How to Repair Common Oven Parts
Ovens are a common kitchen appliance used to cook food. The heat from the oven sterilizes foods and kills most of the micro-organisms in them.
A precise oven thermometer is an essential for all bakers. Understanding how your oven works will help improve your baking and roasting skills and eliminate those frustrating hot spots that wreak havoc with cookies, cakes and other baked goods.
Thermostat
The thermostat is an essential element of your oven. It helps to ensure that the temperature of food corresponds to the temperature that you set on the control panel. It can be problematic as is any other sensor or switch that is electro-mechanical. The oven can overheat or underheat, or not keep the temperature you have set.
The oven thermostat is a small strip of two different metals joined. When exposed to heat the various metals expand and contract at different rates, forming or breaking an electrical circuit. When the metal in your thermostat reaches the temperature you set on your control panel it will shut off the power to the heater. As the oven cools down the bimetallic strip expands to re-establish the circuit before turning on the heating element. hobs oven continues for a long time to ensure a constant oven temperature.
The oven must be disconnected 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 zero or close to it then the thermostat is working correctly and doesn't require to be replaced.
If the multimeter fails to show anything it means that the thermostat is defective. It must be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a fresh one of the same kind as your old one. They are available through the internet or at a kitchen goods store, and can be purchased at a reasonable cost.
Bake Element
The bake element is vital to the operation of your oven. It generates heat that allows it to cook food items. It's an easy component that converts electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting, and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges often include heating elements that are either visible or hidden beneath the floor.
Generally, oven heating elements are made of high-resistance materials such as nickel-chromium alloy. They work by converting electrical energy into heat using resistance. The heat then radiates through the interior of the oven to attain the temperature required to cook different kinds of food.
When you turn on your oven, the heating element begins to work by generating heat from the high-voltage electrical energy flowing across its metal surface. When electricity flows through it the element is heated. When the element reaches the temperature it is intended to, it starts to glow red hot.
The baked element is the main source of heat in most oven functions. It is usually located at lower levels of the oven. Many ovens with automatic heating also use it for self-cleaning. When it starts to smoke, you might be noticing that your oven doesn't preheat as quickly or that your food is not fully cooked.
Connect your multimeter to its red and black ports. Then, you can press the probes made of metal on one end of the device against each other. The other end of the element on one terminal and then place your hand on it. If the element feels warm, remove it and test it again. If it's not, take off the element and test again.
Broil Element
The broil element, usually located on the top of your cavity, allows high-temperature temperatures to brown or char foods. The oven's broil setting can be ideal for quick grill meat, crisp vegetables, reheat 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 comprised of an inner core of wires that are wrapped in insulating perlite product. The inner core is then enclosed in an outer layer of stainless steel to protect the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer design helps lower the temperature of the broil element, making it more secure than older styles.
While you can use any heating element in your oven, make sure to select one that is compatible with the rated wattage of your oven. A different wattage could damage your oven, or cause it overheat. You can verify the power of your oven as well as the rating of the new heating element by checking their voltage and current ratings on the control panel of your oven.
It is also advisable to check the resistance of your previous element and compare it to the power output of your new broiler heating element. The greater the resistance of an oven element, the more power it uses.
Replace the broiler element as soon as possible If it's not working or if it is acting up. Your oven must function properly to to cook your favourite meals. If your oven does not operate at all, or only intermittently, the issue may be with another part.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The oven light helps keep an eye on your food cooking without having to open the door and let heat escape. The light will also inform you when the casserole has been cooked. However, it's not uncommon for the light bulb to go out. It can be quite frustrating, but you can do it yourself. Make sure the breaker is not tripped, and that the connector has three prongs.
Take out the old bulb and then look for the new bulb. You may need to look online for a replacement bulb that is compatible with the wattage and model of your oven. Some appliances use standard 40-watt bulbs and others require a halogen bulb that is up to 50 watts. Be aware that the oil in your hands could damage the halogen bulb, so consider using cotton gloves when handling it.
Remove the glass casing of the bulb before replacing it. You should do this slowly so that you don't break it. Then, you'll have to evacuate the air inside the bulb and fill it with gas mixture. hobs oven will ensure a longer lifespan for the filament.
If your light bulb is always blinking, it may be a larger electrical issue that should be addressed by an expert. Be sure to double check 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 an excellent idea to unplug your oven and disconnect it from the outlet prior to you begin any repair. This will prevent you from being shocked by electricity.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is an important oven component because it allows for a small amount of airflow to flow inside the cavity. This permits the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, ensuring that the temperature is distributed evenly.
It also allows vapors from the oven to escape, and allows smoke to be drawn away from the cooking surface. It is essential for efficient operation of any gas or electric oven.
Oven vent tubes may become blocked due to many factors. Accidental spills or splatters may leave sticky residues in oven vents. They can 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 renovations and construction work can introduce dust or other contaminants into the vents, which can cause obstructions or clogs.
Based on the type of the oven the vent tube could comprise a spreader 46, the fill tip 12, and the bottle guide 20 which are integrally formed into the pipe 32. The bottle guide 20 can have a tapered outer edge that is complemented by the tapered inner edge of the spreader, allowing the vent tubes to be inserted effortlessly into various sizes and shapes bottle necks.
A clogged vent tube can cause a decrease in pressure inside the enclosure which can lead to a downdraft that pulls exhaust forward and down the vent, causing damage to oven components. Consult a professional if you think your vent pipe could be blocked or clogged. They will identify the issue and provide recommendations for removing or cleaning the vent.