How to Repair Common Oven Parts

Ovens are a kitchen appliance that is commonly used to cook food. The heat generated by the oven sterilizes food and kills the majority of microorganisms.

All bakers need an accurate oven thermometer. Knowing how your oven functions will help improve your baking cooking, roasting and cooking abilities. It can also help you avoid those annoying hot spots which can ruin cakes, cookies and baked goods.

Thermostat

The thermostat is among the most crucial components of your oven, helping to ensure that the temperature of your food is exactly what you've set in the control panel. It could be a problem, just like any other switch or sensor that is electro-mechanical. The oven may overheat or underheat, or simply not keep the temperature you set.

The oven thermostat is essentially a small strip of two different metals bonded together. When heated to a certain temperature, the two metals expand or bend at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the thermostat's metal is at the temperature you've set on your control panel, it turns off the power to the heating element. As the oven cools it expands the bimetallic strip, re-establishing circuit and turning on the heating element. This cycle continues for a long time to ensure that the oven remains at a constant temperature.

To determine if there is a problem with the thermostat, you'll need to unplug the oven and verify that all of the screws holding it in place have been removed. If you have a multimeter (which is a device that detects electrical current), set it to the ohms setting and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or close to it then the thermostat is working correctly and doesn't need to be replaced.

If the multimeter isn't reading anything, it's likely that the thermostat is faulty and must be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a fresh one of the same kind that your old one. The thermostats are available for purchase at a reasonable price online or at a kitchen products shop.

Bake Element

Ovens can't be complete without the bake element, which provides heat to make your oven cook food. It's an easy component that converts electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting and broiling. Heating elements are typically found in electric ranges and ovens and are either covered or concealed under the floor of the oven.

In general oven heating elements comprise of high-resistance metals such as nickel-chromium. They work by converting electricity into heat through resistance. The heat then radiates through the interior of the oven to attain the desired temperature to cook different kinds of food.

When you turn on your oven, the heating element begins to generate heat from the high-voltage electrical energy moving across its metal surface. When electricity is flowing through it the element gets heated up. When the element reaches its temperature it starts to be lit up in red hot.

The baked element is the main source of heat in most oven functions. It is usually located at in the bottom of the oven. Many automatic oven models also use it for self-cleaning. When it begins to get hot you may be noticing that your oven doesn't warm as quickly or your food is not cooked through completely.

Connect your multimeter to its red and black ports. Then, you can press the probes made of steel on one end of the element against each other. Place the other end of the element on one terminal and then place your hand on it. If the element feels warm, remove it and try testing it again. If not, remove it and try again.

Broil Element

The broil element, usually found at the top of your cavity, allows high-temperature temperatures to brown or char the food. The oven's broil setting is a great way to quickly cook meat or crisp vegetables, to heat up lasagna or caramelize the top of the casserole.

The broiler heating element has a similarity to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy via resistance into heat. It is made up of an inner core comprised of wires made of metal, encased in an insulating and expanded product called perlite. The inner core is encased in an outer layer of stainless steel to shield the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer structure reduces the temperature of the broil element which makes it safer and more efficient than the older designs of elements.

You can use any heating element for baking or broiling in your oven. However, it is important to choose one that is in line with the wattage that your oven is rated for. Using a different wattage can harm your oven or cause it to overheat. The current and voltage ratings of the new heating elements can be located on the control panel of your oven. This will allow you to check the ratings and wattage of your oven.

Examine the resistance of your old element, and then compare it to the wattage ratings of the new one. The higher the resistance, the greater power an oven element uses.

If the heating element in your broiler is not working or functions in any way, you should replace it immediately. It's important that your oven function properly to cook all of your favorite foods. However, if your oven isn't working at all or only intermittently, the issue could lie with another part of your oven.

Light Bulb and Assembly

The oven light lets you keep an eye on your food cooking without opening the door and let the heat escape. The light also informs you when your casserole is ready. But it's not uncommon for the bulb to fail. It can be a hassle however, it's an easy fix you can tackle yourself. Check that the breaker is not tripped, and that the connector has three prongs.

First, take out the light bulb that was in use and find the new one. You may need to look online for a replacement that matches the wattage and type of oven you have. Some ovens use standard 40-watt appliance bulbs some require halogen bulbs up to 50 watts. Consider using cotton gloves to shield the bulbs from the damage caused by oil.

Before putting the new bulb into place, you should first remove it from its glass casing. You should do slowly to avoid breaking it. Then, you'll have to eliminate the air inside the bulb and fill it up with gas mixture. This will ensure a longer lifespan of the filament.

If your bulb keeps going out, there could be a bigger electrical problem that needs to be handled by an expert. Verify that you're using the correct oven bulb and consult your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting advice. Make sure to unplug the oven and turn off the power before beginning any repairs. This will keep you from suffering an electric shock.

Vent Tube

The vent tube is an important oven component that permits a small airflow inside the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, ensuring that the temperature is distributed evenly.

It also allows vapors from the oven to escape and allows smoke to be drawn away from the cooking surface. It is essential for the proper operation of any electric or gas oven.

Vents for ovens can become blocked by various reasons. Accidental spills or splatters may leave sticky residues in oven vents. They may attract debris, dust and other contaminants that can cause obstructions in the course of time. Grease and oil particles can become airborne and settle on the vents, too. Other environmental factors, such as kitchen renovations and construction work can introduce dust or other pollutants into the vents, leading to blockages or clogs.

Based on the oven model the vent tube may comprise an a bottle guide 20 or spreader 46 as well as a fill tip 12 that are integrally constructed with the pipe 32. For instance the bottle guide 20 could have a tapered exterior surface which is in harmony with the tapered inside of the spreader 46, allowing the vent tube to be smoothly placed into various sizes and forms of bottle necks.


A blocked or clogged vent tube can result in the loss of pressure inside the structure that surrounds it, which can create a downdraft situation which pulls exhaust down vent and then backwards over the oven's burners, causing damage to the oven components. Consult oven hob Ovens & Hobs if you believe that your vent might be blocked or clogged. They will identify the issue and give suggestions for clearing or cleaning the vent.