How to Repair Common Oven Parts

The oven is a kitchen appliance that is commonly used to cook food. The heat generated by the oven sterilizes food items and kills the majority of micro-organisms in them.

A precise oven thermometer is an essential for all bakers. Understanding how your oven functions can help you improve your baking cooking, roasting and cooking skills. It will also eliminate those annoying hot spots which can ruin cookies, cakes and baked products.

Thermostat

The thermostat is one of the most important parts of your oven, assisting to ensure that the temperature of your food is exactly what you've set on the control panel. Unfortunately, like any other electro mechanical switch or sensor it can have issues that cause the oven to over heat or under heat, or just not be able to maintain the temperature at what you've set.

The oven thermostat is essentially tiny strips of two different metals bonded together. When exposed to heat, the different metals expand and flex at different rates, making or breaking an electrical circuit. When the thermostat's metal reaches the temperature you've set on the control panel, it shuts off the heating element's power. As the oven cools down the bimetallic strip expands, re-establishing the circuit and activating the heating element. This process is repeated repeatedly to maintain a constant oven temperature.

To identify a problem with the thermostat, you'll have to remove the oven and ensure that all of the screws that hold it in place have been removed. If you have a multimeter (which is a device that detects the electrical current) set it to the ohms level and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or close to zero the thermostat is operating properly and doesn't need to be changed.

If the multimeter doesn't detect anything, the thermostat is faulty. It must be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a brand new one of the same type as the one you have. The thermostats are sold at a reasonable cost online or in the kitchen store.

Bake Element

The bake element is crucial to the functioning of your oven. It produces heat that lets it cook food. It's a simple component that converts electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting, and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges often have heating elements, which are either visible or hidden under the floor.

In general, oven heating elements are made of high-resistance materials such as nickel-chromium alloy. They work by converting electrical energy into heat by the process of resistance, which then radiates throughout the oven interior to raise the temperature to the desired level to cook different kinds of food.

When you turn on your oven the heating element gets to generate heat through the high-voltage electricity flowing across its metal surface. The element is a ribbon or coil (straight or corrugated) of wire, and when the electric current passes through it, it starts to increase in temperature. When the element reaches the temperature it is intended to it starts to shine red hot.

The baked element is the main source of heat for most oven functions. It is usually located at lower levels of the oven. A lot of ovens that are automated also have it to clean themselves. If it starts to smoke, you might find that your oven isn't able to heat up as fast or that your food is not cooked through completely.

Plug your multimeter in to its red and black ports. Then, touch the probes made of steel on one side of the device against each other. Place the other end of the baking element against one terminal and then place your hand on it. If the element feels warm, take it off it and start testing again. If not, take it off the element and start testing again.

Broil Element

The broil element is usually located in the top of your oven's cavity and produces high heat like a grill to cook or brown food items. The oven's broil setting is an excellent way to quickly sear meat, crisp vegetables, reheat lasagna or caramelize the top of a casserole.

Similar to the bake element, the broiler heating element converts electrical energy into heat by the process of resistance. It is comprised of an inner core of wires that are wrapped in an insulating expanded perlite material. The inside of the element is covered with an outer layer of stainless steel to shield the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer structure reduces the broil element's temperature which makes it more secure and efficient than older styles of elements.

While you are able to use any heating element in your oven, you should select one that is compatible with the wattage that is recommended for your oven. Using a different wattage can cause damage to your oven or cause it to overheat. The voltage and current ratings of the new heating elements can be found on the control panel of your oven. This allows you to determine the wattage and rating of your oven.

Verify the resistance of the old element, then compare it to the wattage rating of the new one. The higher the resistance of an oven element the more power it uses.

Replace your broiler element immediately in the event that it isn't functioning or if it's acting up. Your oven needs to function properly to to cook your favourite meals. If your oven doesn't operate in any way, or just intermittently then the problem may be in a different part.

Light Bulb and Assembly

The light allows you to monitor the food that is cooking without opening the door and let heat escape. The light also informs you when your casserole is ready. However, it's not uncommon for the bulb to go out. It can be quite frustrating, but you can do it yourself. Check that the breaker isn't tripped and that the connector has three prongs.

First, remove the old light bulb and then locate the new one. You may need to search the internet for a replacement bulb that matches the wattage and type of your oven. Some use standard 40-watt appliance bulbs, while others require a halogen bulb that is up to 50 watts. Be aware that the oils from your hands can cause damage to a halogen bulb, so consider using cotton gloves when handling it.

Remove the glass casing of the bulb before you replace it. It's important to do this slowly so that you don't damage it. Then, you'll need to eliminate the air inside the bulb and fill it up with a mixture of gases. This will prolong the lifespan for the filament.

If your light bulb is constantly running out it could be an electrical issue that requires the assistance of a professional. Be sure to double check that you're using the right bulb for your oven and check out your Use and Care Guide for additional troubleshooting suggestions. Be sure to unplug your oven and turn off the power prior to beginning any repairs. This will protect your from electrical shock.

Vent Tube

The vent tube is an essential oven component 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, ensuring that the temperature is evenly distributed.

It also allows the vapors that are released from the oven to escape, and also allows smoke to be removed from the cooking surface. It is vital for the proper operation of any electric or gas oven.

Oven vent tubes can become blocked or clogged due to a variety of reasons. Accidental spills and splatters from cooking can leave sticky residues on the oven vents, which attract dust and other particles which can lead to obstructions or blockages in the course of time. Grease and oil particles may become airborne and settle on the vents, too. Other environmental factors like construction and kitchen renovations can cause dust to enter the vents. This can cause clogs.

Based on the oven model the vent tube could include a bottle guide 20 or spreader 46 as well as a fill tip 12 that are formed with the pipe 32. For example the bottle guide 20 might have a tapered outer surface which is in harmony with the tapered inside of the spreader 46, allowing the vent tube to be easily fitted into various sizes and forms of bottle necks.

A blocked vent tube may cause a loss in pressure within the enclosure, ovensandhobs which can cause a downdraft that pulls exhaust forward and down the vent, causing damage to oven's components. If you think that your vent tube is clogged or blocked, consult a professional for help. They will diagnose the problem and provide recommendations for removing or cleaning the vent.