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How to Repair Common Oven Parts The oven is an appliance in the kitchen that is used to cook food. The heat generated by the oven sterilizes foods and kills most of the micro-organisms that are present in them. All bakers need an accurate oven thermometer. Knowing how your oven functions will help improve your baking and roasting skills and eliminate those irritated hot spots that can cause havoc with cakes, cookies and other baked items. Thermostat The thermostat is an essential element of your oven. It helps to ensure that the temperature of food matches the temperature you set on the control panel. Unfortunately, like any other electro mechanical switch or sensor, it can have issues that can cause the oven to over or under heat, or simply not be able to maintain the temperature at what you've set. The oven thermostat is tiny strips of two different metals joined. When heated, oven and hob expand or flex at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the thermostat's metal reaches the temperature you've set on the control panel, it turns off the heating element's power. When the oven cools down, the bimetallic strip contracts, re-establishing the circuit and turning on the heating element. This cycle continues for a long time to maintain a constant oven temperature. To identify a issue with the thermostat, you'll need to unplug the oven and make sure that all screws that hold it in place have been removed. Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting, and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or close to zero, the thermostat is functioning properly and doesn't need to be replaced. If the multimeter fails to show anything then the thermostat is not working properly. It must be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a brand new one that is the same model as the one you have. The thermostats are sold at a reasonable price on the internet or in a kitchen products shop. 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 typically have heating elements, which are either visible or hidden beneath the floor. Generally, oven heating elements are constructed of high-resistance materials such as nickel-chromium alloy. They work by converting electrical energy into heat through the process of resistance which radiates outwards into the oven interior to raise the temperature to the desired level to cook different kinds of food items. When you turn on the oven, the heating elements begin to generate heat by the high-voltage current flowing across the surface of the metal. When electricity flows through it the element is heated. When the element reaches the temperature it is intended to it starts to shine red hot. The baked element is the primary source of heat for the majority of oven functions. It is typically located at the lower levels of the oven. Many automatic oven models also use it for self-cleaning. If it starts to burn out, you might be noticing that your oven doesn't heat up as fast or that your food isn't fully cooked. Connect your multimeter to its red and black ports. Then, you can press the metal probes on one end of the element to each other. Place the other end against one of its terminals and place your hand on it to feel whether the baking element is warm to the contact. If it's not, remove the element and test again. Broil Element The broil element, usually found 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 sear 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 through the process of resistance. hobs and ovens is comprised of an inner core of wires that are wrapped in insulating expanded perlite material. 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 reduce the temperature of the broil element, making it safer than older designs. While you are able to use any heating element in your oven, you should choose one that matches the wattage rating of your oven. Utilizing a different wattage may harm your oven or cause it to overheat. You can check the power of your oven as well as the rating of the new heating element by checking their voltage and current ratings on the oven's control panel. You should also test the resistance of your old element and compare it with the power output of your new broiler heating element. The greater the resistance of an oven element, the more power it draws. Replace the broiler element as soon as possible If it's not functioning or if it's acting up. Your oven must work properly for you to be able to cook your favorite foods. If your oven doesn't work in any way, or just intermittently, then the issue could be in a different part. Light Bulb and Assembly The light allows you to keep an eye on the food that is cooking without opening the door and letting heat escape. The light will also inform you when the casserole is done. It's not unusual for the bulb to die. This can be very frustrating, but it's a relatively simple fix that you can do yourself. Before you begin, be 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 look online for a replacement bulb that matches the wattage and the type of oven you have. Some ovens use standard appliance bulbs that are 40 watts in power some require a halogen lamp up to 50 watts. Be aware that the oils from your hands could damage the bulb, so it is recommended to use cotton gloves when handling it. Remove the glass casing from the bulb before replacing it. It's crucial to do this slowly so that you don't break it. Then, you'll need to remove the air from the bulb and fill it up with gas mixture. This will prolong the filament life. If your bulb is always going out, it could be an electrical issue that requires an expert to fix it. Double check that you are using the correct oven bulb and check your Use and Care Guide to find more troubleshooting advice. And remember that it's always an excellent idea to unplug your oven and disconnect the power from the outlet before you begin any repair. This will prevent you from suffering an electric shock. Vent Tube The vent tube is an important oven component because it allows a small amount of airflow to flow within the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat around the oven and ensures that the temperature is evenly dispersed. It also allows vapors to be released from the oven, and smoke to be drawn from the cooking surface. It is necessary for the proper operation of any electric or gas oven. Vents in ovens can get clogged or blocked by several reasons. Accidental spills or splatters can leave sticky residues on oven vents. They may attract debris, dust and other contaminates that could cause clogs over time. Grease and oil can also become airborne, and settle around vents. Other environmental factors, like kitchen and construction projects can introduce dust into the vents. This can cause clogs. Depending on the model of the oven the vent tube may include a spreader, the fill tip 12, and the bottle guide 20 which are integrally formed into the pipe 32. For instance the bottle guide 20 might have a tapered outer layer that compliments the complementarily tapered inner surface of the spreader 46 to allow the vent tube to be smoothly fitted into various sizes and forms of bottle necks. A blocked or clogged vent tube could cause an increase in pressure within the enclosing structure, which can result in a downdraft that pushes exhaust down the vent and backwards towards the oven's burners, causing damage to the oven components. Contact a professional if you believe that your vent might be blocked or clogged. They will identify the issue and provide recommendations for removing or cleaning the vent.