Tackling the troubleshooting or repair of large household appliances like your oven can be intimidating at first, but having a little basic knowledge about what common problems exist can help to avoid paying for repairs. Oven troubleshooting is often not as difficult as you may think. With a little investigation, you can make informed decisions about the best way to go about repairing your oven, sometimes for very little cost – and even though we offer reliable, affordable appliance repairs, saving money is never a bad thing. Troubleshooting problems with ovens and cooktops can help speed the repair process along too. Your mobile repairman can be sure he’s got the right parts on board when he comes to your home.
Issues with oven display symbols
Some ovens aren’t always easy to understand, and without a basic knowledge of what the symbols on your oven mean, you’ll be unaware of both the basic functions of your oven and how to identify problems and their causes. Also, if the oven controls malfunction, they’ll often need complete replacement. All ovens use pretty similar symbols, and you can find an easy to follow guide with images here .
Common oven and stovetop Issues
These are some of the most common reported issues with ovens and stovetops. Some will enable you to continue to use your oven without calling in a repairman, but others can only be fixed by a suitably qualified electrician.
Oven doesn’t work but stovetop does
Firstly, check the oven control knobs to ensure they are set correctly and aligned properly. Secondly, check to see if your griller element is working. Since the grill element and the bake element are separate from one another, one malfunctioning element indicates that the problem lies in either the element itself or the receptacle it plugs into. The fault is most often in the element, so check to see if it is simply loose.
Next, check to see if the element has any worn areas, bubbling or cracking, or signs of burning. Replacement of faulty elements and electrical components may only be performed by a qualified electrician. If in doubt, call in a repairman. Let us know which element is the problem, the size of the element and the make and model of your oven – that way, repairing your oven will be quick and simple.
Modern ovens and their electronic features
If none of these steps succeed in identifying the issue, check the settings on your oven’s clock. For an analogue clock, the setting should be manual, and for a digital display, the clock is integrated with the thermostat and will need professional repairing. A problem with the digital clock on your oven can cause confusing malfunctions. Your oven’s manual may shed some light on the issue – it could be very simple, it could be very tricky!
Oven doesn’t get hot enough
There are two possible causes. Firstly, check the oven door and ensure that the door is sealing properly and that heat remains inside. If the door is fine, check the thermostat by placing an oven thermometer inside the oven to verify any difference between the temperature you want and the actual temperature being produced. Thermostat replacement will require a suitably qualified electrician.
Oven door won’t close
If the oven door won’t close, the fix is often fairly simple. Check the gasket surrounding the door and ensure that it is clean and in good repair – these are also easily replaced by a professional repairman if they’re damaged at all. Check the springs and hinges to ensure they’re all in working order.
If you are still unsure or your problem sounds nothing like the ones listed above, check out Albion Appliances. We specialise in all electric stove, cooktop and oven repairs and provide a prompt and hassle-free service.
