How to Repair Common Oven Parts

The oven is an appliance used in kitchens that is commonly used to cook food items. 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 can help you improve your baking and roasting abilities and eliminate those frustrating hot spots that can cause havoc with cakes, cookies and other baked items.

Thermostat

The thermostat is an important element of your oven. It assists in ensuring that the temperature of food is in line with the temperature you set on the control panel. As with any electronic mechanical switch or sensor it can have issues that can cause the oven to over or under heat, or just not be able to maintain the temperature you've set.

The oven thermostat is essentially tiny strips of two different metals that are bonded. When heated, the metals expand and bend at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the thermostat's metal reaches the temperature you've set on your control panel, it turns off the heating element's power. As the oven cools the bimetallic strips expand, re-establishing circuit and activating the heating element. This process continues to maintain a constant temperature in your oven.

You'll need the oven disconnected and all screws removed to diagnose the issue with the thermostat. If you own a multimeter (which is a device that detects electrical current) set it to the ohms setting and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter shows zero or close to zero the thermostat is operating properly and doesn't need to be changed.

If the multimeter doesn't read anything, it's likely that the thermostat is defective and requires replacement. Cooker Spare Parts suggests that you replace your thermostat with a thermostat of the same model as the one you have. They are available on the internet or in an appliance store and can be purchased at a reasonable price.

Bake Element

Ovens can't be complete without the bake element, which is the element that heats up to help your oven cook food. It's a basic component that transforms electricity into the high temperatures required for baking, roasting, and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges often include heating elements that are either visible or hidden under the floor.

In general, oven heating elements consist of high-resistance materials like nickel-chromium. They convert electrical energy into heat using resistance. This heat is then radiated through the oven's interior to achieve the desired temperature to cook various types of food.

When you turn on the oven, the heating elements begin to produce heat due to the high-voltage current flowing across the metal surface. When electric current runs through it the element is heated. The element will turn red hot when it is at the desired temperature.

The baked element is the main source of heat used in most oven functions. It's usually located at the in the bottom of the oven. A lot of ovens that are automated also use it for self-cleaning. You might observe that the oven doesn't get hot as fast, or that your food hasn't cooked completely.

To verify that you have a working oven baking element connect your multimeter to its black and red ports, and then place the probes made of steel against each other on one end of the element. Place the other end of the baking element against one terminal and then place your hand on it. If the element feels warm, remove it and test it again. If not, remove it and try again.

Broil Element

The broil element, which is typically located at the top of your cavity, provides high heat to brown or char the food. The broil setting in your oven is an excellent option for quickly searing meat and vegetables, crisping up vegetables, warming lasagna or making caramel on top of the casserole.

The broiler heating element is similar to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy by resistance into heat. It consists of an inner core of wires that are wrapped in insulating perlite material. The inner core is then enclosed in an outer layer of stainless steel to shield the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer structure reduces the broil element's temperature, making it more secure and efficient than older styles of elements.

You can use any heating element you want to use for baking or broiling in your oven. However, you should select one that matches the wattage that your oven is rated for. A different wattage could damage your oven or cause it to overheat. You can determine the power of your oven and the rating of the new heating element by looking at their voltage and current ratings on the oven's control panel.

Verify the resistance of the old element, and compare it with the wattage rating of the new one. The greater the resistance of an oven element, the more power it draws.

Replace the element in your broiler immediately If it's not working or is acting up. It's important that your oven functions correctly to be able to cook all of your favorite food items. However, if your oven is not working at all, or is only working intermittently, the issue may be with a different part of your oven.

Light Bulb and Assembly

The light lets you keep an eye on your food while it cooks without opening the doors and let the heat escape. The light will also inform you when the casserole is done. But it's not uncommon for the light to fail. This can be very frustrating but it's an easy fix you can do yourself. Before you start, make sure that the breaker hasn't been tripped and that the three-prong connector is in good condition.

Take out the old bulb and then find the new one. It is possible to search the internet for a replacement bulb that matches the wattage and the type of your oven. hobs and ovens use standard 40-watt bulbs and others require a halogen bulb that is up to 50 watts. Be aware that the oils from your hands can damage the bulb, so consider using cotton gloves when handling it.

Remove the glass casing of the bulb prior to replacing it. Do this slowly so that you don't break it. Then, you'll need to remove the air from the bulb and replace it with a mixture. This will provide a longer life for the filament.

If your light bulb is constantly blinking it could be due to an electrical issue that needs an expert to fix it. Make sure you're using the correct oven bulb and look over your Use and Care Guide to get additional troubleshooting tips. Be sure to unplug your oven and shut off the power before you start any repairs. This will prevent you from suffering an electric shock.

Vent Tube

The vent tube is an essential oven part that allows for 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 the vapors to escape from the oven and smoke to be drained from the cooking surface. It is essential for the proper operation of any gas or electric oven.

Vents for ovens can become blocked by a variety of factors. Accidental spills or splatters can leave sticky residues on oven vents. They can draw in dust, debris and other contaminates that could cause blockages over time. Oil and grease can also become airborne, and then settle around vents. Other environmental factors, like kitchen construction and renovations, can bring dust and other contaminants into the vents, resulting in obstructions or clogs.

Based on the type of the oven the vent tube may comprise a spreader 46 and the fill tip 12, and the bottle guide 20 which are integrated into the pipe 32. The bottle guide 20 could have a tapered outer edge that complements the tapered inner edge of the spreader, allowing the vent tubes to be inserted effortlessly into various sizes and shapes bottle necks.

A blocked or clogged vent tube can result in a loss of pressure within the enclosing structure. This can create a downdraft situation which pulls exhaust down vent and then backwards over the oven burners, causing damage to the oven components. Consult a professional if you believe that your vent could be blocked or clogged. They will identify the problem and offer suggestions on how to remove or clean the vent.