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How to Repair Common Oven Parts The oven is a kitchen appliance that is commonly used to cook food. The heat from the oven sterilizes foods and kills most of the micro-organisms in them. A reliable oven thermometer is essential for bakers of all kinds. Knowing how your oven functions will improve your baking and roasting skills, and eliminate those annoying hot spots that wreak havoc with cookies, cakes and other baked items. Thermostat The thermostat is an important part of your oven. It assists in ensuring that the temperature of food is in line with the temperature that you set on the control panel. It can be problematic as is any other switch or sensor that is electro-mechanical. The oven may overheat or underheat, or simply not keep the temperature you set. The oven thermostat is basically tiny strips of two different metals joined. When exposed to heat the various metals expand and contract at different rates, creating or breaking an electrical circuit. When the thermostat's metal attains the temperature you've set on the control panel, it turns off the heating element's power. As the oven cools it expands the bimetallic strip in a circuit, re-establishing it and turning on heating element. This cycle is repeated continuously to maintain a constant oven temperature. The oven must be disconnected and all screws removed in order to determine the problem with the thermostat. Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting, and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or very close to it then 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 must be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a fresh one of the same kind as your old one. The thermostats are sold at a reasonable price online or at a kitchen products shop. Bake Element The bake element is vital to the functioning of your oven. It generates the heat needed to cook food items. It's a basic element that converts electricity into the high temperatures required to bake, roast, and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges often have heating elements, which are either visible or hidden under the floor. In general, oven heating elements are constructed from high-resistance components like nickel-chromium alloy. They convert electrical energy into heat by the process of resistance, which then radiates throughout the oven's interior, causing it to increase the temperature to the desired degree for cooking different types of food items. When you turn on your oven the heating element starts to produce heat from the high-voltage electrical energy that flows across its metallic surface. The element is a coil or ribbon (straight or corrugated) of wire. When the electric current flows through it, it begins to increase in temperature. When the element reaches its desired temperature it begins to be lit up in red hot. The baked element is the primary source of heat for most oven functions. It is typically located at the lower levels of the oven. A lot of ovens that are automated also use it for self-cleaning. When it begins to get hot you may notice that your oven doesn't warm as quickly or your food isn't fully cooked. To check for a working oven baking element connect your multimeter to its red and black ports, and then place the probes made of steel against each other on one side of your element. The other end of the baking element against one terminal and then place your hand on it. If the element feels warm, take it off it and test it again. If not, take it off and try again. Broil Element The broil element, which is typically located at the top of your cavity provides high heat to cook or char the food. The oven's broil setting is a great way to quickly cook meat, crisp vegetables, reheat lasagna or caramelize the top of a casserole. The broiler heating element is comparable to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy via resistance into heat. It is composed of an inner core comprised of metal wires, which are wrapped in an insulating and expanded product known as perlite. The inner core is then enclosed in an outer layer of stainless steel, which protects 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. You can use any heating element you want to use for baking or broiling in your oven. However, it is important to choose one that is compatible with the wattage of your oven's rating. A different wattage can damage your oven, or cause it to overheat. The voltage and current ratings of the new heating elements are available on the control panel of your oven. This allows you to determine the ratings and wattage of your oven. You should also check the resistance of your old element and compare it with the wattage of your new broiler heating element. The higher the resistance of an oven element the more power it uses. If your broiler's heating element is not working or functions in any way, you should replace it immediately. It is essential for your oven to function correctly to be able to cook all of your favorite food items. If your oven does not function at all, or only intermittently then the problem may be in a different part. Light Bulb and Assembly The light allows you to keep an eye on your food while it cooks without opening the door and let the heat escape. The light will also notify you when the casserole is done. It's not uncommon for the bulb to die. It can be a hassle, but you can do it yourself. Before you begin, make sure that the breaker hasn't tripped and that the three-prong connector is intact. Remove the old bulb and then locate the new one. You may need to search the internet for a replacement bulb that matches the wattage and the type of oven you have. Some ovens have standard appliance bulbs that are 40 watts in power, while others need an halogen lamp that can reach 50 watts. Consider using cotton gloves to shield the bulbs from the damage caused by oil. Remove the glass casing of the bulb before replacing it. Do slowly to avoid breaking it. Then, you'll have to evacuate the air inside the bulb and fill it up with a mixture of gases. This ensures a longer life for the filament. If your bulb keeps going out, it could be an electrical issue that requires a professional to fix. Double check that you are using the correct oven bulb and consult your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting advice. Remember to unplug the oven and turn off the power prior to beginning any repairs. This will help prevent being shocked by electricity. Vent Tube The vent tube is an important oven component that allows for a small airflow inside the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat around the oven and ensures the temperature is evenly dispersed. It also allows the vapors that are released from the oven to escape and allows smoke to be drawn away from the cooking surface. It is essential for the proper operation of any electric or gas oven. Vents in ovens can get clogged or blocked by several factors. Accidental spills and splatters from cooking can leave sticky residues on oven vents, which could draw dust and other debris that can eventually cause clogs or blockages in the course of time. Grease and oil can also be airborne and settle on vents. Other environmental factors, such as kitchen renovations and construction work, could introduce dust or other pollutants into the vents, resulting in blockages or clogs. Depending on the oven model the vent tube could comprise the bottle guide 20, spreader 46 and fill tip 12 that are constructed with the pipe 32. For example, the bottle guide 20 could have a tapered outer surface that compliments the complementarily tapered inner surface of the spreader 46 to allow the vent tube to be easily placed into various sizes and shapes of bottle necks. A clogged or blocked vent tube can result in an increase in pressure within the enclosing structure, which can create a downdraft situation which pulls exhaust down vent and then backwards over the oven's burners, causing damage to the oven's components. Consult a professional if you think your vent pipe may be clogged or blocked. They will identify the problem and make recommendations on how to remove or clean the vent.