What to Do When Your Oven Isn’t Heating Up But the Stove Works
The big party is in just a few hours. You whipped up grandma’s famous oatmeal cookie recipe, and you’re ready to bake! Only thing is…the oven isn’t heating up. What can you do to get your cookies made and your party plans back on track? Troubleshoot this oven problem with Rent-A-Center!
Gas Oven Not Heating Up but Burners Work
Is your gas oven not heating up, but the burners work? This issue may seem like the end of the world, but we’re here to tell you it’s not. With the following troubleshooting steps, you may just be able to get your gas oven back up and running.
1. Ensure that your oven is getting power.
Your gas oven needs power to bake those cookies to perfection. And even though it uses gas when preparing your meals, it still requires electricity to keep it running properly. To determine if your gas oven is adequately receiving power, try these steps:
- Check the circuit breaker in your fuse box. A tripped breaker could prevent power from reaching your oven.
- If your circuit breaker has tripped, turn the breaker back on, and check to see if your oven heats up. If it doesn’t produce heat, you may need to have the issue inspected by a professional technician.
- If the circuit breaker hasn’t tripped, inspect your gas oven for a faulty power socket. To test this, plug your oven into another socket to see if it works. If your power socket is worn, you may need to replace it or have it repaired.
2. Check the gas valve.
To bake like a champ this holiday season, you’ll need an oven that properly receives gas (ironic, we know). In this step, you may want to check the main gas valve to see if it’s turned off. If that’s what you find, simply turn it back on and see if that does the trick. If it doesn’t, inspect the other gas supply valves to ensure that they are on as well.
If your gas valves are on and the oven still isn’t working, move on to the next step.
3. Check the gas igniter.
The gas igniter provides the heat needed to get your oven burning. When this component fails, it can lead to burners that work even when the oven doesn’t. Here’s how to determine if a faulty igniter may be causing your gas oven woes.
- As a safety precaution, turn off the circuit breaker to ensure that power is no longer reaching your oven. All electric functions, such as the clock and oven light, should be off before proceeding to the next step.
- Access the gas burner and igniter by removing the tray and oven racks from the bottom of the oven compartment, typically next to the burner gas inlet.
- See if the igniter coil and element have signs of damage or discoloration. These symptoms may indicate that it’s time to replace your igniter.
- Turn on the circuit breaker.
- Turn your oven on and heat it up.
- Keep an eye on the gas igniter. You need a replacement if it glows orange and the gas doesn’t ignite. If it works, a faulty igniter isn’t your problem!
4. Check the burners for blockages.
Blockages in the burners may keep your oven from turning on. Take them out (ensure that they’re cool to the touch before proceeding) and see if you find any. If you do, clean the burners before putting them back. Now fire up the oven to the temperature your grandma said to. If the oven starts to heat up, blocked burners may have caused this issue.
5. Consider replacing the temperature control thermostat.
You’ll only find yourself at this step if the first four don’t get your oven on. The temperature control thermostat, often connected to the igniter in most modern gas stoves, monitors the temperature inside the oven. When the temp gets too low or too high, it adjusts the heat.
A defective temperature control thermostat can prevent your igniter from receiving the power it needs and stop your oven from turning on entirely. Have a technician inspect this component if the steps above don’t resolve the issue. If it is faulty, you may want to consider getting a replacement part.
Electric Oven Not Heating Up but Stove Works
It’d be nice if you could depend on your electric oven to turn on whenever you need it to. After all, your grandma is the one who did the hard work when perfecting those oatmeal cookies. Your stove should be honored to bake them.
But functioning electric ovens are not always the reality. Follow these troubleshooting steps if you find that your electric oven is not heating up, but the stove works.
1. Check the power.
Ensuring that your electric oven’s power source is working properly is a great place to start. A mishap like a tripped breaker can prevent electricity from getting to your oven. Check to see if your oven is receiving electricity before moving to the following steps.
- Check to see if the circuit breaker in your fuse box has tripped.
- If you have a tripped circuit breaker, simply turn it back on and try the oven again. If your oven still isn’t working, move on to step 2.
2. Inspect the heating element.
Your electric oven’s heating element creates the heat needed for baking and broiling. When they become old or damaged enough to stop working, your electric oven won’t get the electricity it needs to prepare meals.
Most modern electric ovens come equipped with two heating elements, one for lower baking and another for broiling. Bad heating elements may be to blame if they aren’t bright orange or have noticeable signs of wear. To further troubleshoot, try the steps below:
What you’ll need:
Multimeter
What you’ll do:
- Turn off your oven and let it cool. Ensure that your oven is completely turned off, either by unplugging it or turning off the circuit breaker that powers it.
- Locate the heating elements within your oven. These come in various shapes but are relatively easy to find. Locate the big coils that burn bright orange or red when cooking, typically at the top and bottom of your oven. You should only need to test one.
- Set your multimeter. You want it set to “ohms” for this reading.
- Connect the multimeter probes to the heating element. Without touching the heating element with your hands, connect one probe to each element terminal.
- Check the results. If the number exceeds 50 ohms, your heating element could be to blame, and you may need a replacement. If your reading is below 50 ohms, move on to step 3.
3. Check the oven thermal fuse.
The reason your heating elements may not be working could be because you have a blown oven thermal fuse on your hands. Rather than trying to fix this yourself, it’s best to call a professional. Since electrical wires are involved, it’s best to stay away from this component for your safety and to prevent further damage.
4. Inspect the electronic control board.
Your oven’s electronic control board provides your oven with the voltage needed to heat it up. There are no deliciously baked treats without a functioning electric control board. And that’s not okay. Signs yours may need fixing or replacing are:
- F1 error code or other error codes
- Oven won’t turn off
- Visible signs of burning or shorts
Checking the electronic control board means getting behind the oven and running tests. We recommend leaving this to a professional. If you suspect the electronic control board is giving your oven problems, call a local expert to see if they can help.
5. Take a look at the oven sensor
The oven sensor monitors your oven’s temperature. It needs the oven sensor to turn on, and it simply won’t work when it’s defective. Find out for certain if your sensor is faulty by using a multimeter. Not getting enough resistance during this test may mean you need a replacement.
What to Do if You Need a New Oven
There is a possibility that after all this troubleshooting, you may need a new oven. With Rent-A-Center, this is much easier than it sounds! Your first step is to measure how big your new oven needs to be. After you have your magic number, check out your Whirlpool and Amana gas and electric oven options online or at your nearest Rent-A-Center.
And don’t think we forgot about your guests depending on you to bake your grandma’s famous oatmeal cookies. We can deliver your new oven as soon as same day*!