You've preheated your oven for 20 minutes, but when you check, it's still cold. Or maybe it's heating but not reaching the temperature you set. An oven that won't heat properly can derail your cooking plans and waste your time.
The causes differ significantly between electric and gas ovens, so we'll cover both types in this comprehensive troubleshooting guide.
Electric Ovens vs. Gas Ovens: Know Your Type
Electric Ovens:
- Use heating elements (metal coils) that glow red-hot
- Typically have elements on top (broiler) and bottom (bake)
- Require 240-volt dedicated circuit
- More common in newer homes and apartments
Gas Ovens:
- Use a gas burner with an igniter or pilot light
- You'll see a gas line connection at the back
- Much more energy-efficient than electric
- Require proper ventilation
How to tell: Look inside your oven. If you see metal coils, it's electric. If you see a gas burner (looks like a stove burner), it's gas.
Common Causes for Electric Ovens
1. Broken Bake or Broil Element
Most Common Electric Oven Problem (50% of cases)
What it does: The bake element (bottom) provides heat for baking. The broil element (top) provides high heat for broiling.
Symptoms:
- Element doesn't glow red when oven is on
- Visible cracks, blisters, or breaks in the element
- Oven heats very slowly or not at all
- Burns or dark spots on element surface
How to Check:
- Turn on bake mode and watch the bottom element
- It should glow red within 90 seconds
- Look for physical damage, cracks, or separations
- If one part glows but another doesn't, element is broken
DIY Fix:
- Element replacement is actually quite simple for many models
- Turn off power at breaker
- Remove screws holding element
- Disconnect wires (take a photo first!)
- Install new element
- Reconnect wires and screws
Difficulty: Easy to moderate (15-30 minutes)
Cost: $30-60 for element, $150-$250 for professional replacement
2. Faulty Temperature Sensor (Thermostat Probe)
What it does: This sensor monitors oven temperature and tells the control board when to cycle the element on or off.
Symptoms:
- Oven heats but temperature is inaccurate (too hot or too cold)
- Takes forever to preheat
- Temperature fluctuates wildly
- F2, F3, or F10 error codes (varies by brand)
How to Check:
- Use an oven thermometer to verify actual temperature
- If it reads 50+ degrees different from setting, sensor may be faulty
- Sensor is usually a thin probe visible at back of oven interior
DIY Fix:
- Sensor replacement is relatively simple
- Requires accessing oven interior
Cost: $20-40 for sensor, $150-$200 professionally installed
Difficulty: Moderate
3. Defective Control Board
What it does: The electronic brain that controls all oven functions.
Symptoms:
- Display works but oven won't heat
- Error codes
- Oven works intermittently
- Buttons don't respond properly
DIY Fix: Not recommended - control boards are expensive and require technical expertise
Cost: $200-$400 for control board, $300-$600 total repair cost
Common Causes for Gas Ovens
1. Weak or Failed Igniter
The Most Common Gas Oven Problem (60-70% of cases)
What it does: The igniter heats up until it's hot enough to ignite the gas flowing from the valve. It performs double duty: heating to ignition temperature AND sensing when it's safe to open the gas valve.
Symptoms:
- Igniter glows but oven doesn't heat
- Igniter glows for 60+ seconds but burner never lights
- Weak yellow/orange glow instead of bright white
- Oven takes forever to heat up
- Works sometimes but not others
How it Fails: Igniters weaken over time. They may still glow but can't draw enough current to signal the gas valve to open.
How to Check:
- Turn on oven and watch the igniter (visible through oven window or open door briefly)
- Strong igniter: Glows bright white, burner lights within 30-60 seconds
- Weak igniter: Glows dim yellow/orange, burner never lights or takes 90+ seconds
- Failed igniter: Doesn't glow at all
DIY Fix:
- Igniter replacement is possible for handy homeowners
- Turn off gas supply first (crucial!)
