Ovens can take a beating due to the high temperatures and steam while cooking. Maintaining your oven is the best way to prevent problems from occurring, but things can still happen. And when they do, you’ll want to recognize when to call in the professionals. Some issues can be fixed on your own, while others require more technical knowledge.
In this article, we’re going to cover five oven and stove common issues that our customers experience, along with the best ways to fix them.
1. Oven temperature is too high or too low.
An oven that gets too hot or not hot enough is frustrating to say the least, especially when you have a hungry family waiting to eat. If this is happening to you, it’s probably a problem with the temperature sensor or heating element. Refer to the owner’s manual for calibration information.
If this doesn’t solve your problem, check to make sure the temperature sensor is working properly. The sensor should be hanging freely and not touching a heating element. If this checks out, then it may be a faulty heating element. A professional oven repair company in Los Angeles can replace this for you.
2. Oven won’t turn on.
When an oven won’t turn on, it’s usually due to a faulty ignitor or electrical problem. If you have a gas oven, check to see if the burners turn on. If they don’t, then it’s likely your gas line that has a problem. If the burners do work, then it’s probably the ignitor that needs to be replaced.
If you have an electric oven, check to see if the digital display or LEDs are working. If they are not, reset the circuit at the breaker. If the display is working, there’s likely an issue with the heating elements or internal wiring.
3. Oven won’t cook food evenly.
If you’ve experimented with the best places to cook your food in the oven and are still not getting consistent results, there’s probably a faulty component somewhere. In a gas oven, this could be a faulty ignitor or thermostat. In an electric oven, it’s more likely to be the heating element or thermostat.
To check this out, turn on your stove and see if the heating elements come up. Then check the temperature to see if it’s rising. If you see where the problem is, you can replace the faulty part. If you can’t tell, call in a professional oven and stove repair service in Los Angeles to assess the situation.
4. Burners aren’t working.
If a gas burner won’t light, there’s a couple of things that could be going on. You should be able to hear a clicking noise and smell gas coming out of the valves. If you hear the noise but don’t smell anything, the problem is likely with your gas flow. If you smell gas but don’t hear clicking, it’s probably the ignition switch.
Gas burners should also heat up quickly. If they don’t, there could be an issue from clogged debris. You can fix this problem by turning off the stove and giving the burners a good soak. Then clean your stove and remove food and debris from the gas valves. You should also clean your gas burners just as well, as stuck-on food and debris can also cause problems.
5. Door is jammed or not closing.
If the door isn’t working properly, you can’t use your oven safely. Unplug the oven, disconnect the gas source and detach the oven door, if you can. Check for loose hinges or straps and tighten them if need be. You can also use a pair of pliers to remove broken springs and gaskets and replace them with new ones.
These are five of the most common issues we see with ovens and stoves. These appliances have an average lifespan of 10-15 years, so we take this into consideration when doing an inspection. Our technicians will let you know if you’re better off replacing the oven or repairing it. In many cases, a repair is less expensive and adds years of life onto the appliance.
To schedule a repair for a stove or oven issue, contact Pacific Appliance Repair Service in Los Angeles today!