How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is an appliance in the kitchen that is used to cook food. The heat of the oven sterilizes food items and kills the majority of microorganisms.
All bakers need an accurate oven thermometer. Understanding how your oven works will improve your baking and roasting abilities and eliminate those frustrating hot spots that can cause havoc with cakes, cookies and other baked goods.
Thermostat
The thermostat is a crucial element of your oven. It is used to ensure that the temperature of food matches the temperature that you set on the control panel. As with any electronic mechanical switch or sensor, it may have issues that result in the oven going over or under heat, or simply not be able to keep the temperature at the level you've set.
The oven thermostat is essentially an extremely small piece of different metals bonded together. When heated, the metals expand or bend at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the thermostat's metal 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, re-establishing circuit and activating the heating element. This cycle is constantly repeated to ensure that the temperature remains constant within your oven.
It is necessary to disconnect the oven and all screws removed in order to determine the problem with the thermostat. Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or close to it, then the thermostat is working correctly and doesn't require to be replaced.
If the multimeter fails to detect anything it means that the thermostat is defective. It needs to be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a fresh one that is the same model as your old one. They can be purchased on the internet or in the kitchen store, and are available at a reasonable price.
Bake Element
Ovens are not complete without the bake element, which provides heat to make your oven cook food. It's a simple element that converts electricity into the high temperatures needed for baking, roasting and broiling. Heating elements are usually found in electric ranges and ovens and are covered or hidden beneath the floor of the oven.
In general, oven heating elements are constructed of high-resistance materials such as nickel-chromium alloy. They convert electrical energy into heat by the process of resistance which radiates outwards into the oven interior to raise the temperature to the desired temperature for cooking different types of food items.
When you switch on your oven the heating element starts to work by generating heat from the high-voltage electrical energy that flows across its metallic surface. The element is a coil or ribbon (straight or corrugated) of wire, and when the electric current flows through it, it begins to increase in temperature. The element will turn red hot when it reaches the desired temperature.
The baked element is the main source of heat for most oven functions. It's usually located at the bottom of the oven and is also used to perform the self-cleaning function in many ovens with automatic cleaning. If it starts to smoke you may be noticing that your oven doesn't heat up as fast or that your food is not fully cooked.
To determine if you have a functioning oven baking element plug your multimeter into its black and red ports, then touch the metal probes against each other on one end of the element. Set hob of the probe against one of its terminals, and place your hand on it to test if the element is warm to the contact. If not, remove it and try again.
Broil Element
The broil element is typically located at the upper part of the oven cavity and provides high heat like grills to roast or grill food items. Broil settings in ovens are an excellent way to quickly grill meat or crisp vegetables, to heat up lasagna, or caramelize the topping of the casserole.
The broiler heating element is comparable to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy by resistance into heat. It is comprised of an inner core of metal wires wrapped in insulating perlite material. The inner core is encased in an outer layer of stainless steel, which protects the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer structure helps lower the broil element's temperature, making it more secure and efficient than the older designs of elements.
While you can use any heating element in your oven, you should choose one that is in line with the rated wattage of your oven. A different wattage could harm your oven or cause it to overheat. The current and voltage ratings of the latest heating elements are available on the control panel of your oven. This allows you to determine the wattage and rating of your oven.
It is also advisable to check the resistance of your old element and compare it with the power output of your new broiler heating element. The higher the resistance of an oven element, the more power it draws.
Replace the element in your broiler immediately If it's not working or is acting up. It is crucial that your oven function correctly to be able to cook your most loved food items. If your oven does not work in any way, or just intermittently, then the issue could be in a different part.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The oven light lets you keep an eye on your food while it cooks without having to open the door and let the heat escape. The light also lets you know when the casserole is ready. It's not uncommon for the bulb to go. It can be a hassle, but you can fix it yourself. Before you begin, be sure that the breaker hasn't been tripped and that the three-prong connector is intact.
First, remove the light bulb that was in use and locate the new one. You may need to search the internet for a replacement bulb that matches the wattage and type of oven you have. Some use standard 40-watt appliance bulbs some require a halogen bulb up to 50 watts. Be aware that the oil from your hands can damage the halogen bulb, so consider using cotton gloves when handling it.
Before putting the new bulb into place, you should first take it out of its glass casing. Do slowly to avoid breaking it. You'll then need to remove the air from the bulb and replace it with an appropriate mixture. This will prolong the lifespan for the filament.
If your light bulb is constantly going out it could be an electrical issue that needs a professional to fix. Verify that you're using the correct oven bulb and consult your Use and Care Guide to get more troubleshooting advice. Also, remember that it's recommended to unplug your oven and disconnect it from the outlet before you begin any repair. This will help protect you from electrical shock.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is an essential oven component because it allows for a small amount of 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 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 electric or gas oven.
Vents in ovens can get blocked or blocked due to several reasons. Accidental spills or splatters can leave sticky remnants in oven vents. These can attract dust, debris and other contaminants that could cause blockages in the course of time. Oil and grease can also be airborne and then settle on vents. Other environmental factors, such as kitchen construction and renovations, can introduce dust or other pollutants into the vents, which can cause obstructions or clogs.
Based on the type of the oven the vent tube could comprise a spreader 46 and an fill tip 12 and a bottle guide 20 that are integrally formed into the pipe 32. For example the bottle guide 20 might have a tapered outer layer which is in harmony with the tapered inner surface of the spreader 46, allowing the vent tube to be effortlessly fitted into various sizes and designs of bottle necks.
A clogged vent tube can cause a decrease in pressure inside the enclosure, which could cause an updraft that pulls exhaust forward and down the vent, causing damage to oven's components. Consult a professional if you believe that your vent may be clogged or blocked. They will diagnose the issue and make recommendations on how to clear or clean the vent.