Oven Problems? 7 Fixes to the Most Common Issues

Ovens and ranges are considered to be some of the most essential kitchen appliances in both homes and commercial foodservice establishments. However, even the most reliable ovens can experience minor issues from time to time.

Whether your favorite recipes are coming out cold or the oven isn’t working all together, there could be a number of reasons why you are experiencing troubleshooting complications.

Before jumping to conclusions thinking it’s time to replace the appliance, these common oven issues can easily be fixed by yourself or with the help of a service technician without breaking the bank.

Problem #1: The Oven Won’t Turn On.

First things first–make sure the oven is plugged in. It’s easy to misdiagnose power related issues too quickly by overlooking the more obvious reasons. If you find that the oven is plugged in, then it might be beneficial to check the junction box for any tripped breakers.

Although ovens usually have their own circuit, blown fuses are still a common issue that many oven owners don’t realize can be the source. Once it has been confirmed that all breakers are working properly, one might assume that the oven could have a broken wire. This specific issue can be dangerous to fix on your own and requires professional attention for safety purposes.

The good news is that a service team can conveniently replace any broken wires or fuses that are found inside your oven with just one trip.

Problem #2: The Temperature Sensor Isn’t Working

Whether you have a gas or electric oven, there can be many reasons why your food is coming out cold. This could be a sign that the temperature sensor inside the oven is broken, defective, or misaligned.

The temperature sensor is responsible for regulating the heat of an oven, similar to a thermostat. It can usually be found inside the oven toward the back wall, near the broiler. Sometimes, the issue can be resolved by a simple adjustment. If the temperature sensor is touching the inside of the oven wall, it can prevent the oven from reading the temperature properly. An ohmmeter can also be used to test the temperature sensor to see if it needs replaced.

Problem #3: The Heating Element Is Broken

If your oven is heating up to its proper temperature but still cooking unevenly, this could be a result of a faulty burning element. If the broil element is at fault, only the bake element will heat the oven, causing the pre-heating temperatures to become out of whack. The bake element can usually be found at the bottom of the oven cavity while the broiler is positioned at the top.

To confirm that it is the heating element that is causing your oven temperature issues, you can first test the pre-heating ability of the oven to see which coil isn’t turning red hot. If either of the heating elements are damaged, you will want to get them replaced.

Problem #4: The Oven Door Won’t Shut

Sometimes an oven door can become warped, which allows excess heat to escape from the inside. This issue can easily be found by examining the oven door for damaged seal clips located along the front border of the oven. If the seal clip has been melted or damaged, then you will know that it’s time to replace the clip with a factory part. The sides of the oven should also be checked for any large gaps where heat might be escaping.

To solve this issue yourself, you can loosen the screws on the corners of the oven that connect the outer and inner panels. After twisting the oven door from side to side a few times, tighten the screws back up and shut the door. Be sure that the oven is turned off or unplugged before troubleshooting this issue. If the oven door still does not shut after performing this procedure, a service technician will be able to detect what exactly is causing the problem.

Problem #5: The Oven Isn’t Calibrated

Sometimes an oven can fall out of calibration, causing many recipes to come out with an uneven temperature. If the oven is out of calibration, the first step is to check the temperature by using a good quality oven thermometer. Next, place the thermometer directly in the center of the oven heated to 350°F.

Once the oven indicates that it is at the correct temperature, write down the thermometer’s reading every 20 minutes without opening the oven door. After recording four consecutive readings, add the numbers together and divide the total by four to calculate the average temperature. An oven is calibrated if the average temperature reads between 325°F and 375°F.

However, if the temperature is out of this range, the user manual that came with your oven can usually help you recalibrate it yourself. If all else fails, a service technician can assist you and resolve the calibration issue within a matter of minutes.

Problem #6: The Oven Light Won’t Turn On

Fixing an oven light is as easy as changing a light bulb…literally. First, go straight to the owner’s manual to check and see what type of bulb your oven model requires. To avoid burns, be sure to cut the power of the oven and wait for it to cool down to room temperature.

The bulb is usually located behind a shield or cover on the roof of the oven, which may need to be unscrewed in order to retrieve. Once the oven light bulb is removed, simply replace it with the new one, re-screw the cover, shut the door, and power up the oven.

If this doesn’t do the trick, there may be an underlying issue behind the faulty oven light.

Problem #7: The Self-Cleaning Cycle Won’t Work

Most ovens have a self-cleaning setting on them to help get rid of the dirt and grease that accumulates from cooking. However, sometimes this setting can be problematic if the oven isn’t functioning properly. The first two functions to check on the oven are the bake and broil elements as mentioned earlier. These are the two main elements that are needed in order for the cleaning cycle to turn on.

You may also want to check that the oven door lock is operating correctly, as the self-cleaning cycle will not begin unless the door is locked. Other functions to pay attention to are the thermostat, the cycling relay, the oven timer and the selector switch. When examining the performance of these functions, be sure to always refer to your owner’s manual, as each appliance can vary.

A more difficult diagnosis to the oven’s self-cleaning cycle can easily be found by calling a trained service technician for support.