Troubleshooting an Oven That Doesn't Heat Up

There are a number of reasons why you may find that your oven doesn't heat up. Troubleshooting an oven heating element is not too complicated, so you should be able to manage this in a few hours. Before getting access inside the electrical, however, the oven must be turned off, and its circuit breaker at the main electrical panel must be switched off to prevent any risks of accidents or electrocution. When you are trying to decide what is the cause of your oven not heating up properly, you should be able to identify the different problems, and also understand how to repair the oven without too much difficulty. If you find a lot of problems, then you may need to provide a different solution, for example replacing the heating element and fittings completely.

Heating Element Is Broken

This is perhaps the most common cause of the oven not heating up. The element inside the oven will not become hot if the electrical connections are damaged, or if the element itself is not working. The heating element can be removed and replaced easily, and this is perhaps a very good idea if you have any problems with the heating system of your oven. Test the heating element by firing up the oven with the door open, and your hand close to the front of the element. You should be able to feel it warming up, so if it doesn't, remove the screws which hold it in place, and then unplug the connections. You can take the heating element to a store and they should be able to replace the part for you.

Grill Doesn't Warm Up

If you are having problems with one part of your oven, for example, the grill, then your element may be damaged, or it may be the connection to the heating system. The grill's electrical components can be reached from the back, removing the access panel and then twisting out the wires. You should be able to locate a wire which is not properly connected to the rest of the system, or you may need to replace the entire grill part. If the latter is the case, then you will have to take your own to an electrician, who will be able to take off the grill and fit a new one.

Entire Oven Doesn't Work

If your problem is with the whole oven system, including grill, main oven, and hobs, then the problem might lie in the electrical system which is connected to your oven. Unplug the cable, and try putting it into another socket. You should also check the plug to make sure that none of the wires are loose in the connections, and the fuse is still functioning. You can also remove and replace the power cable completely. If this does not work, then you may have a major problem with the electrical connections inside the oven, and it may be best to leave it completely, and call in an expert, or have the oven replaced with a new one.

Other problems include a fuse blown inside the oven itself and wires which need soldering back together. Check all of the wires together, and make sure that there are no loose parts.