How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is an appliance used in kitchens that is used to cook food. The heat from the oven sterilizes food and kills the majority of microorganisms.
An accurate oven thermometer is an essential for bakers of all kinds. Knowing how your oven functions will help improve your baking and roasting skills and eliminate those irritated hot spots that can cause havoc with cookies, cakes and other baked goods.
Thermostat
The thermostat is one of the most crucial components of your oven, helping ensure that the temperature of your food is in line with what you've set in the control panel. Unfortunately, like any other electronic mechanical switch or sensor it may have issues that result in the oven going over heat or under heat, or simply not be able to maintain the temperature at what you've set.
The oven thermostat is an extremely small piece of different metals that are bonded. When exposed to heat, the different metals expand and flex at different rates, making or breaking an electrical circuit. When the metal in your thermostat reaches the temperature that you set on your control panel, it will shut off the heating element's power. As the oven cools the bimetallic strips expand, re-establishing circuit and activating the heating element. This cycle is constantly repeated to maintain a constant temperature in your oven.
The oven must be disconnected and all screws removed in order to determine a thermostat problem. If you have a multimeter (which is a tool that measures the electrical current) set it to the ohms setting, and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or close to it the thermostat is operating properly and doesn't need to be replaced.
If the multimeter fails to read anything it means that the thermostat is defective. It must be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a brand new one of the same kind as your old one. The thermostats are sold at a reasonable price on the internet or in a kitchen goods shop.
Bake Element
The bake element is essential for the proper operation of your oven. It provides heat that lets it cook food. It's a small element that converts electricity into the high temperatures needed for baking, roasting, and broiling. Heating elements are typically found in electric ranges and ovens and can be either covered or concealed under the floor of the oven.
Generally, oven heating elements are constructed of high-resistance materials such as nickel-chromium alloy. They convert electrical energy into heat through the process of resistance, which then radiates throughout the oven interior to raise the temperature to the desired level to cook various types of food items.
When you start the oven the heating elements begin to produce heat due to the high-voltage current that flows across the surface of the metal. The element is a ribbon or coil (straight or corrugated) of wire, and as the electric current flows through it, it starts to get hotter. When the element reaches the temperature it is intended to it starts to glow red hot.
The baked element is the primary source of heat used in most oven functions. It's usually found in the bottom of the oven and is used to clean the oven in many automatic oven models. When it starts to get hot you may find that your oven isn't able to heat up as fast or that your food isn't fully cooked.
To check for a working oven baking element plug your multimeter into its black and red ports, and then place the probes made of steel against each other on one end of the element. The other end should be placed against one of its terminals, and put your hand on it to feel if the element is warm to the touch. If it's not, remove the element and test again.
Broil Element
The broil element, usually located on the top of your cavity allows high-temperature heat to cook or char foods. The oven's broil setting is an excellent way to quickly sear meat, crisp vegetables, reheat lasagna, or caramelize the topping of the casserole.
Similar to the bake element the broiler heating element transforms electrical energy into heat by the process of resistance. It is comprised of an inner core of wires that are wrapped in an insulating expanded perlite material. The inside of the element is covered with an outer layer of stainless steel to shield the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer structure helps reduce the broil element's temperature, making it more secure and efficient than older styles of elements.
While you can use any heating element in your oven, you should choose one that matches the wattage rating of your oven. A different wattage can harm your oven, or cause it to overheat. You can determine the wattage of your oven and the rating of the new heating element by checking their current and voltage ratings on the control panel of your oven.
Check the resistance of your old element, and compare it to the wattage ratings of the new element. The higher the resistance, the more the power that an oven element draws from.
Replace the broiler element as soon as possible in the event that it isn't working or is acting up. It's important that your oven function properly so that you can cook your most loved foods. If, however, your oven isn't working in any way or only intermittently, the problem could be in a different area of your oven.
This Resource site and Assembly
The oven light helps you keep an eye on your food cooking without having to open the door and let heat escape. The light will also notify you when the casserole is finished. It's not uncommon for the bulb to go out. It can be a hassle, but you can do it yourself. Before you begin, be sure that the breaker hasn't been tripped and that the three-prong connector is intact.
First, remove the old light bulb and find the new one. You may have to look online for the right replacement bulb that is compatible with the wattage of your oven. Some ovens use standard 40-watt appliance bulbs some require a halogen bulb up to 50 watts. It is recommended to use cotton gloves to shield halogen bulbs from the damage caused by oil.
Before putting the new bulb in You must first take it out of its glass casing. It is important to do this slowly so that you don't break it. Then, you'll need to remove the air from the bulb and replace it with an appropriate mixture. This will ensure a longer lifespan for the filament.
If your bulb keeps being replaced, it may be a larger electrical issue that must be dealt with by a professional. Be sure to double check that you're using a correct bulb for your oven and consult your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting tips. Remember to unplug the oven and turn off the power before beginning any repairs. This will protect you from electrical shock.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is a crucial oven part as it allows for a tiny amount of airflow to be created inside the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, ensuring that the temperature is evenly dispersed.
It also allows the vapors to escape from the oven and smoke to be drawn from the cooking surface. It is necessary to ensure the proper operation of any electric or gas oven.
Oven vent tubes may become blocked by many factors. Accidental spills or splatters can leave sticky remnants in oven vents. These can attract debris, dust and other contaminants that could cause blockages over time. oven and hob and oil can also become airborne, and settle around vents. Other environmental factors, such as kitchen renovations and construction work can introduce dust and other contaminants into the vents, resulting in blockages or clogs.
Depending on the oven model the vent tube could include an a bottle guide 20 or spreader 46 as well as a fill tip 12 that are formed with the pipe 32. The bottle guide 20 may have a tapered outer edge that is complemented by the tapered inside edge of the spreader, allowing the vent tubes to slide effortlessly into various sizes and shapes bottle necks.
A blocked or clogged vent tube can result in a loss of pressure within the enclosing structure, which can create a downdraft situation which pulls exhaust down vent and backwards through the oven burners, causing damage to the oven's components. Consult a professional if you believe that your vent might be blocked or clogged. They will diagnose the problem and offer suggestions for removing or cleaning the vent.