Oven Not Heating Up? Common Faults and Fixes
An oven that will not heat, or that cooks unevenly and never quite gets there, throws the whole kitchen out. The cause depends a lot on whether you have an electric or gas oven, so start there. A quick warning up front: gas and mains electricity are involved, so some of these checks are for diagnosis only, not DIY repair.
Why is my oven not heating up?
An oven that will not heat up has nearly always lost one of four things: an element on an electric oven, the igniter on a gas oven, the thermostat or temperature sensor, or a clock and timer setting that is stopping the bake cycle from starting.
The quickest way to narrow it is to notice what still works. If the light, fan and display all come on but nothing gets hot, power is reaching the oven and the fault is on the heating side, which means the element or thermostat on electric and the igniter on gas. If the oven is completely dead, check the circuit breaker and the isolating switch on the wall first. If the clock is flashing after a power cut, set it, because many ovens refuse to start a bake cycle until the time of day is set.
Oven turns on but does not heat up
If the oven light and fan run but the cavity stays cold, the element has usually failed on an electric oven, and the igniter has usually failed on a gas one.
On an electric oven, look at the bake element on the floor of the oven with everything cold and off. A blister, a split or a bright burnt patch means it has gone, and if the grill still works that confirms it, because the grill runs on its own element. On a fan-forced setting the element is a ring behind the back panel, so you cannot see it, but fan-forced cold with conventional bake working points at it just the same. A gas oven that clicks or hisses and never lights has a weak igniter, and that is not one to attempt yourself.
Neither of these means a new oven. Elements and igniters are routine parts, and the oven repair page covers what a visit involves.
Electric ovens: check the elements
Most electric ovens have a bake element at the bottom and a grill element at the top. When an element fails, it often shows visible damage: blistering, a bright spot, or a break in the coil. If the element does not glow red when the oven is on, it has likely burnt out. Elements are a common failure and a routine replacement for a technician.
Check whether the grill works but the oven does not
If the grill heats but the oven does not (or the other way around), that points to a single failed element or its wiring rather than a power problem. It is a useful clue to mention when you book a repair.
Gas ovens: the igniter
In a gas oven that will not heat, the igniter is the usual suspect. A weak or failed igniter will not get hot enough to open the gas valve, so the oven never lights. You should never attempt to work on gas components yourself. If you can smell gas, turn it off at the meter, ventilate, and call for help.
Check the thermostat and temperature
If the oven heats but runs too hot or too cold, or will not hold a steady temperature, the thermostat or temperature sensor is often the cause. An oven thermometer sitting on the shelf will quickly tell you how far off it is.
Check the clock and controls
Some ovens will not start a bake cycle if the timer or clock is set to "auto" or a delayed start. Check the display is in manual mode. It sounds simple, but it catches people out, especially after a power outage resets the clock.
When to call a professional
Elements, igniters, thermostats, sensors and control boards all need proper testing and, in the case of gas, a licensed technician. It is not worth the risk of working on them yourself.
Wollongong Service Company repairs electric and gas ovens across the Illawarra and South Coast. Book a repair or call 02 4229 3777.
