How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is an appliance in the kitchen that is used to cook food. The heat of the oven sterilizes food and kills the majority of microorganisms.
An accurate oven thermometer is essential for all bakers. Understanding how your oven functions will help improve your baking, roasting and cooking skills. It can also help you avoid those hot spots that can ruin cookies, cakes and baked products.
Thermostat
The thermostat is one of the most crucial components of your oven, helping ensure that the temperature of your food matches the temperature you've set on your control panel. Unfortunately, like any other electro mechanical switch or sensor, it can sometimes have problems that can cause the oven to over heat or under heat, or just not be able to maintain the temperature you've set.
The oven thermostat is a small strip made of two different metals connected. When heated, the metals expand and bend at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the metal in the thermostat is at the temperature you've set on the control panel, it turns off the heating element's power. As the oven cools, the bimetallic strip contracts, re-establishing the circuit and turning on the heating element. This process is repeated over and over to ensure that the temperature remains constant in your oven.
The oven must be disconnected and all screws removed to diagnose the problem with the thermostat. Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads 0 or very close to it, then the thermostat is working correctly and doesn't need to be replaced.
If the multimeter does not show anything, the thermostat is faulty. It needs to be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a fresh one that is the same model that your old one. They can be purchased on the internet or in an appliance store and can be bought at a reasonable cost.
Bake Element
The bake element is essential for the proper operation of your oven. hob and oven produces heat that lets it cook food items. It's a simple element that converts electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges often contain heating elements, which are either visible or hidden under the floor.
In general oven heating elements comprise of high-resistance materials like nickel-chromium. They work by converting electricity into heat via resistance. This heat is then radiated through the interior of the oven to attain the desired temperature for cooking different types foods.
When you start the oven, the heating elements begin to produce heat through 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 passes through it, it starts to increase in temperature. When the element reaches its desired temperature it begins to glow red hot.
The baked element is the primary source of heat for the majority of oven functions. It's usually located at the in the bottom of the oven. A lot of ovens that are automated also utilize it for self-cleaning. When it begins to burn out, you might find that your oven isn't able to warm as quickly or your food is not fully cooked.
To check for a working oven baking element plug your multimeter into its black and red ports, and then place the metal probes against each other on one side of your element. Place the other end against one of its terminals and place your hand on it to test whether the baking element is warm to the contact. If not, remove it and try again.
Broil Element
The broil element is usually located in the top of your oven and can provide high heat like grills to cook or brown food. The oven's broil setting is ideal for quick cook meat or crisp vegetables, to heat up lasagna or caramelize the top of a casserole.
The broiler heating element is similar to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy by resistance into heat. It consists of an inner core of wires made of metal wrapped in an insulating expanded perlite material. The core of the element is covered with a stainless steel outer layer to shield the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer design can help lower the temperature of the broil element, making it safer than the older models.
While you are able to use any baking or broiling heating element in your oven, make sure to choose one that is in line with the rated wattage of your oven. A different wattage can harm your oven, or cause it overheat. You can check the power of your oven and the rating of the new heating element by looking at their current and voltage ratings on the control panel of your oven.
It is also advisable to check the resistance of your old element and compare it to the power output of your new broiler heating element. The higher the resistance of an oven element, the more power it uses.
If the heating element in your broiler is malfunctioning or isn't working in any way, you should replace it as soon as possible. Your oven needs to function correctly to be able to cook your favorite meals. If your oven does not operate in any way, or just intermittently, then the issue could be with another part.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The light allows you to monitor your food while it cooks without opening the doors and letting heat escape. The light will also notify you when the casserole has been cooked. But it's not uncommon for the light bulb to go out. This can be frustrating but it's an easy fix you can accomplish yourself. Check that the breaker isn't tripped and that the connector has three prongs.
First, take out the light bulb that was in use and locate the new one. It is possible to search online to find a replacement that is compatible with the wattage and model of your oven. Some ovens utilize standard appliances with bulbs of 40 watts some require a halogen lamp up to 50 watts. You should consider using cotton gloves to shield the bulbs from damage caused by oil.
Before you place the new bulb into place You must first remove it from its glass casing. It's important to do this slowly so that you don't damage it. Then, you'll need to eliminate the air inside the bulb and fill it up with an amalgamation of gases. This will ensure a longer lifespan of the filament.
If your bulb keeps going out it could be an electrical issue that requires the assistance of a professional. Be sure to double check that you're using a correct bulb for your oven, and check out your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting advice. And remember that it's always recommended to unplug your oven and disconnect the power from the outlet prior to you start any repair. This will help protect you from electric shock.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is a vital oven component that allows for a tiny airflow inside the cavity. This allows the bake-element to circulate heat throughout the oven, making sure that the temperature is evenly distributed.
It also allows the vapors escape from the oven, and smoke to be drained from the cooking surface. It is essential for efficient operation of any electric or gas oven.
Vents in ovens can get blocked by many factors. Accidental spills or splatters can leave sticky remnants in oven vents. These can attract dust, debris and other contaminants that can cause clogs in the course of time. Grease and oil can also become airborne, and settle on vents. Other environmental factors, such as kitchen renovations and construction work, could introduce dust or other contaminants into the vents, leading to blockages or clogs.
Based on the model of the oven the vent tube could include a spreader, an fill tip 12 and a bottle guide 20 that are integrated into the pipe 32. For instance, the bottle guide 20 may have a tapered outer surface which is in harmony with the tapered inside of the spreader 46. This allows the vent tube to be smoothly inserted into different sizes and designs of bottle necks.
A blocked vent tube may cause a reduction in pressure within the enclosure, which can cause an exhaust downdraft, which pulls the exhaust forward and down the vent, damaging the oven components. Consult a professional if you believe that your vent might be blocked or clogged. They will determine the cause and give suggestions for clearing or cleaning the vent.