A broken oven can be problematic, especially if you have a family to feed. The good news is that most of these issues are a quick fix, and you don’t have to rely on dine-ins or take-outs just to eat food.
You must know what these common oven problems are so that you’ll understand whether you can fix the problem yourself or call up a professional to handle it.
The oven does not heat
If the oven isn’t heating, the most common reason is a damaged igniter that must be replaced. Locate the manufacturer’s manual and follow the instructions to replace the igniter on the oven. Remember to turn the oven power off completely before doing any work to avoid accidents.
The oven light doesn’t turn on
When the oven light doesn’t turn on, the usual culprit is a burned-out bulb. Use the manufacturer’s manual and follow the instructions to replace the bulb. If this doesn’t solve the issue, the problem could be more than an electrical issue, and professional help is likely necessary.
Oven door won’t open or shut
If the door doesn’t open after a self-cleaning cycle, start by unplugging the unit or shutting off the circuit breaker for five minutes. Once you restore power, gently move the door lock lever and see if you can now open the door. If this doesn’t work, reset the self-clean cycle, allow it to work for 15 minutes, and then cancel the cycle. After letting the oven cool for a little while, move the door lock lever and try opening the door again.
If the oven door doesn’t stay shut, you may need to replace the hinge. This requires disassembling the door and possibly removing the side panel as well. If you need help, call an appliance repair technician for assistance.
Oven won’t self-clean
Several common oven issues can prevent an oven from self-cleaning. First, make sure the door switch is locking the oven properly since the self-cleaning cycle won’t begin unless the door is locked.
If that’s not the issue, there could be a problem with the temperature control thermostat, wiring, oven control board, or thermal fuse. Testing and repairing these components requires special skills and tools, so leave the job to an appliance repair specialist.
Oven won’t cook food evenly
Often, an oven that appears to cook unevenly is actually the cook’s error. The placement of food in the oven has a significant effect on cooking. Consider experimenting with the placement of your oven’s racks. You may find the top zone of the oven is hotter than the bottom, or vice versa.
Also pay attention to the placement and shape of your oven’s heating elements. You may need to push food a little farther back in the oven to have it fully beneath your oven’s broiler, for instance.
If positioning isn’t the cause of your cooking troubles, check your oven’s temperature sensor or consider recalibrating your oven.
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