Range/Oven Parts Tips
Read these 13 Range/Oven Parts Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Appliance Repair tips and hundreds of other topics.
I Think My Gas Oven Is Having Trouble Igniting
Sometimes your GE range/oven parts, Thermador parts, and Jennair parts just need time to operate properly. Many people expect a gas stove to behave like an electric model and heat up right away. Did you know that it can take up to three minutes to ignite and heat? That said, if your gas stove takes any longer than this, chances are you have an igniter that is going bad and needs to be replaced. Don't allow a bad igniter to operate indefinitely, replace it as soon as possible. In the meantime, make sure your kitchen area is well-ventilated when trying to diagnose the problem, time out how long it is taking for this range/oven part to ignite the gas, etc. You could also have a problem with the gas flame. It needs to wrap around a range/oven part known as the thermocouple bulb. If the gas flame is not wrapping the upper third of the flame around the bulb it needs to be adjusted. Make sure you have a well-ventilated kitchen before adjusting this Jennair part, GE range/oven part, etc.
Gas Range Flame Check
Did you know that the color of your gas range flame could indicate if repairs are needed? GE range oven parts and other brands may not be a requirement if all you need is a simple adjustment to the range's air shutter. 1. Turn on the burners on your gas range. 2. Observe the color of the flame. 3. Do you see a steady blue flame? Your range is fine and needs no adjustment to the gas flow or air shutter. 4. Is the flame yellow? You need to check the air shutter and the gas flow. If the air shutter needs opening, adjust this first and check the quality of your flame once more. If it is still yellow, check the gas flow. These fixes should do the trick, and you can save the purchase of Jennair parts for the next repair job.
My Range/Oven's Heat Element Is Fine But Still Won't Bake
Your Magic Chef parts are good, you have inspected both the baking and broiler heating elements, and you still can't find a problem with your range/oven parts? Inspect the connections between the heating element and the terminal. You could have a badly connected electric wire, or a burned out electric wire. Range/Oven parts must deal with both voltage and extreme heat, so it's a common problem to have a burned wire from time to time. This is a simple fix and if you check this problem in your initial run of troubleshooting, you may save yourself unnecessary purchases of Jennair parts, GE range/oven parts, etc.
Fixing Your Rage Or Oven
Depending on the job, repairing your oven with replacement range/oven parts can range in difficulty from quick fix to major repair effort. No matter how much time you need to invest, remember that a range or oven is an electrical appliance and must be turned off by being disconnected from the wall socket or at the circuit breaker.
Gas ovens create additional safety issues. Shut off the gas and work in a well-ventilated area. You may need to operate an electric fan with open windows to properly ventilate for safety. Do not attempt to install gas range/oven parts without turning off the gas. Range/oven parts installation often involves placing metal against metal, which may create sparks and other conditions that can ignite gas.
My Gas Range Is Giving Off Soot
Faulty range/oven parts aren't the only worry a gas range owner has; the threat of carbon monoxide is very real and should be paid close attention to when doing repairs on the range.
If your range or oven gives off soot, you definitely have a carbon monoxide problem. Soot is the result of inefficient or incomplete combustion. There are always elevated levels of carbon monoxide with soot production. Properly adjusted range/oven parts do not give off soot. You may have poorly adjusted gas pressure, the air shutter may need to be opened, or you may be supplying fuel the oven isn't designed to handle. Don't use natural gas in liquid propane stove or vice-versa.
My Oven Won't Get Hot Enough
If your oven is not reaching the proper temperature, you should inspect the heating elements, thermostat, and oven sensor. Before doing any of these, one important troubleshooting step is to give a good look at your oven door gasket.
Does it have rips? Tears? Is it pulling away from the oven? Believe it or not, this simple range/oven part can make a big difference in how the oven works. If it is going bad, you will lose heat through the door. The door gasket is designed to keep hot air inside the oven. When this range/oven part starts going bad, the heat will leak out into the kitchen, reducing the overall temperature of your cooking.
Why Is My Clock Flashing Strange Numbers And Letters?
If your electric range clock's LED is giving you odd number/letter combinations, it's because the Electronic Control Range has detected a problem that must be corrected. The number/letter combinations are known as error codes, which correspond to particular range/oven parts that need to be repaired or replaced.
