Oven Not Heating or Heating Slowly?

Electric Ovens: Look at the Elements

Turn the oven to bake and, after a minute, look at the bake element on the floor of the oven. It should glow red. Visible breaks, bubbles or a dark section mean the element has failed. If bake works but broil does not, check the broil element at the top the same way. If neither heats, the cause may be the temperature sensor, the control board or the power supply to the oven.

Gas Ovens: The Igniter

In most gas ovens a glow-bar igniter must draw enough current to open the gas valve. As it weakens, it still glows but no longer opens the valve, so the oven takes a long time to light or never does. If the igniter glows for more than about a minute and a half without a flame, it is the usual suspect.

If you smell gas, turn the oven off, do not use switches or flames, leave the house and call your gas utility.

Heats, but to the Wrong Temperature

If food takes longer than the recipe says, check the oven with a separate oven thermometer. A reading far off from the set temperature points to the temperature sensor or the calibration. Many ovens let you adjust the temperature offset from the controls; the manual shows how.

When to Call

Call if the element or igniter looks fine but the oven still will not heat, if a fuse or breaker keeps tripping, or if there is any gas smell. Have the brand and model number ready; on most ovens it is on a label around the door frame or behind the storage drawer.

Questions