Oven & Stove Repair

Top 5 Oven & Stove FAQ's

• "My oven is taking too long to pre-heat, what can I do?"

When your oven is taking too long to heat, try the following:

• Reset the Power:
  With your oven off, go to your electrical box, identify the correct breaker and turn it off. Wait one minute and turn it back on. Then try heating the oven after it has cooled.
• Double-Check the Manual
  Consult with your manual or manufacturer to confirm expected preheat times. Factors that impact pre-heat time can include the ambient temperature of the oven before it's turned on, the temperature of the room, the number of racks, the set temperature, and the quality of the electrical/power source.
• Call a Professional
  Your problem could be a faulty part like the gas ignitor, temperature sensor, thermostat, heating element, or other elements that, while difficult for consumers to identify, are relatively easy for appliance pros to diagnose and replace.
• "I don't think my oven temperature is right, who can I call?"

If you suspect your oven temperature is not accurately setting temperature, consider calling either the manufacturer or place of purchase, or a local appliance professional.

• Manufacturer/Retailer
  If the appliance is new or still under warranty, it's always best to start with the retailer where you bought the oven, or the manufacturer.
  Also, even if you're out of warranty, some manufacturers operate, or contract with, local service centers with specialized knowledge of your brand.
• Local Appliance Repair Professional
  Some local repair pros specialize in specific brands, but many if not most can handle repairs for any brand, regardless of manufacturer or age of oven.
• "My oven cooking too slow, what can I do?"

How to fix a slow cooking oven can depend on if it is gas or electric.

For electric ovens:
Check the heating elements. When the oven is on, ensure that the metal rods which heat the oven are heating up. They may need to be replaced or adjusted.
Adjust the thermostat. Over time, thermostats can fluctuate from factory settings. If your thermostat is adjustable, you can find out how by checking the owner's manual.

For gas ovens:
Check the thermostat. You may need to adjust, replace, or calibrate your thermostat. Learn now by checking the owner's manual.
Check the burner. You want to make sure the small holes are free and clear and that the fire is appearing normally.
Check the ignitor. Ignitors can be weak without failing completely. It can be checked with a multimeter (if you have one, and know how to do that). See your user’s manual for more detailed information.

Other things to try:
Clean the oven. Try removing grease or stuck debris from the heating elements, fans, and thermostats.
Adjust the baking racks. Racks that are too far away from baking elements can be slower to heat.
Ensure that the air flow is open. Tin foil or other materials left in the oven may be restricting airflow.

If you don't what to perform these checks yourself, or don't know how, contact a local oven repair service.

• "My oven is cooking too hot, how can I fix it?"

There are many potential fixes for an oven cooking too hot.

Simple Fixes:
Clean the oven. Try removing grease or stuck debris from the heating elements, fans, and thermostats.
Check the air flow. Make sure that the oven fans and vents are distributing the air (and therefore the heat) normally. Fans that don't work can cause both under- and over-heating.
Adjust the racks. Rack placement can cause food to heat too quickly, or slowly.
Try different cookware. Old or incorrect cookware can become too hot unexpectedly.

If those simpler fixes don’t work, the following components may need to be repaired or replaced:
thermostat,
control panel, adjustable knobs,
heating elements,
fans, vents.

For these issues, you'll want to contact a local over repair pro.

• "My stove burners won't turn on, can I fix it myself, or should I call someone?"

Whether or not you should attempt to fix the issue yourself depends on the exact nature of the problem, the work involved, and your level of comfort.

Common causes for stove burners not working include:
Gas: grease clogs, loose or broken connections, broken or dislodged ignitor
Electrical: worn out burners, faulty switches, broken sockets.

Fix it yourself if:
the issue is cleaning-related (clogs, grease),
the parts are simple to replace (electrical burners),
you are knowledgeable and feel comfortable taking apart the stove and testing for possible electrical issues.

Call an oven service professional if:
cleaning and/or replacing broken or worn parts didn’t fix the problem,
the issues seem too complex (burner socket),
you don’t have proper tools for testing and repair (e.g., multimeter).