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How to Repair Common Oven Parts The oven is an appliance used in kitchens that is typically used to cook food items. The heat of the oven sterilizes food and kills the majority of microorganisms. A precise oven thermometer is an essential for bakers of all kinds. Knowing how your oven functions will improve your baking, roasting and cooking skills. It can also help you avoid the annoying hot spots that can cause damage to cakes, cookies and baked products. Thermostat The thermostat is an essential part of your oven. It helps to ensure that the temperature of food corresponds to the temperature you set on the control panel. As with any electronic mechanical switch or sensor, it may have issues that can cause the oven to over or under heat, or not be able to keep the temperature at what you've set. The oven thermostat is tiny strips of two different metals that are joined. When heated to a certain temperature, the two metals expand or bend at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the metal in the thermostat is at the temperature you've set on the control panel, it shuts off the heating element's power. As the oven cools, the bimetallic strips contract to re-establish the circuit before activating the heating element. This process is repeated repeatedly to ensure a constant oven temperature. It is necessary to disconnect the oven and all screws removed to diagnose the problem with the thermostat. Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads 0 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 it means that the thermostat is defective. It needs to be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts suggests that you replace your thermostat with one of the same type as the previous one. These thermostats are available at a reasonable cost online or in a kitchen goods shop. Bake Element Ovens aren't complete without the bake element, which creates heat to make your oven cook food. It's a basic component that transforms electricity into the high temperatures required for baking, roasting and broiling. Heating elements are typically found in electric ranges and ovens and are either covered or concealed under the oven's floor. In general oven heating elements comprise of high-resistance materials like nickel-chromium. They convert electricity into heat through resistance. This heat then radiates through the interior of the oven to reach the desired temperature for cooking different types foods. When you start the oven the heating elements begin to produce heat through the high-voltage current that flows across the metal's 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 appear red hot when it is at the desired temperature. The baked element is the primary source of heat in all oven functions. It is usually located at lower levels of the oven. A lot of ovens that are automated also utilize it to clean themselves. When it begins to get hot, you might find that your oven isn't able to preheat as quickly or that your food isn't fully cooked. To check for a working oven baking element plug your multimeter into its red and black ports, and then place the metal probes against each other on one side of your element. Set the other end of the probe against one of its terminals and place your hand on it to feel whether the baking element is warm to the touch. If it's not, take off the element and start testing again. Broil Element The broil element is usually located in the top of the oven cavity and provides high heat like grills to roast or grill food items. The oven's broil setting can be a great way to quickly cook meat or crisp vegetables, to heat up lasagna or caramelize the topping of a casserole. Similar to the bake element the broiler heating element converts electrical energy into heat by the process of resistance. It is composed of an inner core comprised of wires made of metal, encased in an insulating expanded product known as perlite. The inner core is then wrapped in an outer layer of stainless steel to shield 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 older types of elements. While you may use any heating element in your oven, you should choose one that matches the wattage rating of your oven. Using a different wattage can damage your oven or cause it to overheat. You can determine the wattage of your oven and the rating of the new heating element by looking at their voltage and current ratings on the control panel of your oven. Check the resistance of the previous element, and then compare it with the wattage rating of the new one. The greater the resistance, the more the power that an oven element draws from. If the heating element in your broiler is malfunctioning or isn't working at all, you should replace it right away. It is essential that your oven function properly to cook all of your favorite food items. However, if your oven isn't functioning in any way or only intermittently, the issue may lie with another part of your oven. Light Bulb and Assembly The light lets you monitor your food as it cooks without opening the doors and let heat escape. The light also alerts you when your casserole is ready. But it's not uncommon for the light to fail. It can be frustrating but you can fix it yourself. Before you start, make sure that the breaker hasn't been tripped and that the three-prong connector is in good condition. First, remove the light bulb that was in use and find the new one. It is possible to search the internet to find a replacement that is compatible with the wattage and model of your oven. Some use standard 40-watt appliance bulbs some require a halogen bulb that is up to 50 watts. You should consider using cotton gloves to shield the halogen bulbs from damage caused by oil. Remove the glass casing from the bulb before you replace it. Do this slowly so that you don't break it. Then, you'll have to eliminate the air inside the bulb and fill it with a mixture of gases. This will ensure a longer lifespan for the filament. If your bulb is constantly being replaced, it could be a bigger electrical issue that should be handled by an expert. Make sure that you're using the correct bulb for your oven and check out your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting tips. Remember that it's a good idea to unplug your oven and disconnect the power from the outlet before you begin any repair. This will keep you from being shocked by electricity. Vent Tube The vent tube is an important oven component because it allows for a tiny amount of airflow to be created within the cavity. This permits the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, making sure that the temperature is distributed evenly. It also allows the vapors that are released from the oven to escape and allows smoke to be drained away from the cooking surface. It is vital for the proper functioning of any electric or gas oven. Vents for ovens can become blocked due to many factors. Accidental spills or splatters may leave sticky remnants in oven vents. They may attract debris, dust and other contaminates that could cause blockages over time. Grease and oil can also be airborne and build up on vents. Other environmental factors, like kitchen construction and renovations, can introduce dust or other pollutants into the vents, which can cause clogs or blockages. Depending on the model of the oven the vent tube could include a spreader and a fill tip 12, and an a bottle guide 20 that are incorporated into the pipe 32. For example, the bottle guide 20 may have a tapered outer surface that is complemented by the tapered inside of the spreader 46 to allow the vent tube to be smoothly fitted into various sizes and designs of bottle necks. A clogged vent tube can cause a loss in pressure inside the enclosure which can lead to an updraft that pulls exhaust backwards and then down the vent, damaging the oven's components. Consult a professional if you suspect that your vent tube might be blocked or clogged. They will identify the problem and provide suggestions on how to clear or clean the vent.