How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is an appliance in the kitchen that is used to cook food items. The heat produced by the oven sterilizes food and kills most of the micro-organisms present in them.
All bakers require an accurate oven thermometer. Knowing how your oven functions will help improve your baking and roasting skills and eliminate those frustrating hot spots that can cause havoc with cookies, cakes and other baked goods.
Thermostat
The thermostat is one of the most vital components of your oven, helping ensure that the temperature of your food is in line with what you've set on your control panel. Unfortunately, like any other electro mechanical switch or sensor, it may have issues that cause the oven to over or under heat, or simply not be able to keep the temperature at what you've set.
The oven thermostat is tiny strips of two different metals bonded together. When exposed to heat, the different metals expand and bend at different rates, making or breaking an electrical circuit. When the metal in your thermostat reaches the temperature you have set on the control panel it will shut off heating element's power. As the oven cools down, the bimetallic strip contracts to re-establish the circuit before activating the heating element. This process is repeated repeatedly to ensure a constant oven temperature.
The oven must be disconnected and all screws removed to diagnose a thermostat problem. If you own a multimeter (which is a device that measures the electrical current), set it to the ohms setting, and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter shows zero or close to zero the thermostat is operating properly and doesn't need 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 thermostat of the same model as the one you have. hob and oven are available at a reasonable cost online or in a kitchen products shop.
Bake Element
The bake element is vital to the operation of your oven. It generates the heat needed to cook food items. It's an easy component that transforms electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting and broiling. Heating elements are typically found in electric ovens and ranges and can be either covered or concealed under the floor of the oven.
Generally, oven heating elements are made from high-resistance materials like nickel-chromium alloy. They convert electrical energy into heat using resistance. The heat then radiates through the interior of the oven to attain the temperature required to cook various types of food.
When you switch on the oven, the heating elements begin to generate heat by the high-voltage current flowing across the surface of the metal. The element is a coil or ribbon (straight or corrugated) of wire. When the electric current flows through it, it begins to get hotter. The element will glow red hot when it reaches the desired temperature.
The baked element is the primary source of heat in most oven functions. It's usually located at the bottom of the oven and is used to clean the oven in many automatic oven models. You may observe that the oven does not get hot as fast or that your food hasn't been cooked to perfection.
To check for a working oven baking element plug your multimeter into its black and red ports, then rub the probes made of steel against each other on one end of your element. Place the other end against one of its terminals, and put your hand on it to determine whether the element is warm to the contact. If not, take it off and try again.
Broil Element
The broil element, which is typically located at the top of the cavity, offers high heat to brown or char foods. The oven's broil setting can be a great way to quickly cook meat crisp vegetables, heat lasagna, or caramelize the topping of the casserole.
Similar to the bake element, the broiler heating element converts electrical energy into heat via the process of resistance. It is made up of an inner core made up of wires made of metal, encased in an insulating and expanded product called perlite. The inner core of the element is covered with a stainless steel outer layer to shield the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer design helps lower the temperature of the broil element, making it safer than older designs.
While you are able to use any baking or broiling heating element in your oven, you should choose one that matches the wattage that is recommended for your oven. A different wattage can harm your oven, or cause it 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 oven's control panel.
Examine the resistance of your old element, and compare it with the wattage rating of the new one. The higher the resistance of an oven element the greater power it draws from it.
Replace the element in your broiler immediately If it's not working or if it is acting up. It is crucial for your oven to function properly so that you can cook all your favorite foods. If your oven does not work in any way, or just intermittently, the issue may be with another part.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The oven light helps you keep an eye on your food while it cooks without opening the door and let heat escape. The light will also inform you when the casserole has been cooked. It's not unusual for the bulb to die. It can be a hassle but it's an simple fix that you can accomplish yourself. Check that the breaker isn't tripped and that the connector has three prongs.
First, remove the old light bulb and then locate the new one. You may need to search online to find a replacement that matches the wattage and the type of your oven. Some appliances use standard 40-watt bulbs some require halogen bulbs up to 50 watts. You should consider using cotton gloves to shield bulbs from the damage caused by oil.
Remove the glass casing from the bulb prior to replacing it. It is important to do this slowly so that you don't break it. Then, you'll need to remove the air from the bulb and replace it with the mixture. This ensures a longer life for the filament.
If your light bulb is always blinking, it may be a larger electrical problem that needs to be addressed by a professional. Make sure you're using the correct oven bulb and check your Use and Care Guide to find more help in troubleshooting. Remember that it's recommended to unplug your oven and disconnect the power from the outlet prior to you start any repair. This will protect you from electrical shock.
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 allows the bake element to circulate heat around the oven, ensuring that the temperature is evenly distributed.
It also allows vapors to escape from the oven and smoke to be drained from the cooking surface. It is essential for proper operation of any electric or gas oven.
Vents in ovens can get clogged or blocked by several reasons. Accidental spills or splatters could leave sticky remnants in oven vents. They may attract debris, dust and other contaminants that could cause blockages over time. Grease and oil can also become airborne, and settle on vents. Other environmental factors such as kitchen and construction projects can create dust in the vents. This can cause clogs.
Depending on the oven model the vent tube may include an a bottle guide 20 or spreader 46 as well as a fill tip 12 that are formed by the pipe 32. The bottle guide 20 could have a tapered outer edge that matches the tapered inside edge of the spreader, allowing the vent tubes to be inserted smoothly into different sizes and shapes of bottle necks.
A clogged or blocked vent tube could cause a loss of pressure within the enclosing structure, which can create a downdraft situation that pulls exhaust down the vent and backwards towards the oven's burners, which can cause damage to the oven's components. If you suspect that your vent tube is clogged or blocked, call an expert for assistance. They will diagnose the problem and provide recommendations for removing or cleaning the vent.