An oven that won’t heat properly is truly a nightmare. There could be several reasons contributing to the issue and you never know what could be the actual cause of the problem. So, you should let an appliance repair technician inspect it or take a look at some basic tips that will help you fix your oven.

Check The Gas Connection

If you notice that your oven’s performance has suddenly decreased and is not heating the way it used to, you should check whether it is receiving a sufficient supply of gas. If you are using an oven that is several years old, chances are that the gas connections or pipes have cracked or broken in certain areas. This could be a dangerous situation as the leaking gas could catch fire and set the house on fire.

In addition to that, you should also check for any dirt and dust accumulation in the pipes as well. With time, these accumulations can occur, blocking the passage of gas. Make sure that you wear safety equipment while dealing with natural gas and keep flammable items away during the process.

Check For A Faulty Igniter

If your oven is not heating up, the major causes of the issue are faulty ignitor and heating element. If both of the gas burners aren’t working, inspect the gas line. This is usually done by a technician. But, if you are aware of the basics, you can also DIY the igniter or heating element replacement.

Igniters are usually located inside the oven and are easy to access. But in some cases, they could be hidden as well. Therefore, before you access it, make sure you disconnect the unit from the main switch and call a repairman who will replace the igniter within a few minutes.

Faulty Temperature Sensor

In some cases, the oven might struggle to reach the optimum temperature. This could be due to a problem with the gas igniter, temperature sensor, or heating element. If you are able to locate and access it, check the temperature sensor, it should not be touching the inside of the oven walls.

Next, use an ohmmeter to check the voltage of the sensor. The resistance of the sensor should increase as the temperature increases. If that is not the case, you should replace the sensor. Once the sensor has been replaced, heat the oven to about 350 degrees Fahrenheit and use an oven thermometer to check the temperature inside the oven after 20 minutes. Continue checking the temperature every 20 minutes for the next two hours. Once you get the final reading. Adjust the temperature of the oven accordingly.

Defective Heating Element

Another possible cause of your oven not heating may be a malfunctioning heating element. Most ovens have two heating elements, one each for baking and the other for broiling. The good news is it is easy to identify whether an element is burning or not. It simply glows red when it is functioning.

To check the heating elements, turn both of them on and see if they are working perfectly. If you observe one of them is not lighting up or glows slightly less, it means that the element is not working normally. In such a case, you will need to replace the defective heating element.

The Oven Needs Calibration

If your oven is not calibrated, it won’t be able to reach the desired temperature. To calibrate the oven, you will need to locate the calibration dial, which is usually located at the back of your temperature knob. The calibration dial is usually in the form of an adjustment screw.

Use the screw to adjust or calibrate the oven. If you wish to increase the temperature of the oven, you will need to turn the screw counterclockwise. But if you wish to decrease the oven temperature, turn the screw counterclockwise.

Final Word

Troubleshooting an oven that is not heating could be easy or complicated at times. Moreover, if you plan on fixing the issue on your own, know that you risk injuring yourself. Therefore, it is better to hand over the task to an oven repair Springfield expert who can get your oven running with fewer risks.