Troubleshoot Your Oven or Stove
When your oven or stove isn’t heating properly, it can quickly derail your weeknight dinner plans. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take before calling in a professional to diagnose the problem. Follow these three tips to determine if the issue is something you can fix on your own or if it requires the help of an appliance repair expert.
- Check the Power
The first thing you should do is ensure that your oven and stove have access to power. Check the outlet where it’s plugged in and try plugging in another appliance to see if the problem is with the outlet or the oven. If the test appliance works, check your home’s fuse box to see if the power has been shut off. If your oven’s clock is flashing after a power outage, consult your oven’s manual for instructions on how to reset it. If your stove top burners are heating up, but the oven and digital display are not, then you likely have a failed control board.
- Examine the Terminal Block
Your oven’s terminal block is located at the bottom back of the oven. If your oven is having issues, you should unplug it and carefully unscrew all the screws on the terminal block to inspect it for damage or burning. If the terminal block shows signs of damage, it’s best to call a professional to replace it. This is usually a less expensive repair.
- Test the Heating Element
If your oven isn’t heating properly, it could be due to a faulty heating element or thermostat. The heating element is the part that glows red as the oven heats up, and the thermostat is the knob that adjusts the oven’s temperature. Many modern electric ovens do not have a knob for the oven, but are instead controlled by an electronic control board.
To test the heating element, turn on your oven and check to see if it’s glowing red after 10 minutes. If its not, then either the element has failed or its not getting power. You can try the broil setting as well. If the broil element doesn’t heat up either then the issue is likely not the heating element, but possibly the control board or something else not allowing the heating element to get 220 volts. For that, you may want to consult a professional.
By following these three tips, you can troubleshoot your oven or stove. However, if you’re not comfortable performing these steps yourself or if the problem persists after trying these steps, it’s best to call in a trained professional to avoid any further damage or safety hazards. If you’re in the Huntington, WV tri-state area you can call us at (304)807-9057 or schedule a diagnostic online.
Leon is a skilled appliance repair technician serving the Huntington, WV and Ashland, KY areas. With years of hands-on experience and a passion for fixing things, Leon is dedicated to helping homeowners breathe new life into their appliances.