Some range/oven parts will always register error codes when they go bad. Some models of range/ovens only display error codes for the clock and control panel itself and don't diagnose other problems. What's more, the error codes differ greatly from brand to brand.
You will need your owner manual to interpret the error codes for your unit. You may also need to search for further information on these codes as many manufacturers only intend the codes to be interpreted by trained professionals. It all depends on the model you own, and the range/oven replacement parts you need!
How Long Can I Expect My Range/Oven Parts To Last?
The average range/oven part can last as long as six years. Thermador parts, Jennair parts, and other brands can last even longer if problems are diagnosed correctly. Sometimes the only thing wrong with range/oven parts is that they are dirty and are no longer making good contacts, or allowing gas to flow in the case of a gas oven. Heating elements in electric stoves are an excellent example. This range/oven part needs a bit of simple cleaning to insure it has a strong connection with the electrical system of the range. If the contacts are too dirty, the electricity won't reach the heat element and give it the power needed to heat up. All appliances that cook food have these types of issues with dirt. A regular cleaning schedule can save you downtime down the road.
My Oven No Longer Self-Cleans. Why?
An oven has certain safety features on it much like a microwave. Thermador parts, GE range/oven parts and the like are all designed to perform safe self-cleaning, which means not engaging in this high-temperature operation unless the door is properly latched. If you have a bent, broken, or misaligned door latch, the self-cleaning unit will not operate. This safety feature connected with this range/oven part involves making a small electrical connection when the latch is closed, telling the oven that it is "safe" to operate in self-cleaning mode. Check the latch on your range/oven. If it is bent you may be able to straighten it with a pair of pliers, but make certain there is no power to the unit. You may need to replace this range/oven part, but inspect the latch connection switch before settling on this diagnosis. You may have a bad switch instead.
My Oven Clock No Longer Works
It may seem like a trivial complaint, but many people rely on their oven clocks when baking or cooking, and want to fix them when they go bad. This range/oven part fix varies greatly from unit to unit. For people with electronic or LED display, this problem is unfortunately not very user-friendly. You'll need to consult a professional, and are probably better off with an electric timer.
For those with older models, burned wires that supply power to the clock can be easily fixed, but if this timekeeping range/oven part itself is bad, you will need to replace the whole clock. Again, it is cheaper and easier just to buy a kitchen timer!
For those who have electronic displays, a flashing or constant error code may be misinterpreted as a malfunctioning clock. Make sure you get the interpretation of the error code right away, as some codes signal critical repairs are needed. Don't ignore an error code on your digital clock!
My Gas Range/oven Won't Bake
If your gas oven isn't baking, you need to check the bake igniter, located on the oven burner on most models. This gas/range part should glow during normal operation. If you don't see it glow, chances are you need to replace it. Before ordering, take the oven out of automatic mode and put it into manual and check again. You may find that the igniter works fine in this mode.
If the igniter gives a red glow, this range/oven part is weak and again should be replaced with a new range/oven part. There are other causes for this problem, make sure you know you have range/oven parts in good repair including the gas safety valve and the thermostat before settling on the bake igniter as the culprit.
My Electric Range Won't Bake
Many things can cause baking problems in electric ovens, and an inspection of the heat elements is the first thing you should do. If you see any holes, scorched patches, or other obvious damage you will most likely need to replace the heat element. This range/oven part is fairly simple to replace. It is connected to the terminal by wires, which need to be disconnected before the element can be removed. Look up the replacement range/oven part right for your model online and order, or call your local parts depot and you can probably install same-day.
Remember to disconnect the power to your unit before trying to install range/oven replacement parts and you should have no trouble. Remember to check the bake element and the broiler element if your unit has both. You may need to replace one or both of them if the unit is older.
My Gas Burner Won't Work
When you turn on the burners on your gas range, a "no flame" situation is usually blamed on the pilot light. Ever try to relight the pilot light only to discover it is already lit? People are often confused when they replace the top and try to start the range again only to get a lack of ignition once more. Do you need Magic Chef replacement parts? Jennair parts? Not if the problem is a blocked or dirty burner. This can prevent the gas from igniting. Scrub your burners, let them dry, and try igniting again. If you get flame, you have successfully diagnosed and repaired the problem, no additional range/oven parts needed! Be sure to also check for air blowing from a fan, air conditioner, or open window, which may be blowing out the pilot light in some instances.
| Guru Spotlight |
| Jerry Mayo |
