How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is a kitchen appliance that is used to cook food. The heat from the oven sterilizes food items and kills the majority of microorganisms.
All bakers need an accurate oven thermometer. Knowing how your oven works will help improve your baking cooking, roasting and cooking skills. It can also help you avoid the annoying hot spots that can ruin cakes, cookies and baked products.
Thermostat
The thermostat is one of the most important parts of your oven, helping make sure that the temperature of your food matches the temperature you've set on your control panel. As with any electro mechanical switch or sensor, it may have issues that can cause the oven to over heat or under heat, or not be able to maintain the temperature at the level you've set.
The oven thermostat is basically tiny strips of two different metals bonded together. When heated, the different metals expand and flex at different rates, forming or breaking an electrical circuit. When the metal in your thermostat reaches the temperature you have set on your control panel, it will shut off the heating element's power. As the oven cools the bimetallic strip expands in a way, reestablishing the circuit and activating the heating element. This process is repeated repeatedly to maintain a constant oven temperature.
To determine if there is a issue with the thermostat, you'll have to remove the oven and ensure that all screws that hold it in place have been removed. If you have a multimeter (which is a device that analyzes the electrical current) set it to the ohms setting and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter displays zero or close to zero the thermostat is operating correctly and does not need to be changed.
If the multimeter fails to detect anything it means that the thermostat is defective. It is time to get it replaced. Cooker Spare Parts suggests that you replace your thermostat with one of the same type as the previous one. They are available on the internet or in a kitchen goods store, and can be bought at a reasonable cost.
Bake Element
The bake element is essential to the operation of your oven. It provides the heat needed to cook food items. It's a simple component that converts electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting, and broiling. Heating elements are typically found in electric ranges and ovens and can be either uncovered or hidden under the floor of the oven.
In general oven heating elements comprise of high-resistance metals such as nickel-chromium. They work by converting electrical energy into heat through the process of resistance which then radiates throughout the oven's interior to raise the temperature to the desired level to cook various types of food.
When you switch on the oven the heating elements start to produce heat through the high-voltage electric current flowing across the surface of the metal. The element is a ribbon or coil (straight or corrugated) of wire, and when the electric current flows through it, it begins to get hotter. When the element reaches the temperature it is intended to it begins to be lit up in red hot.
The baked element is the primary source of heat for the majority of oven functions. It's usually located at the bottom of the oven and is also used for the self-cleaning feature in a variety of ovens that are automatic. You may notice that your oven doesn't get hot as fast, or that your food hasn't fully cooked.
To determine if you have a functioning oven baking element, plug your multimeter into its red and black ports, and then place the probes made of steel against each other on one side of your device. Place the other end of the element against one terminal and then place your hand on it. If the element feels warm, remove it and start testing again. If not, take it off the element and try again.
Broil Element
The broil element, which is typically located at the top of your cavity offers high heat to cook or char foods. The oven's broil setting is an excellent way to quickly sear meat, crisp vegetables, reheat lasagna or caramelize the top of the casserole.
Similar to the bake element the broiler heating element transforms electrical energy into heat by the process of resistance. It consists of an inner core of metal wires wrapped in insulating perlite material. Best ovens is enclosed in an outer layer of stainless steel, which protects the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer design can help reduce the temperature of the broil element, making it safer than older designs.
While you may use any heating element in your oven, you should select one that is compatible with the wattage rating of your oven. Utilizing a different wattage may harm your oven or cause it to overheat. You can determine the power of your oven as well as the rating of the new heating element by examining their voltage and current ratings on the control panel of your oven.
You should also check the resistance of your previous element and compare it with the power of the new broiler heating element. The higher the resistance, the greater the power that an oven element draws from.
If the heating element in your broiler is malfunctioning or isn't working at all, you must replace it right away. It's important for your oven to function properly so that you can cook your most loved food items. If your oven does not work at all, or only intermittently then the problem may be a problem with a different component.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The oven light helps you keep an eye on your food as it cooks, without having to open the door to let heat escape. The light will also inform you when the casserole is finished. It's not unusual for the light bulb to fail. This can be very frustrating, but it's a relatively simple fix that you can accomplish yourself. Before you start, 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 have to search the internet to find a replacement that matches the wattage and type of your oven. Some ovens use standard 40-watt appliance bulbs and others require a halogen bulb up to 50 watts. Be aware that the oils from your hands can damage the bulb, so consider using cotton gloves when handling it.
Remove the glass casing of the bulb prior to replacing it. It's crucial to take this step slowly to ensure that you don't fracture it. After that, you'll need to remove the air from the bulb and fill it up with an amalgamation of gases. This will ensure a longer filament life.
If your light bulb is always blinking, it could be a wider electrical issue that should be addressed by an expert. Verify that you're using the correct oven bulb and look over your Use and Care Guide to find more help in troubleshooting. And remember that it's always a good idea to unplug your oven and disconnect it from the outlet prior to you start any repair. This will help prevent being shocked by electricity.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is a crucial oven part as it allows for a tiny amount of airflow to flow inside the cavity. This allows the bake-element to circulate heat throughout the oven, ensuring that the temperature is evenly distributed.
It also allows vapors to escape from the oven and smoke to be drawn from the cooking surface. It is essential to ensure the proper operation of any electric or gas oven.
Oven vent tubes can become blocked or clogged due to a variety of factors. Accidental spills or splatters may leave sticky residues in oven vents. They can attract dust, debris and other contaminants that could cause obstructions over time. Grease and oil particles may be blown into the air and settle around the vents, too. Other environmental factors like construction and kitchen renovations can introduce dust into the vents. This can lead to clogs.
Depending on the oven model the vent tube may comprise a bottle guide 20 or spreader 46 as well as a fill tip 12 that are integrally formed with the pipe 32. The bottle guide 20 could have a tapered outer edge that complements the tapered inner edge of the spreader to allow the vent tubes to slide smoothly into different sizes and shapes bottle necks.
A blocked vent tube may cause a decrease in pressure within the enclosure, which can lead to an exhaust downdraft, which pulls the exhaust forward and down the vent, damaging the oven components. Contact a professional if you suspect that your vent tube may be clogged or blocked. They will determine the cause and make recommendations on how to remove or clean the vent.