How to Repair Common Oven Parts

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

All bakers need an accurate oven thermometer. Understanding how your oven works will improve your baking and roasting skills, and eliminate those frustrating hot spots that wreak havoc with cookies, cakes and other baked items.

Thermostat

The thermostat is an essential part of your oven. It helps to ensure that the temperature of food corresponds to the temperature you have set on the control panel. It could be a problem, just like any other sensor or switch that is electro-mechanical. The oven could overheat or underheat, or not keep the temperature you have set.

The oven thermostat is a small strip of two different metals bonded together. When heated, the different metals expand and flex at different rates, making or breaking an electrical circuit. When the metal in the thermostat reaches the temperature you've set on the control panel, it turns off the power to the heating element. As the oven cools the bimetallic strip expands in a way, reestablishing the circuit and activating the heating element. This cycle continues for a long time to ensure a constant oven temperature.

You'll need the oven disconnected and all screws removed to diagnose the problem with the thermostat. If you have a multimeter (which is a device that measures the 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 does not detect anything it means that the thermostat is defective. It is time to get it replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a new one that is the same model that your old one. The thermostats are available for purchase at a reasonable cost on the internet or in a kitchen products shop.

Bake Element

The bake element is crucial to the functioning of your oven. It produces heat that lets it cook food items. It's an easy component that converts electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges typically have heating elements, which can be either exposed or hidden beneath the floor.

Generally, oven heating elements are made from high-resistance components like nickel-chromium alloy. They convert electricity into heat via resistance. The heat then radiates through the interior of the oven to reach the temperature required to cook different kinds of food.

When you start the oven the heating elements begin to produce heat through the high-voltage electric current flowing across the metal surface. When electricity runs through it, the element heats up. The element will appear red hot when it reaches the temperature you want.

The baked element is the main source of heat in most oven functions. It's usually located in the bottom of the oven and is also used to perform the self-cleaning function in many automatic oven models. You may notice that the oven doesn't get hot as fast or that your food hasn't cooked to perfection.

Plug your multimeter in to its black and red ports. Then, press the metal probes on one side of the element to each other. best hob uk of the baking element against 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 located on the top of your cavity, offers high temperatures to brown or char food items. The broil setting of your oven is a great choice for quickly searing meat or vegetables, crisping them up, reheating lasagna, or making caramel on top of a casserole.

The broiler heating element has a similarity to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy by resistance into heat. It is composed of an inner core consisting of wires made of metal, encased in an insulating expanded product known as perlite. The inside of the element is then covered with an outer layer of stainless steel to protect the wires against direct contact with the oven. The three-layer structure reduces the temperature of the broil element, making it more secure and efficient than the older designs of elements.

While you can use any baking or broiling heating element in your oven, you should select one that is compatible with the rated wattage of your oven. A different wattage can damage your oven, or cause it to overheat. The voltage and current ratings of the new heating elements are available on the control panel of your oven. This will allow you to check the wattage and rating of your oven.

Check the resistance of your old element, and compare it to the wattage ratings of the new one. The greater the resistance, the more energy an oven element consumes.

Replace the element in your broiler immediately If it's not functioning or if it's acting up. It is crucial for your oven to function properly so that you can cook all of your favorite food items. If your oven doesn't operate at all, or only intermittently, then the issue could be in a different part.

Light Bulb and Assembly

The light lets you keep an eye on your food while it cooks, without opening the door and let heat escape. The light will also inform you when the casserole is finished. It's not uncommon for the bulb to go. This can be frustrating but it's an easy fix you can tackle yourself. Before you begin, be sure that the breaker isn't tripped and that the three-prong connector remains intact.

Take out the old bulb and then look for the new bulb. It is possible to search online for a replacement that matches the wattage and the type of oven you have. Some ovens utilize standard appliance bulbs of 40 watts, while others need a halogen lamp up to 50 watts. Be aware that the oils from your hands can damage a halogen bulb, so it is recommended to use cotton gloves when handling it.

Before you place the new bulb in, you should first remove it from its glass casing. best ovens and hobs uk is important to do this slowly so that you don't break it. You'll then need to remove the air from the bulb and replace it with the mixture. This will extend the lifespan of the filament.

If your light bulb is always blinking, it could be a bigger electrical issue that must be handled by a professional. Make sure you double-check that you're using the correct bulb for your oven, and consult your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting tips. And remember that it's always recommended to unplug your oven and disconnect the power from the outlet prior to you start any repair. This will protect you from electric shock.

Vent Tube

The vent tube is an essential oven element because it allows for a small amount of airflow to flow within the cavity. This allows the bake-element to circulate heat throughout the oven, making sure that the temperature is evenly distributed.

It also allows the vapors escape from the oven and smoke to be drained from the cooking surface. It is necessary to ensure the proper operation of any electric or gas oven.

Vents in ovens can get blocked by a variety of factors. Accidental spills and splatters from cooking can leave sticky residues on oven vents, which could attract dust and other particles which can lead to obstructions or blockages in the course of time. Grease and oil particles can be blown into the air and settle around the vents, and vice versa. Other environmental factors, such as kitchen construction and renovations, could introduce dust or other pollutants into the vents, leading to clogs or blockages.

Based on the oven model the vent tube may comprise the bottle guide 20, spreader 46 and fill tip 12 that are integrally constructed with the pipe 32. The bottle guide 20 can be fitted with a tapered outer edge that is complemented by the tapered inside edge of the spreader. This allows the vent tubes to be placed easily into different sizes and shapes of bottle necks.

A blocked or clogged vent tube can result in a loss of pressure within the enclosing structure, which can result in a downdraft that pushes exhaust down the vent and then backwards over the oven burners, causing damage to oven components. If you suspect that your vent tube is clogged or blocked, consult a professional for help. They will identify the issue and provide recommendations for removing or cleaning the vent.