My oven will not heat - Appliance tip of the week

[jeff1]

My oven will not heat

Oven Igniter

Even though the oven igniter may be glowing, it may be too weak to allow the gas valve to open. If the oven won't heat and the oven igniter glows for more than 90 seconds without igniting the gas flame, the oven igniter should be replaced. This is the most common part that fails when the oven won't heat.

Bake Element

If the oven won't heat, check the bake element. The bake element is a black tube near the bottom of the oven about as thick as a pencil. When it is operating normally, the bake element will glow red hot. If the oven won't heat, the bake element may have burned out. It is often obvious to see where the bake element has burned out because there will be a hole in the element or blisters on the outside of the element. Test the bake element using an Ohm meter. If it has continuity it's OK. If not, it should be replaced.

Broil Element

If the oven won't heat, check the broil element. The broil element is a black tube near the top of the oven about as thick as a pencil. When it is operating normally, the broil element will glow red hot. In most ovens the broil element comes on during pre-heat. If the oven won't heat, the broil element may have burned out. It is often obvious to see where the broil element has burned out because there will be a hole in the element or blisters on the outside of the element. Test the broil element using an Ohm meter. If it has continuity it's OK. If not, it should be replaced.

Incoming Power Problem

Although not as common, if the oven won't heat it is possible that the appliance is not receiving proper voltage. Electric ovens require 220 volts of alternating current. If for some reason the appliance is receiving significantly less, the oven won't heat. Check for proper voltage using a volt meter at the socket where the appliance plugs in.

Oven Control Board

The oven control board has a set of relays that turn on and off power to the bake and broil circuits according to the customer settings and sensor input. If the oven won't heat the problem is usually with the heating components. However, if the oven control board is bad, it might not send voltage to the heating components. To determine why the oven won't heat, first test the simpler components in the circuit. The oven control board can't be tested easily and will have to be replaced if it is defective.

Thermal Fuse

Although not as common, if the oven won't heat the thermal fuse may have blown. The thermal fuse is designed to protect the appliance and help to prevent a fire. If the oven gets too hot, this fuse trips. The thermal fuse is not resettable and will have to be replaced. It can be checked for continuity. If it has continuity, it's OK.

Loose or Burnt Wire Connection

If the oven won't heat, there might be a burnt wire supplying power to the bake element. Sometimes the wire supplying power to the element burns out right near the element itself. Check for this by just looking at the wires leading to the element. If they're burned out it is usually easy to spot.

Relay Board

Some ovens are equipped with a relay board. This circuit board has several relays which control the switching of electrical current to the oven heat source. If the oven won't heat it may be that one or more of the relays on the relay board have failed. If this happens replace the relay board. The relays on the board are not sold separately.

Oven Thermostat

If the oven won't heat the oven thermostat might be defective. Although this is not as common, it is possible that the oven thermostat contacts have burned or shorted open. The oven thermostat is difficult to test because the oven wiring diagram often doesn't illustrate each of the contacts and which should have continuity. If the oven thermostat is defective it usually has to be replaced.

Heat Selector Switch

If the oven won't heat, be sure the heat selector switch is set to the right position. The heat selector switch completes the circuit to either send voltage to the bake or broil circuit. If the oven won't heat, the heat selector switch might also be defective, although this is not very common. The heat selector switch is not repairable, if it is defective it will need to be replaced.

Oven Safety Valve

The oven safety valve works with the oven igniter to provide gas to the burner. If the oven won't heat it is possible that the oven safety valve is defective. However, this is very rare. Most often, the oven igniter is too weak to allow the oven safety valve to open. If the oven won't heat, check the igniter first.

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jeff.