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How to Repair Common Oven Parts The oven is a kitchen appliance that is typically used to cook food items. The heat produced by the oven sterilizes food and kills the majority of micro-organisms present in them. An accurate oven thermometer is essential for all bakers. Knowing how your oven functions will improve your baking cooking, roasting and cooking skills. It will also help eliminate those annoying hot spots which can cause damage to cakes, cookies and baked items. Thermostat The thermostat is one of the most vital components of your oven, assisting to ensure that the temperature of your food matches what you've set in your control panel. It can be problematic as is any other sensor or switch that is electro-mechanical. hob and oven can overheat or underheat, or not maintain the temperature you have set. The oven thermostat is essentially a small strip of two different metals bonded together. When heated, the different metals expand and bend at different rates, forming or breaking an electrical circuit. When the metal in your thermostat reaches the temperature you have set on your control panel, it will shut off heating element's power. As the oven cools the bimetallic strip contract to re-establish the circuit before activating the heating element. This process continues to maintain a constant temperature within your oven. It is necessary to disconnect the oven and all screws removed to identify a thermostat problem. 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 require to be replaced. If the multimeter does not read anything, then the thermostat is defective and needs to be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts suggests that you replace your thermostat with a similar model as the one you have. The thermostats are available for purchase at a reasonable cost on the internet or in a kitchen products shop. Bake Element Ovens can't be complete without the bake element which provides heat to make your oven cook food. It's a simple component that turns electricity into the high temperatures needed for baking, roasting and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges usually contain heating elements, which can be exposed or hidden under the floor. In general, oven heating elements consist of high-resistance materials such as nickel-chromium. They convert electrical energy into heat through the process of resistance which then radiates throughout the oven's interior to raise the temperature to the desired level to cook different kinds of foods. When you start your oven the heating element starts to work by generating heat by the high-voltage electricity that flows across its metallic surface. When the electric current runs through it the element is heated. The element will turn red hot when it reaches the temperature you want. The baked element is the main source of heat for most oven functions. It is usually located at in the bottom of the oven. Many automatic oven models also use it for self-cleaning. You might notice that the oven doesn't heat up as quickly, or that your food isn't cooked to perfection. To determine if you have a functioning oven baking element plug your multimeter into its red and black ports, then rub the probes made of metal against each other on one side of your device. Place the other end of the element on one terminal and then place your hand on it. If the element feels warm, remove it and start testing again. If it's not, take off the element and test again. Broil Element The broil element, which is usually located on the top of the cavity, provides high temperatures to brown or char food items. The broil setting in your oven is a great choice for quickly searing meat and vegetables, crisping up vegetables, warming lasagna or caramelizing the top of the casserole. The broiler heating element is similar to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy by resistance into heat. It is composed of an inner core made up of wires made of metal, encased in an insulating, expanded material called perlite. The inner core is enclosed in an outer layer of stainless steel, which protects the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer structure reduces the temperature of the broil element making it safer and more efficient than older styles of elements. You can use any heating element for baking or broiling in your oven. But, you must choose one that is in line with the wattage of your oven's rating. Utilizing a different wattage may damage your oven or cause it to overheat. You can determine the power of your oven and the rating of the new heating element by checking their current and voltage ratings on the control panel of your oven. You should also test the resistance of your previous element and compare it with the power output of your new broiler heating element. The higher the resistance, the more energy an oven element consumes. If your broiler heating element is not working or functions at all, you must replace it right away. Your oven must function properly to be able to cook your favorite meals. If your oven isn't working at all or only intermittently, the issue may be with a different part of your oven. Light Bulb and Assembly The light allows you to monitor your food as it cooks without opening the door and letting heat escape. The light also lets you know when the casserole is ready. But it's not uncommon for the light bulb to fail. It can be a hassle, but you can fix it yourself. Make sure the breaker isn't tripped and that the connector has three prongs. First, take out the light bulb that was in use and then locate the new one. You may have to look online to find the correct replacement bulb that matches the wattage of your oven. Some ovens utilize normal appliance bulbs of 40 watts, while others need an halogen lamp that can reach 50 watts. Be aware that the oils from your hands could damage a halogen bulb, so it is recommended to use cotton gloves when handling it. Remove the glass casing from the bulb before replacing it. You should do this slowly to avoid breaking it. After that, you'll need to remove the air from the bulb and fill it with a mixture of gases. This will ensure a longer lifespan for the filament. If your bulb is always running out it could be due to an electrical problem that requires a professional to fix. Make sure you're using the correct oven bulb and check your Use and Care Guide to find more help in troubleshooting. Also, remember that it's a good idea to unplug your oven and disconnect the power from the outlet prior to you start any repair. This will help protect you from electrical shock. Vent Tube The vent tube is an important oven part as it allows for a small amount of airflow inside the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat around the oven, ensuring that the temperature is evenly distributed. It also allows vapors to be released from the oven, and smoke to be drained from the cooking surface. It is essential for efficient operation of any gas or electric oven. Vents for ovens can become blocked by many factors. Accidental spills and splatters from cooking can leave sticky residues on the oven vents, which attract dust and other debris that could eventually cause blockages or clogs in the course of time. Grease and oil particles can become airborne and settle around the vents, too. Other environmental factors such as kitchen and construction work can introduce dust into the vents. This can cause clogs. Depending on the oven model the vent tube may include the bottle guide 20 or spreader 46 as well as a fill tip 12 that are constructed with the pipe 32. For example, the bottle guide 20 might have a tapered exterior surface which is in harmony with the tapered inner surface of the spreader 46. This allows the vent tube to be effortlessly inserted into different sizes and forms of bottle necks. A blocked or clogged vent tube can result in a loss of pressure within the structure that surrounds it, which can result in a downdraft that pushes exhaust down the vent and backwards towards the oven burners, causing damage to the oven components. Contact a professional if you think your vent pipe could be blocked or clogged. They will diagnose the problem and offer suggestions for removing or cleaning the vent.