How to Determine an Oven Problem

Have you noticed that things aren’t baking or roasting in your oven properly? If so, you could have an oven problem and may need a service person to have a look at it. Always check your owner’s manual first to see if there is any troubleshooting information. If you don’t have your manual, look for it on the manufacturer’s website or phone them to request one. 

If you think you do have an issue with your oven, phone the manufacturer to see if it is still under warranty or if they are aware of a common issue. The following are some things that may help you determine if your oven has a problem: 

Is something on or near the floor of your oven? 

Have you put something on the floor of your oven such as aluminum foil or a pan? If so, remove it. Lining the floor of your oven with foil or putting something on the floor can interfere with the heating in your oven. As well, foil could potentially melt onto the oven floor.  

Broken or cracked elements 

The element is the part of the oven that actively heats the oven. If your oven is not heating, it could be that your element is broken. In ovens where you can see the element, you will be able to see the break. You should be able to change an exposed element yourself; many hardware stores carry replacement elements. If you are unsure about which one you need, take note of your oven’s make and model or remove the broken element and take it with you. Remember to turn off your oven’s electrical breaker before removing and installing elements.  

Other ovens have their elements covered and you cannot see them. Covered elements need to be serviced by a trained technician. 

Broken sensors (thermostats) 

All ovens have sensors in them that detect the temperature inside the oven. Most of the time this is placed on the back wall of the oven, near the top. The sensor may not be registering the correct temperature if it has been bumped or broken. Call a service technician to look into any concerns with a broken sensor.