroded. If the element appears to be fine visually, test it for continuity with a multi-meter. If the element is burned or no longer has continuity, it will need to be replaced. If the element looks fine then you will need to check the bake circuit to determine the cause. This involves live voltage checks and should only be performed by qualified persons.