- Igniter is fragile - handle with extreme care
- Requires accessing oven interior
Difficulty: Moderate
Cost: $40-80 for igniter, $150-$250 for professional replacement
Safety Note: If you smell gas at any point, turn off the gas valve, open windows, and call a professional immediately. Don't try to light the oven manually.
2. Faulty Gas Valve
What it does: Opens to allow gas flow when the igniter is ready.
Symptoms:
- Igniter glows bright white but burner still doesn't light
- Igniter glows continuously (over 90 seconds) without burner lighting
- No gas smell when igniter is glowing (valve not opening)
Cause: Valve solenoid failure, mechanical blockage
DIY Fix: Not recommended - requires gas system expertise
Cost: $200-$350 for professional gas valve replacement
3. Safety Thermostat or Thermal Fuse
Gas ovens have safety devices that cut gas flow if overheating occurs.
Cost: $100-$200 to replace
Simple Checks Before Calling a Pro
For Electric Ovens:
- Check circuit breaker - oven uses double-pole breaker; sometimes only one half trips
- Test with oven thermometer - is temperature just inaccurate or truly not heating?
- Look at elements - any visible damage?
- Check self-clean lock - some ovens won't heat if lock is engaged
For Gas Ovens:
- Verify gas supply - is valve turned on? (Handle parallel to pipe = ON)
- Check other gas appliances - do they work? (Rules out gas supply issue)
- Smell test - any gas odor? (If yes, shut off gas and call gas company immediately)
- Watch igniter - does it glow at all?
- Check pilot light - if your oven has one (older models), is it lit?
When It's Time for Professional Help
Call EasyBear or another certified technician if:
- You've checked breaker/gas supply but oven still won't heat
- You smell gas at any point
- You're not comfortable working with gas or 240V electricity
- Error codes appear that you can't diagnose
- Elements/igniter need replacement and you're not confident doing it
- Your oven is under warranty (DIY repairs may void it)
Repair Cost Guide
Bay Area average costs:
- Service call + diagnosis: $75-$100
- Bake/broil element replacement: $150-$250
- Temperature sensor: $150-$200
- Igniter replacement (gas): $150-$250
- Gas valve replacement: $250-$400
- Control board: $300-$600
- Full oven replacement: $500-$3,000+
Rule of thumb: If repair costs exceed 50% of oven replacement cost and your oven is over 10 years old, consider replacing.
Oven Temperature Calibration
Sometimes your oven DOES heat, but the temperature is off:
How to Test:
- Place an oven thermometer in center of oven
- Preheat to 350°F
- Wait 20 minutes after beep
- Check thermometer reading
- If off by more than 25°F, calibration is needed
DIY Calibration:
- Many ovens have calibration settings in the control panel
- Consult your owner's manual for specific steps
- Usually involves pressing specific button combinations
- Can adjust temperature +/- 35°F typically
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why does my oven work for baking but not broiling (or vice versa)? A: Electric ovens have separate elements for baking and broiling. If one works but not the other, that specific element has failed.
Q: My gas oven igniter glows but oven won't heat - what's wrong? A: The igniter is likely weak. Even though it glows, it's not drawing enough current to signal the gas valve to open. This is the most common gas oven problem.
Q: How long should it take for my oven to preheat to 350°F? A: Electric ovens: 10-15 minutes. Gas ovens: 7-10 minutes. If it takes longer, something is wrong.
Q: Can I still use my oven if only the bake element works? A: Yes, you can bake normally. But you won't be able to broil until the broil element is replaced.
Q: Is it safe to replace an oven igniter myself? A: If you're comfortable turning off gas supply, working inside the oven, and handling fragile parts, yes. But gas appliances are risky - when in doubt, call a pro.
Get Expert Oven Repair
EasyBear provides same-day oven repair throughout the Bay Area:
- Electric and gas oven repairs
- All major brands: GE, Samsung, Whirlpool, LG, Bosch, and more
- 90-day warranty on all repairs
- Free diagnosis with repair
Don't let a broken oven disrupt your meal plans. Schedule your repair online now - most repairs completed the same day!
