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Appliance Tip of the Week...
Oven not heating
Range/Stove/Oven Igniter
The igniter is the most commonly defective part for an oven not heating. The igniter has two main functions. First, the igniter draws electrical current through the oven safety valve to open it. Second, the igniter gets hot enough to glow and ignite the gas in the oven burner. If the igniter gets weak, it will fail to open the safety valve correctly. If the valve does not open, the oven will not heat. To determine if the igniter is defective, observe the igniter when the oven is on. If the igniter glows for more than 90 seconds without igniting the gas flame, this indicates that the igniter is too weak to open the valve. If the igniter is weak, replace it. If the igniter does not glow at all, use a multimeter to test the igniter for continuity. If the igniter does not have continuity, replace it.
Range/Stove/Oven Bake Element
When the bake element is heating properly, it glows red hot. If the element does not glow red, this indicates that the element is not heating. Often, if the heating element has burned out, it will be visibly damaged. Inspect the heating element for holes or blisters. To determine if the bake element has burned out, use a multimeter to test the element for continuity. If the bake element does not have continuity, replace it.
Range/Stove/Oven Control Board
An oven's control board will often be used to send voltage to the bake and broil elements or the igniters. If the control board is defective, the voltage may not be sent to these components and the oven will not heat. You can inspect the board for signs of damage or a shorted component. You can also use a multimeter to test for voltage reaching the bake or broil elements or igniters after reviewing the appliance's wiring diagram.
Range/Stove/Oven Temperature Sensor
An oven's temperature sensor monitors the temperature inside the oven cavity in order to maintain an accurate temperature. If the temperature sensor is faulty, the oven may not heat at all. The sensor can be tested for a proper ohm reading at a set temperature with a multimeter to help determine if the part is defective or not.
Range/Stove/Oven Bake or Broil Spark Electrode
For bake & broil burner ignition an oven burner spark electrode is used to ignite the gas. The electrode is a device that sits right next to the burner. It functions like a spark plug. As power is applied to it a spark jumps from the spark electrode tip to the to the electrode shield, igniting the gas. If the electrode is broken or worn out the spark may not occur. Visually inspect the electrode assembly for cracks in the porcelain housing or damage to the electrode tip itself. Be aware that a proper ground and the correct polarity of the incoming voltage to the range is necessary for the electrode control to sense the presence of a flame once the burner is ignited. If the burner goes off after ignition check for proper ground and the correct polarity at the wall outlet.
Range/Stove/Oven Broil Element
Inspect the broil element for holes or blisters. When the broil element is heating properly, it glows red hot. If the element does not glow red, this indicates that the element is not heating. Often, if the broil element has burned out, it will be visibly damaged. To determine if the broil element has burned out, use a multimeter to test the element for continuity. If the broil element does not have continuity, replace it.
jeff sr.
Oven not heating
Range/Stove/Oven Igniter
The igniter is the most commonly defective part for an oven not heating. The igniter has two main functions. First, the igniter draws electrical current through the oven safety valve to open it. Second, the igniter gets hot enough to glow and ignite the gas in the oven burner. If the igniter gets weak, it will fail to open the safety valve correctly. If the valve does not open, the oven will not heat. To determine if the igniter is defective, observe the igniter when the oven is on. If the igniter glows for more than 90 seconds without igniting the gas flame, this indicates that the igniter is too weak to open the valve. If the igniter is weak, replace it. If the igniter does not glow at all, use a multimeter to test the igniter for continuity. If the igniter does not have continuity, replace it.
Range/Stove/Oven Bake Element
When the bake element is heating properly, it glows red hot. If the element does not glow red, this indicates that the element is not heating. Often, if the heating element has burned out, it will be visibly damaged. Inspect the heating element for holes or blisters. To determine if the bake element has burned out, use a multimeter to test the element for continuity. If the bake element does not have continuity, replace it.
Range/Stove/Oven Control Board
An oven's control board will often be used to send voltage to the bake and broil elements or the igniters. If the control board is defective, the voltage may not be sent to these components and the oven will not heat. You can inspect the board for signs of damage or a shorted component. You can also use a multimeter to test for voltage reaching the bake or broil elements or igniters after reviewing the appliance's wiring diagram.
Range/Stove/Oven Temperature Sensor
An oven's temperature sensor monitors the temperature inside the oven cavity in order to maintain an accurate temperature. If the temperature sensor is faulty, the oven may not heat at all. The sensor can be tested for a proper ohm reading at a set temperature with a multimeter to help determine if the part is defective or not.
Range/Stove/Oven Bake or Broil Spark Electrode
For bake & broil burner ignition an oven burner spark electrode is used to ignite the gas. The electrode is a device that sits right next to the burner. It functions like a spark plug. As power is applied to it a spark jumps from the spark electrode tip to the to the electrode shield, igniting the gas. If the electrode is broken or worn out the spark may not occur. Visually inspect the electrode assembly for cracks in the porcelain housing or damage to the electrode tip itself. Be aware that a proper ground and the correct polarity of the incoming voltage to the range is necessary for the electrode control to sense the presence of a flame once the burner is ignited. If the burner goes off after ignition check for proper ground and the correct polarity at the wall outlet.
Range/Stove/Oven Broil Element
Inspect the broil element for holes or blisters. When the broil element is heating properly, it glows red hot. If the element does not glow red, this indicates that the element is not heating. Often, if the broil element has burned out, it will be visibly damaged. To determine if the broil element has burned out, use a multimeter to test the element for continuity. If the broil element does not have continuity, replace it.
jeff sr.
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