How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is an appliance used in kitchens that is typically used to cook food items. The heat from the oven sterilizes food items and kills most of the micro-organisms present in them.
Every baker needs an accurate oven thermometer. Knowing how your oven functions will help improve your baking and roasting abilities and eliminate those annoying hot spots that wreak havoc with cakes, cookies and other baked products.
Thermostat
The thermostat is a crucial part of your oven. It assists in ensuring that the temperature of food is in line with the temperature that you set on the control panel. As with any electro mechanical switch or sensor, it may have issues that can cause the oven to over or under heat, or just not be able to keep the temperature at what you've set.
The oven thermostat is essentially an extremely small piece of different metals that are bonded. When heated, the different metals expand and bend at different rates, making or breaking an electrical circuit. When the metal in the thermostat reaches the temperature you've set on your control panel it shuts off the power to the heating element. As the oven cools it expands the bimetallic strip to re-establish the circuit before turning on heating element. This cycle continues for a long time to ensure a constant oven temperature.
To determine if there is a problem with the thermostat, you'll need to disconnect the oven and make sure that all screws that hold it in place have been removed. 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 functioning properly and doesn't require to be replaced.
If the multimeter doesn't detect anything then the thermostat is not working properly. It must be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a fresh one of the same type as the one you have. They can be purchased online or at the kitchen store, and are available at a reasonable cost.
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 simple element that converts electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges typically have heating elements, which can be exposed or hidden under the floor.
In general, oven heating elements are made from high-resistance materials like nickel-chromium alloy. They convert electricity into heat via resistance. This heat then radiates through the interior of the oven to attain the desired temperature to cook various types of food.
When you start the oven, the heating elements begin to generate heat by the high-voltage current that flows across the metal surface. The element is a coil or ribbon (straight or corrugated) of wire, and as the electric current flows through it, it starts to get hotter. The element will turn red hot when it reaches the desired temperature.
The baked element is the primary source of heat for most oven functions. It is typically located at the in the bottom of the oven. Many ovens with automatic heating also use it to clean themselves. You might be noticing that the oven doesn't get hot as fast or that your food isn't cooked completely.
To determine if you have a functioning oven baking element, plug your multimeter into its black and red ports, then touch the probes made of steel against each other on one end of your element. Set the other end of the probe against one of its terminals and place your hand on it to test whether the element is warm to the touch. If it's not, take off the element and try again.
Broil hob , which is usually located on the top of your cavity, allows high-temperature heat to brown or char foods. The broil setting in your oven is a great choice for quickly searing meat and vegetables, crisping up vegetables, warming lasagna or making caramel on top of a casserole.
Similar to the bake element, the broiler heating element converts electrical energy into heat through the process of resistance. It is comprised of an inner core comprised of metal wires, which are wrapped in an insulating and expanded product known as perlite. The inner core of the element is covered with an outer layer of stainless steel to protect the wires against direct contact with the oven. The three-layer structure helps reduce the temperature of the broil element which makes it safer and more efficient than the older designs of elements.
While you are able to use any heating element in your oven, make sure to choose one that is in line with the wattage rating of your oven. A different wattage may harm your oven, or cause it overheat. You can check 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 the previous element, and then compare it to the wattage rating of the new one. The higher the resistance of an oven element the more power it uses.
Replace the element in your broiler immediately If it's not functioning or if it's acting up. Your oven must function properly to to cook your favorite foods. If your oven doesn't work in any way, or just intermittently, the issue may be a problem with a different component.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The light allows you to keep an eye on your food as it cooks, without opening the door and letting heat escape. The light also alerts you when the casserole is ready. It's not uncommon for the light bulb to fail. It can be a hassle, but you can do it yourself. Before you begin, make sure that the breaker isn't tripped and that the three-prong connector is in good condition.
Remove the old bulb and then locate the new one. You may have to look online for a replacement bulb that is compatible with the wattage and model of your oven. Some ovens have standard appliances with bulbs that are 40 watts in power, while others need an halogen lamp that can reach 50 watts. Be aware that the oil in your hands can cause damage to the halogen bulb, so consider using cotton gloves when handling it.
Before you place the new bulb in place, you should first remove it from its glass casing. It is important to do slowly to avoid breaking it. Then, you'll have to remove the air from the bulb and fill it with gas mixture. This will prolong the filament life.
If your light bulb is constantly blinking, it could be an electrical problem that requires an expert to fix it. Be sure to double check that you're using a correct bulb for your oven, and check out your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting tips. Remember to unplug the oven and turn off the power before you start any repairs. This will keep you from being shocked by electricity.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is an essential oven component that permits an airflow within the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, ensuring that the temperature is distributed evenly.
It also allows the vapors escape from the oven, and smoke to be drawn from the cooking surface. It is vital for the proper functioning of any gas or electric oven.
Vents in ovens can get blocked or blocked due to several factors. Accidental spills or splatters may leave sticky remnants in oven vents. They may attract dust, debris and other contaminants that could cause clogs in the course of time. Grease and oil particles can become airborne and settle on the vents, and vice versa. Other environmental factors, like kitchen renovations and construction work, can introduce dust or other pollutants into the vents, resulting in blockages or clogs.
Based on the oven model the vent tube could include a bottle guide 20 and spreader 46, as well as fill tip 12 that are integrally formed by the pipe 32. The bottle guide 20 can have a tapered edge that is complemented by the tapered inside edge of the spreader to allow the vent tubes to slide easily into different sizes and shapes bottle necks.
A clogged or blocked vent tube can cause the loss of pressure inside the enclosing structure. This can create a downdraft situation that pulls exhaust down the vent and then backwards over the oven's burners, causing damage to the oven components. Consult a professional if you suspect that your vent tube may be clogged or blocked. They will determine the cause and provide suggestions on how to clear or clean the vent.
