An oven, be it an electric or a gas oven, is almost an integral appliance in any kitchen. Therefore, any malfunction can be huge nuisance for your cooking. One such nuisance may lead you to ask why is my oven not heating up properly?
Basically your oven not heating up might be due to different reasons. Firstly it depends upon whether your oven is gas or electric oven. Common issue include leaking gas, damaged heating element, blown out fuse, malfunctioning thermostat etc
There are many possible issues that might arise with your electric or gas oven that can cause it to stop heating up properly.
Unfortunately, most of the issues would require expert help. If you have pinpointed a certain issue we recommend calling for expert help instead of attempting repairs yourself.
In this article, we will discuss some of the common issues further and their possible causes.
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Why Is My Oven Not Heating Up Properly?
Let us talk about gas ovens and electric ovens separately and also talk about issues that can be faced by both.
Why is My Gas Oven Not Heating Properly?
Let us first talk about the gas oven.
1. Damaged Igniter
If your gas oven is not heating properly, your oven igniter might be faulty. To check if this is the case, you can simply attempt to light one of the burners on top of the oven.
Once you try to put on your gas oven, it will usually make a clicking sound. If it doesn’t come on after a few minutes, you might want to consider replacing your oven igniter
To do this
- You will have to switch off all the oven controls and unplug the oven from the gas pipe
- Take out the oven rack
- Unscrew the compartment containing the igniter
- Check if the coil or any part of the igniter is a different color from the rest,
- Once you have established that the igniter is faulty
- Replace the igniter
- Screw back the compartment and tighten the screw properly
- Your igniter should be ready to use
Of course, none of this should be attempted if you are not adept with appliance repair.
2. Gas Leakage
This is not the most common cause of heating problems in gas ovens, but it is a possibility.
If you have checked out other issues and you seem not to know why your gas oven is not heating up properly, it might be due to a gas leakage.
The gas can also be interrupted by a damaged or a clogged gas regulator. This is especially true if you are using gas cylinder as the source.
To check if leaking gas is the problem, for starters you’ll be able to smell the distinct smell of the gas if it severe.
However, some gas leaks can be very minute that can cause regulator in the temperature control. To check this.
- Check if the gas valve is on
- Check all the other valves remotely connected to your oven
- Check the pipes
- Check the gas regulator if using a cylinder
If there are any discrepancies, you should immediately seize any more cooking on it until the issue is addresses.
Why is My Electric Oven Not Heating Up Properly
Most times, when your electric oven is faulty, you can spot it almost immediately, it might come on but refuse to heat up or it might choose not to come on at all.
There are so many possible reasons for this and to check the exact cause of the ovens lack of heat, you will need a multimeter and the oven manual.
Below, we will consider some options and some possible fixes for the problem
Note
Before attempting any repairs, it is of utmost importance that you disconnect your oven from the electrical source. Make sure nothing is placed inside or on top to avoid accidents.
1. The Heating Element is Spoiled
This is the major problem people check for when an electric oven is not heating up properly. This issue applies to both range or toaster ovens.
To determine if this is the issue, turn on the oven. Once it begins to heat, the heating element turns a bright red. If your heating element is refusing to heat up properly, it might not turn as bright as it normally would.
In this situation you might need to change the heating element,
Unscrew the heating element, replace and screw back in place
2. If the Fuse is Blown
Occasionally, oven fuses get blown, it could be due to a lot of heat in the oven. When this occurs, you will need to replace it with a new fuse.
To do this you will need to check if the problem is caused by an oven fuse with a multimeter, this will be used to check for continuity in the fuse function. If the multimeter reads negative, you might have to replace it.
Other Reasons Why Your Oven is Not Heating Up Properly
These apply to both your electric and gas oven.
1. Thermostat Sensor Control is Malfunctioning
The thermostat sensor is a sensor that the oven usually uses to regulate the oven temperature. It is part of an internal control that regulates the oven heat.
When the thermostat control goes out, the temperature of the oven is not regulated and therefore you might not get the most accurate temperature.
To check this, you can place in a oven thermometer to check whether it is achieving the desired temperature accurately. If the thermometer does not display the correct temperature, then its thermostat can be damaged.
Calibration
Once you have check all the other issues and you believe that thermostat is simply not calibrated properly, then you can do manual calibration.
To check if this is the issue, simply get an oven thermometer and turn on the oven to 400 °F, use the oven thermometer to test the oven temperature every 15 minutes for 2 hours.
Divide the addition of your reading by the number of times you have taken the readings. This will give you the average temperature achieved during the 2 hours time.
Then adjust your oven based on your findings. The oven can be plus or minus from the desired 400 °F.
2. The Knob Selector is Broken
If your oven knob selector is faulty, there will be nothing to control the oven with.
Perhaps your knob selector is simply not positioning itself at the right temperature setting.
Knowing if this is a problem for your oven is pretty straightforward. Once you have this problem, you will need to replace the knob selector, but if you have an urgent need, simply take out the defective knob with a plier and turn the oven shaft directly.
This should work in the meantime
To replace the knob selector, simply get a new knob and put it over the exposed shaft, your knob selector will be as good as new.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed the reasons regarding why is my oven not heating up properly. We also discussed possible quick fixes you can employ to repair your oven faults.
Ovens are very easy to use and occasionally when they are about to develop a fault, they begin showing signs very early. If you haven’t tried fixing some home appliances yourself in the past, it might be easier to call a technician.
This will be to avoid all the possible complications that might occur as a result of trial and error.
To check if your oven heat is working perfectly, simply use an oven thermometer to check for the internal temperature of the oven.
FAQs:
1. What do I do if my oven isn't heating up?
Why Isn't My Oven Heating Properly—and How Do I Fix It?
1. Check the breaker if an electric oven is completely dead.
2. Verify the oven and stove knob positions.
3. Consider replacing the heating element in an electric oven.
4. On a gas stove, clean the igniter.
5. Conduct a temperature sensor check.
Watch the below for more.
2. Why does it take so long for my oven to heat up?
It takes time to heat up because the oven's materials need to absorb heat and reach the proper operating temperature. Ovens with a greater mass maintain a more stable temperature, resulting in better baking than the small miniature countertops.
3. Can I replace the heating element in my oven?
Yes, you can replace the oven's heating element if it is broken. The oven heating element is a critical, straightforward component that is easily replaced in the majority of electric ovens and ranges. Typically, the wires have female spade connectors that slide over the prongs of the element. You can purchase an oven element replacement directly from the oven manufacturer or from online appliance parts retailers.
4. How can I make my oven heat up faster?
If you turn your oven's broiler to high for 3 to 5 minutes, you'll notice that it can reach higher temperatures almost immediately when the oven is later set to the proper temperature. As a result, your oven will heat up more quickly.
5. How long should an oven take to heat up?
On average, it takes about 10 to 15 minutes for an oven to heat up.
If you have an older oven, it may not have a dial with the various temperatures marked on it; instead, it may only have an on-off switch. If this is the case, simply turn on the oven and wait ten to fifteen minutes before placing the baking items inside.