How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is a kitchen appliance that is typically used to cook food. The heat produced by the oven sterilizes food items and kills the majority of micro-organisms that are present in them.
An accurate oven thermometer is a necessity for bakers of all kinds. Understanding how your oven functions can help you improve your baking, roasting and cooking skills. It can also help you avoid those annoying hot spots which can ruin cakes, cookies and baked goods.
Thermostat
The thermostat is one of the most vital components of your oven, helping to ensure that the temperature of your food matches what you've set on the control panel. However, just like any other electronic mechanical switch or sensor, it can have issues that result in the oven going over or under heat, or just not be able to maintain the temperature you've set.
The oven thermostat is an extremely small strip of two different metals that are bonded together. When heated, the different metals expand and flex at different rates, making or breaking an electrical circuit. When the thermostat's metal attains the temperature you've set on your control panel, it shuts off the heating element's power. As the oven cools the bimetallic strip expands to re-establish the circuit before turning on the heating element. This cycle is constantly repeated to maintain a constant temperature in your oven.
You'll need the oven disconnected and all screws removed to identify the problem with the thermostat. Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting, and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or close to zero the thermostat is operating correctly and doesn't require to be changed.
If the multimeter does not read anything at all, then the thermostat is faulty and requires replacement. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a fresh one that is the same model that your old one. The thermostats are sold at a reasonable cost online or at a kitchen products shop.
Bake Element
Ovens aren't complete without the bake element which is the element that heats up to help your oven cook food. It's a basic component that turns electricity into the high temperatures needed for baking, roasting and broiling. Heating elements are usually found in electric ovens and ranges and are either uncovered or hidden under the floor of the oven.
The majority of oven heating elements are constructed from high-resistance components like nickel-chromium alloy. They work by converting electrical energy into heat via the process of resistance, which then radiates throughout the oven's interior, causing it to increase the temperature to the desired temperature for cooking different types of foods.
When you start your oven the heating element starts to work by generating heat from the high-voltage electrical energy moving across its metal surface. The element is a ribbon or coil (straight or corrugated) of wire, and as the electric current flows through it, it starts to heat up. When the element reaches its desired temperature it begins to glow red hot.
The baked element is the main source of heat for the majority of oven functions. It is typically located at the lower levels of the oven. Many ovens with automatic heating also have it to clean themselves. You might be noticing that your oven doesn't warm up as quickly or that your food hasn't been fully cooked.
Connect your multimeter to its black and red ports. Then, press the probes made of metal on one side of the device against each other. Place the other end of the baking element against one terminal and place your hand on it. If the element feels warm, take it off it and start testing again. If not, remove it and try again.
Broil Element
The broil element is usually located in the upper part of the oven cavity and provides high-temperature heat similar to grills to roast or grill food. Broil settings in ovens are ideal for quick cook meat or crisp vegetables, to heat up lasagna or caramelize the topping of the casserole.
The broiler heating element has a similarity to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy through resistance into heat. It is comprised of an inner core of wires that are wrapped in insulating perlite product. The core of the element is then covered with an outer layer of stainless steel to shield the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer design helps lower the temperature of the broil element, making it more secure than older designs.
While you can use any heating element in your oven, make sure to choose one that matches the wattage that is recommended for your oven. Using a different wattage can damage your oven or cause it to overheat. You can determine the power of your oven and the rating of the new heating element by looking at their voltage and current ratings on the oven's control panel.
Check the resistance of your old element, and then compare it with the wattage rating of the new element. The higher the resistance of an oven element the more power it uses.
If your broiler's heating element is malfunctioning or isn't working at all, you should replace it as soon as possible. It is crucial that your oven function properly to cook all your favorite food items. If your oven isn't functioning in any way or only intermittently, the issue could be in a different area of your oven.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The oven light lets you keep an eye on the food cooking without opening the door and let heat escape. The light will also notify you when the casserole is finished. It's not unusual for the bulb to go. It can be a hassle however, it's an simple fix that you can do yourself. Check that the breaker is not tripped and that the connector has three prongs.
First, take out the old light bulb and find the new one. It is possible to search the internet to find the correct replacement bulb that matches the wattage of your oven. Some Ovens & Hobs have normal appliance bulbs that are 40 watts in power some require an halogen lamp that can reach 50 watts. Consider using cotton gloves to shield the halogen bulbs from the damage caused by oil.
Remove the glass casing from the bulb prior to replacing it. Do slowly to avoid breaking it. After that, 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 for the filament.
If your light bulb is constantly going out it could be an electrical problem that requires a professional to fix. Make sure that you're using the correct bulb for your oven and look over your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting tips. Also, remember that it's an excellent idea to unplug your oven and disconnect the power from the outlet prior to you start any repair. This will prevent you from suffering an electric shock.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is an important oven component because it allows for a small amount of airflow to flow within the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, ensuring that the temperature is evenly distributed.
It also allows the vapors be released from the oven, and smoke to be drained from the cooking surface. It is vital for the efficient operation of any gas or electric oven.
Vents for ovens can become clogged or blocked by several reasons. Accidental spills or splatters while cooking can leave sticky residues on oven vents, which could attract dust and other debris which can lead to clogs or blockages over time. Oil and grease can also become airborne and build up around vents. Other environmental factors such as kitchen and construction work can create dust in the vents. This can cause clogs.
Depending on the oven model, the vent tube may comprise the bottle guide 20 and spreader 46, as well as fill tip 12 that are integrally formed with the pipe 32. For instance the bottle guide 20 could have a tapered outer surface which is in harmony with the tapered inside of the spreader 46, allowing the vent tube to be effortlessly inserted into different sizes and designs of bottle necks.
A blocked or clogged vent tube can result in the loss of pressure inside the structure that surrounds it, which can result in a downdraft that pulls exhaust down the vent and backwards through the oven burners, causing damage to oven components. If you think that the vent tube in your oven is clogged or blocked, call an expert for assistance. They will diagnose the issue and provide suggestions on how to remove or clean the vent.