Handle Oven Malfunctions Using Our Quick Guide to Oven Repairs
Why won’t the oven go on? Diagnose the problem with our step-by-step oven repair guide.
You just returned from the grocery with everything you need to make a delicious meal and then the oven won’t go on. We’ve probably all experienced this. So, to get you through the next time this happens, we’ve compiled a quick and easy troubleshooting guide.
Before dealing with the specifics of electric vs. gas ovens, let’s talk about the most common problem: no power. I know it seems simple, but it happens all the time that people tear their hair out trying to figure out what the mechanical problem could be, when all along it’s just unplugged from the wall outlet. So, look for that first and then look for damaged wires or a malfunctioning outlet.
Troubleshooting Gas Ovens
Won’t Heat Up
If your oven isn’t heating up and you notice that it hasn’t turned on after waiting a few minutes, your ignition system is likely at fault. Some systems will require the help of a professional, but in any case, homeowners can often identify the problem themselves. There are three main ignition systems: Pilot System, Hot Surface System, and Spark System.
1. Pilot Ignition System
The pilot system uses a pilot light, which is a small flame that burns constantly, to ignite or fire up the gas burner. Usually the problem with a pilot ignition involves the pilot light. Here are some things to check to determine the exact problem:
Is the pilot lit?
If not, then light it with a match or lighter because there is a tiny amount of gas seeping from the tip. Be very careful so that you don’t burn yourself or start a fire. First, turn off the thermostat on the oven. If you smell gas, wait 10 – 15 minutes for it to fully dissipate. If you still smell it, contact a professional or the gas company immediately.
Is the flame on the pilot light high enough to engulf the sensor on the safety valve?
If it isn’t, you may have a faulty oven thermostat. If so, we recommend calling Sparkle Appliance so they can send a professional out to inspect your ignition system.
Does the pilot light engulf the sensor, but your oven still won’t heat up?
If this is the case, your sensor could be out of position, dirty or perhaps something more serious. See if you can move the sensor yourself so it is closer to the flame until it’s engulfed. If this doesn’t work or you are unable to move the sensor, it would be best to call a professional at Sparkle Appliance for help with the problem.
2. Hot Surface Ignition System
This is the most popular system that is currently being used in today’s ovens. Instead of a pilot light, this system relies on electricity to heat up the ignition system. Once the current hits the ignition, the heat will trigger the safety sensor, opening the gas valve. Homeowners can often figure out the problem themselves before they have to call in a professional.
Here are some things you can check if your oven won’t heat up with the hot surface system:
Is the igniter glowing even though your oven is still not properly heating?
If the igniter is only red hot, it won’t trigger the safety valve sensor. The flame actually must appear white or yellow to trip the safety sensor. If this is your problem, the electrical current has to be checked using an ammeter.
Is the oven not warming up and the igniter isn’t glowing?
Again, there must be a problem with the electricity flowing from the oven thermostat. This should be checked using an ammeter.
Can you smell the slight odour of gas coming from the oven?
Your igniter may not be getting hot enough quickly enough due to old age, so it is not able to ignite the gas as quickly it should. This can be serious because it could cause the pilot light to ignite way too much gas because it has been accumulating in the oven for some time. You need to call a professional immediately. The oven must be removed and thoroughly inspected before replacing it back in the home.
3. Spark Ignition System
The spark system is considered a hybrid of the pilot system and the hot surface system. This system, as the name implies, uses a tiny spark to ignite the pilot light as soon as the thermostat has been triggered. The spark substitutes for the flame in the pilot system to reduce the risk of a fire accidentally starting.
Here are some things you can check if your oven won’t heat up with the spark system:
Is your pilot lit?
If it isn’t, this means that it is not getting the right amount of gas or it could be that it needs to be lit manually. As discussed earlier, you must be very careful when lighting a pilot light yourself. If you can still smell the odour of gas after the thermostat has been off for 10 – 15 minutes, do not try lighting the pilot. Immediately call a professional from Sparkle Appliance for help.
Is the pilot lit but for some reason it is still not lighting up the burner?
This might mean that the pilot light just isn’t tall enough or perhaps your burner is not getting enough gas. If it is either one of these, there is probably something wrong with the thermostat on your oven and you will need to call in a professional from Sparkle Appliance for help.
Troubleshooting Electric Ovens
Before doing anything, you need to take some safety precautions because there is a lot of electricity flowing through the system, 220 volts is what we’re talking about. This is extremely powerful and dangerous, to the point that it could actually knock you down and hurt you very seriously. So, to ensure your safety you must shut off all power going to the oven. Double and triple-check each and every component to find out if any electricity is running through it before you start working on your oven.
Here are some things to check in order to get your oven working properly:
Oven Outlet or Wall Receptacle
Before doing anything else, examine the 4-prong electrical receptacle located behind the oven on the wall to see if there are any burns. If there are no large burns on the receptacle or to the wiring, you can start testing for other problems.
Start testing the controls for the automatic baking cycle. If those test out well, then there’s most likely a problem with the wires attached to the element inside the oven on the back wall. You will have to pull the element out from the back wall to access the wires. Before doing this, pull the fuse or turn off the breaker. Now you can unscrew the element and pull it out from the wall. This will allow you to inspect the wires for any visible tears or burns.
If after all this you have a bad or burned element, it will need to be replaced because there is no point in attempting to repair it.
No Electrical Power
Before trying to test the power going to your oven, make sure that this is the problem. After that, you need to use an ammeter to check all the elements, just to verify that nothing is getting any electrical power. At that point, you need to determine if the problem may be with the wiring in the house or with the oven. Start with the fuse or breaker. If those seem to be working, then the issue must be with the oven.
After pulling the fuse or switching the breaker off, pull the oven out from the wall, unplug it from the outlet on the wall, and then switch the breaker back on before testing the outlet.
Inspect the Terminal Block
Before anything else, carefully examine the terminal block for signs of damage. Then, switch the fuse or breaker back on for a brief time so you can determine if the terminal block is getting power to each of its three legs. If it turns out that there isn’t any electricity getting to the terminal block, the problem has to be with the wiring in your house. If you want to continue looking for the exact source of the problem, you’ll want to look at a diagram of the wiring of your oven and/or it might be time to call Sparkle Appliance to send out a professional to help resolve the issue.
There are a whole host of things that can malfunction on gas or electric ovens, but very few ways to safeguard your budget should these things go wrong. You might want to get a Sparkle Appliance Maintenance Plan to save you money from unforeseen problems with your oven.
