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How to Repair Common Oven Parts The oven is an appliance in the kitchen that is typically used to cook food items. The heat generated by the oven sterilizes food and kills most of the micro-organisms present in them. All bakers need an accurate oven thermometer. Understanding how your oven works will help improve your baking and roasting abilities and eliminate those frustrating hot spots that cause havoc with cakes, cookies and other baked goods. Thermostat The thermostat is among the most vital components of your oven, helping to make sure that the temperature of your food is exactly what you've set on the control panel. It can be problematic, just like any other switch or sensor that is electro-mechanical. The oven may overheat or underheat, or not keep the temperature you have set. The oven thermostat is essentially tiny strips of two different metals that are bonded. When heated by the oven, the metals expand or bend at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the metal in the thermostat is at the temperature you've set on the control panel, it turns off the power to the heating element. As the oven cools the bimetallic strips expand to re-establish the circuit before activating the heating element. This cycle continues for a long time to ensure that the oven remains at a constant temperature. To determine if there is a issue with the thermostat, you'll need to unplug the oven and make sure that all screws holding it in place have been removed. Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting, and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or very close to it the thermostat is operating properly and doesn't require to be replaced. If the multimeter fails to detect anything it means that the thermostat is defective. It needs to be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a brand new one of the same type as your old one. These thermostats are available at a reasonable price online or in a kitchen products shop. Bake Element Ovens are not complete without the bake element which provides heat to make your oven cook food. It's a small component that turns electricity into the high temperatures required for baking, roasting, and broiling. Heating elements are usually found in electric ovens and ranges and can be either uncovered or hidden under the floor of the oven. Generally, oven heating elements are constructed of high-resistance materials such as nickel-chromium alloy. They convert electrical energy into heat using resistance. The heat then radiates through the oven's interior to achieve the desired temperature to cook different kinds of food. When you start your oven the heating element gets to work by generating heat by the high-voltage electricity moving across its metal surface. When the electric current flows through it, the element heats up. The element will glow red hot when it reaches the temperature you want. The baked element is the main source of heat in most oven functions. It's usually located at the lower levels of the oven. Many automatic oven models also use it for self-cleaning. You may observe that the oven does not heat up as quickly or that your food hasn't been cooked to perfection. To verify that you have a working oven baking element connect your multimeter to its black and red ports, then rub the probes made of steel against each other on one side of the element. Place the other end of the element against one terminal and place your hands on it. If the element feels warm, remove it and test it again. If it's not, remove the element and start testing again. Broil Element The broil element is usually located at the top of the oven cavity and provides high-temperature heat similar to a grill to roast or grill food items. The broil setting of your oven is a great choice for quickly searing meat, crisping vegetables, reheating lasagna or caramelizing the top of the casserole. The broiler heating element is similar to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy by resistance into heat. It consists of an inner core of wires that are wrapped in an insulating expanded perlite product. The inner core is then enclosed in an outer layer of stainless steel to shield the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer design can help lower the temperature of the broil element, making it more secure than older designs. You can use any heating element for baking or broiling in your oven. However, it is important to choose one that is in line with your oven's rated wattage. A different wattage can cause damage to your oven or cause it to overheat. You can determine the wattage of your oven and the rating of the new heating element by checking their current and voltage ratings on the oven's control panel. Check the resistance of your old element, and then compare it to the wattage ratings of the new one. The greater the resistance of an oven element, the greater power it draws from it. If your broiler's heating element is not working or functions at all, you must replace it immediately. Your oven must function properly for you to to cook your favorite foods. If your oven doesn't function at all, or only intermittently, then the issue could be a problem with a different component. Light Bulb and Assembly The light allows you to keep an eye on your food while it cooks without opening the door and let heat escape. The light will also notify you when the casserole is done. It's not unusual for the light bulb to fail. This can be frustrating however, it's an easy fix you can accomplish yourself. Before you start, make sure that the breaker isn't tripped and that the three-prong connector remains intact. Remove the old bulb and then find the new one. It is possible to search the internet to find a replacement 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 oil from your hands can damage a halogen bulb, so it is recommended to use cotton gloves when handling it. Remove the glass casing of the bulb before you replace it. Do slowly to avoid breaking it. Then, you'll have to evacuate the air inside the bulb and fill it with a mixture of gases. This will prolong the lifespan for the filament. If your light bulb is always blinking, it could be a bigger electrical issue that must be addressed by an expert. Double check that you are using the correct oven bulb and check your Use and Care Guide for additional troubleshooting tips. Remember that it's a good idea to unplug your oven and disconnect the power from the outlet before you start any repair. This will help protect your from electrical shock. Vent Tube The vent tube is an important oven part as it allows for a small amount of airflow to be created within the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat around the oven and ensures 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 essential for efficient operation of any electric or gas oven. Vents for ovens can become clogged or blocked by several reasons. Accidental spills or splatters could leave sticky remnants in oven vents. They may draw in dust, debris and other contaminates that could cause obstructions over time. Grease and oil may also become airborne and settle on vents. hobs and ovens , like kitchen renovations and construction work, can introduce dust and other contaminants into the vents, which can cause clogs or blockages. Depending on the oven model, the vent tube may comprise the bottle guide 20, spreader 46 and fill tip 12 that are integrally formed with the pipe 32. The bottle guide 20 may have a tapered edge that is complemented by the tapered inner edge of the spreader, allowing the vent tubes to be inserted smoothly into different sizes and shapes of bottle necks. A blocked or clogged vent tube can result in the loss of pressure inside the structure that surrounds it, which can create a downdraft situation which pulls exhaust down vent and then backwards over the oven burners, causing damage to oven components. Contact a professional if you suspect that your vent tube might be blocked or clogged. They will determine the cause and provide suggestions on how to clear or clean the vent.