An oven that won’t heat, takes far too long to preheat or burns one side of a tray usually has a single failed part.
Before you assume the worst, rule out a setting or a tripped breaker, which takes five minutes. Then the symptoms below will usually tell you which part has failed, and help you describe the problem when you book.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Check the settings and power
Start with the things that stop a working oven from heating:
- Look at the display. “LOC“, “Lock” or a padlock icon means the control lock is on. “SAb” or “Sabbath” means Sabbath mode, which changes how the oven heats on many models. A delay-start or timed-cook setting may be waiting to start. Cancel the mode, then select Bake again. Whirlpool’s support pages, for example, say to hold Start for about 3 seconds to unlock.
- Set the clock if your model won’t run without it, which is common after a power outage.
- Check the breaker. Electric ranges and wall ovens run on a dedicated double breaker. If one side trips, the display and cooktop may still work while the oven doesn’t heat. Switch the breaker fully off, then back on.
- Reset the controls. If the display is frozen or acting strangely, switching off the breaker for a minute and turning it back on often clears it.
Ovens with heating elements
On an oven with heating elements, a bake element that has failed often shows visible damage such as a blister or break, and it won’t glow red when heating. Some newer ovens hide the bake element under the oven floor, so you can’t see it.
In that case, notice whether the oven heats only from the top, which means the broil element is doing all the work.
- Bake works, but slowly or unevenly: the broil element, the convection fan or the temperature sensor may be involved. On a convection oven, listen for the fan running during a convection cycle.
- Stuck at one temperature: an oven that heats but stalls well below the setting often has a weak bake element. One of our customers, Jeff M., described exactly this. His oven “would not go any higher than 320°”, and the fix was a new bake element.
- Don’t line the oven floor with foil. Most manufacturers warn against it, because foil traps heat and can damage the oven floor and affect baking.
Gas ovens
A gas oven that won’t light, or lights slowly, often has a weak igniter.
The igniter must reach a high temperature before the gas valve opens, so a worn igniter can glow but never light the burner. It’s normally the most common reason a gas oven stops heating.
Two quick checks first. Do the cooktop burners light? If they don’t either, the problem may be the gas supply rather than the oven. Is the range plugged in? Gas ranges still need power for the igniter and controls.
Gas oven repairs should be left to a professional. Don’t remove panels or touch the gas valve yourself.
Oven runs too hot or too cold
If the oven heats but doesn’t match the set temperature, the temperature sensor or control board may be at fault. An oven thermometer on the middle rack is an easy way to check how far off it is before you call:
- Set the oven to 350°F and let it preheat fully.
- Wait 20 minutes, then read the thermometer without opening the door if you can. Ovens cycle on and off, so take two or three readings a few minutes apart and average them.
- A small, steady difference can often be corrected with the oven’s own calibration setting. GE’s manuals, for example, allow an offset of up to 35°F up or down. Check your owner’s manual for the steps on your model.
- A large or changing difference, or an oven that won’t reach temperature at all, points to a part: a sensor, an element or igniter, or a worn door gasket letting heat escape. That needs a diagnosis.
Uneven baking can also come from the cookware. Dark pans, crowded racks and the wrong rack position all brown food faster on one side. Try one tray in the centre before deciding the oven is at fault.
Self-clean problems
If the door stays locked after a self-clean cycle, let the oven cool completely first. Many models won’t unlock until it does.
If the door is still locked once it’s cool, or the oven stopped heating right after a self-clean, the door lock motor, a fuse or the control may have failed. That needs a technician. Don’t force the latch.
What oven repairs usually cost
Typical ranges from our Oven & Stove Repair page, in CAD before HST:
| Repair | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Oven temperature sensor | $130–$280 |
| Bake or broil element | $150–$300 |
| Gas oven igniter | $180–$320 |
| Convection fan motor | $180–$350 |
| Self-clean door lock | $180–$350 |
| Control board or touchpad | $250–$550 |
For the full table and the repair-or-replace rule of thumb, see Oven Repair Cost: Repair or Replace?
When to call a technician
Call a technician if the settings and breaker check out and the oven still won’t heat, if the thermometer shows a big or changing difference, or straight away for any gas oven that won’t light.
We repair freestanding and slide-in ranges, wall ovens and cooktops across Vaughan, including gas and professional-style ranges.
Same-Day Service Available. Diagnostic regularly $129, now $99, and always waived when Aria does the repair. Every completed repair comes with a 1-Year Parts & Labour Warranty.
Not sure whether to repair or replace your oven?
Need help now?
Oven & Stove Repair in Vaughan
Same-Day Service Available. Diagnostic regularly $129, now $99, and always waived when Aria does the repair. 1-Year Parts & Labour Warranty on Completed Repairs.
Oven Not Heating FAQ
Why does my oven heat from the top only?
Usually the bake element at the bottom has failed and the broil element is doing all the work. On gas ovens, the bake igniter may be weak.
Why won’t my oven get past a certain temperature?
A weak bake element or igniter is the most common cause, followed by the temperature sensor. An oven thermometer reading helps us narrow it down.
Can I replace an oven element myself?
Please call us. Element replacement means working with 240-volt wiring, so it’s a job for a technician. Book a diagnostic and we’ll confirm the fault, the part and the price before any work starts.
Is a gas oven that won’t light dangerous?
A gas oven that won’t light is designed not to release gas until the igniter is hot enough, but if you smell gas at any point, leave and call Enbridge from outside.
How long does an oven repair take?
Most repairs are done in one visit, because we carry common parts on the truck. If your model needs a part we don’t have on hand, we order it and come back to fit it.
