How to Repair Common Oven Parts
Ovens are a common kitchen appliance used to cook food. The heat generated by the oven sterilizes food items and kills the majority of microorganisms.
A reliable oven thermometer is a necessity for all bakers. Knowing how your oven functions will help improve your baking and roasting abilities and eliminate those annoying hot spots that cause havoc with cookies, cakes and other baked items.
Thermostat
The thermostat is an important component of your oven. It helps to ensure that the temperature of food matches the temperature you have set on the control panel. It could be a problem as with any other switch or sensor that is electro-mechanical. The oven may overheat or underheat, or simply not keep the temperature you have set.
The oven thermostat is an extremely small piece of different metals joined. When heated by the oven, the metals expand and bend at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the metal in your thermostat reaches the temperature that you have set on your control panel it will turn off the power to the heater. As the oven cools the bimetallic strip expands to re-establish the circuit before activating the heating element. This process is repeated repeatedly to ensure that the oven remains at a constant temperature.
It is necessary to disconnect the oven 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 very close to it then the thermostat is operating properly and doesn't need to be replaced.
If the multimeter fails to show anything then the thermostat is not working properly. It needs to be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a new one that is the same model that your old one. The thermostats are sold at a reasonable price online or in the kitchen store.
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 an easy component that converts electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges often include heating elements that can be either exposed or hidden under the floor.
In general oven heating elements are made up of high-resistance materials like nickel-chromium. They convert electricity into heat through resistance. The heat then radiates through the oven's interior to achieve the desired temperature to cook different kinds of food.
When you turn on the oven, the heating elements begin to generate heat by the high-voltage current that flows across the metal's surface. The element is a coil or ribbon (straight or corrugated) of wire, and as the electric current passes through it, it starts to increase in temperature. The element will appear red hot when it reaches the temperature you want.
The baked element is the primary source of heat in all oven functions. It is usually located at lower levels of the oven. A lot of ovens that are automated also have it to clean themselves. You may observe that your oven doesn't get hot as fast or that your food isn't fully cooked.
To verify that you have a working oven baking element, plug your multimeter into its red and black ports, then rub the probes made of steel against each other on one end of the element. Set the other end of the probe against one of its terminals, and put your hand on it to determine whether the baking element is warm to the touch. If it's not, remove the element and test again.
Broil Element
The broil element, usually found at the top of the cavity, allows high-temperature heat to brown or char the food. The oven's broil setting is an excellent way to quickly grill meat crisp vegetables, heat lasagna or caramelize the topping of the casserole.
Similar to the bake element the broiler heating element transforms electrical energy into heat by the process of resistance. It is made up of an internal core of metal wires wrapped in insulating expanded perlite material. The inner core is then wrapped in an outer layer of stainless steel, which protects the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer design can help reduce the temperature of the broil element, making it more secure than the older models.
While you can use any baking or broiling heating element in your oven, you should choose one that is in line with the wattage that is recommended for your oven. A different wattage may damage your oven, or cause it to overheat. You can determine the power of your oven as well as the rating of the new heating element by checking their current and voltage ratings on the oven's control panel.
You should also test the resistance of your old element and compare it to the wattage of your new broiler heating element. The greater the resistance of an oven element, the more power it draws.
Replace the element in your broiler immediately if it is not working or is acting up. It's important that your oven function properly so that you can cook all of your favorite foods. If your oven does not operate at all, or only intermittently then the problem may be with another part.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The light allows you to monitor your food as it cooks without opening the doors and letting heat escape. best ovens and hobs informs you when your casserole is ready. However, it's not uncommon for the light to fail. It can be quite frustrating, but you can fix it yourself. Check that the breaker isn't tripped and that the connector has three prongs.
Remove the old bulb and then find the new one. You may need to search the internet to find the correct replacement bulb that is compatible with your oven's wattage. Some ovens utilize standard appliances with bulbs of 40 watts, while others need an halogen lamp that can reach 50 watts. Be aware that the oils from your hands can damage a halogen bulb, so consider using cotton gloves when handling it.
Remove the glass casing of the bulb before replacing it. You should do this slowly to avoid breaking it. Then, you'll need to eliminate the air inside the bulb and fill it with an amalgamation of gases. This ensures a longer life for the filament.
If your bulb keeps going out, there could be a wider electrical issue that must be handled by an expert. Verify that you're using the correct oven bulb and look over your Use and Care Guide to get more help in troubleshooting. Be sure to unplug your oven and shut off the power before you start any repairs. This will help prevent suffering an electric shock.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is a crucial oven part as it allows a small amount of airflow inside the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat around the oven and ensures that the temperature is evenly dispersed.
It also allows the vapors to escape from the oven, and smoke to be drawn from the cooking surface. It is crucial to ensure the proper operation of any gas or electric oven.
Vents for ovens can become clogged by a variety of factors. Accidental spills or splatters may leave sticky remnants in oven vents. These can attract dust, debris and other contaminants that can cause obstructions over time. Grease and oil can also become airborne and build up around vents. Other environmental factors, like kitchen renovations and construction work, can bring dust or other contaminants into the vents, leading to blockages or clogs.
Based on the model of the oven, the vent tube can include a spreader and a fill tip 12, and an a bottle guide 20 that are integrated into the pipe 32. For instance, the bottle guide 20 might have a tapered outer layer that is complemented by the tapered inside of the spreader 46, allowing the vent tube to be smoothly fitted into various sizes and shapes of bottle necks.
A blocked or clogged vent tube could cause the loss of pressure inside the enclosing structure. This could result in a downdraft which pulls exhaust down vent and backwards through the oven's burners, which can cause damage to oven components. If you suspect that your vent tube is clogged or blocked, call an expert for assistance. They will diagnose the issue and make recommendations on how to clean or clean the vent.