How to Repair Common Oven Parts<br /><br />The oven is a kitchen appliance that is typically used to cook food items. The heat generated by the oven sterilizes food and kills most of the micro-organisms that are present in them.<br /><br />An accurate oven thermometer is an essential for bakers of all kinds. Knowing how your oven functions can help you improve your baking and roasting abilities and eliminate those frustrating hot spots that wreak havoc with cakes, cookies and other baked goods.<br /><br />Thermostat<br /><br />The thermostat is one of the most crucial components of your oven, helping to ensure that the temperature of your food is in line with the temperature you've set on your control panel. It can be problematic as is any other sensor or switch that is electro-mechanical. The oven may overheat or underheat, or simply not keep the temperature you have set.<br /><br />The oven thermostat is essentially an extremely small piece of different metals bonded together. When heated, the metals expand or bend at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the metal in your thermostat reaches the temperature that you have set on your control panel it will turn off the power to the heater. As the oven cools the bimetallic strip contract to re-establish the circuit before activating the heating element. This process continues to ensure that the temperature remains constant in your oven.<br /><br />You'll need the oven disconnected and all screws removed in order to determine the issue with the thermostat. If you have a multimeter (which is a device that measures electrical current), set it to the ohms level and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or close to zero it means that the thermostat is working properly and doesn't need to be replaced.<br /><br />If the multimeter does not read anything, then the thermostat is faulty and must be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a brand new one of the same type that your old one. They can be purchased on the internet or in an appliance store and are available at a reasonable price.<br /><br />Bake Element<br /><br />Ovens can't be complete without the bake element, which creates heat to make your oven cook food. It's a simple component that transforms electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting and broiling. <a href="https://mozillabd.science/wiki/Test_How_Much_Do_You_Know_About_Hob">oven with hob</a> and ranges typically contain heating elements, which are either visible or hidden beneath the floor.<br /><br />In general oven heating elements comprise of high-resistance elements such as nickel-chromium. They work by converting electrical energy into heat by the process of resistance which then radiates through the oven interior to raise the temperature to the desired level for cooking different types of food items.<br /><br />When you switch on the oven the heating elements begin to produce heat through the high-voltage current flowing across the metal surface. When electricity flows through it, the element heats up. The element will glow red hot when it reaches the temperature you want.<br /><br />The baked element is the main source of heat in most oven functions. It is usually located at lower levels of the oven. Many automatic oven models also use it to clean themselves. When it starts to burn out, you might be noticing that your oven doesn't preheat as quickly or that your food isn't fully cooked.<br /><br />To verify that you have a working oven baking element connect your multimeter to its red and black ports, then rub the probes made of steel against each other on one side of your device. Set the other end of the probe against one of its terminals and put your hand on it to feel whether the element is warm to the contact. If not, take it off and try again.<br /><br />Broil Element<br /><br />The broil element is typically located at the top of the oven and can provide high heat like grills to roast or grill food items. The oven's broil setting can be ideal for quick cook meat or crisp vegetables, to heat up lasagna or caramelize the topping of the casserole.<br /><br />The broiler heating element is similar to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy through resistance into heat. It is made up of an inner core comprised of metal wires, which are wrapped in an insulating and expanded product called perlite. The inner core is enclosed in an outer layer of stainless steel to shield the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer structure helps lower the broil element's temperature, making it safer and more efficient than older types of elements.<br /><br />You can use any heating element for baking or broiling in your oven. But, you must choose one that is in line with the wattage of your oven's rating. Using 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 voltage and current ratings on the oven's control panel.<br /><br />It is also advisable to check the resistance of your previous element and compare it with the power of the new broiler heating element. The greater the resistance of an oven element, the more power it draws.<br /><br />Replace the element in your broiler immediately if it is not working or is acting up. It is essential that your oven functions properly to cook all your favorite foods. If your oven does not work at all, or only intermittently then the problem may be in a different part.<br /><br />Light Bulb and Assembly<br /><br />The oven light helps you keep an eye on your food while it cooks without having to open the door to let heat escape. The light will also inform you when the casserole has been cooked. It's not uncommon for the bulb to die. It can be a hassle, but you can fix it yourself. Before you begin, be sure that the breaker hasn't been tripped and that the three-prong connector is intact.<br /><br />First, take out the light bulb that was in use and locate the new one. You may have to look online for the right replacement bulb that matches the wattage of your oven. Some ovens use standard 40-watt appliance bulbs and others require halogen bulbs up to 50 watts. You should consider using cotton gloves to protect the bulbs from damage caused by oil.<br /><br />Remove the glass casing of the bulb before you replace it. It is important to do this slowly so that you don't break it. Then, you'll need to remove the air from the bulb and replace it with an appropriate mixture. This will provide a longer life for the filament.<br /><br />If your bulb keeps blinking, it may be a larger electrical problem that needs to be addressed by an expert. Make sure that you're using the right bulb for your oven, and look over your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting tips. Also, remember that it's an excellent idea to unplug your oven and disconnect it from the outlet before you start any repair. This will prevent you from being shocked by electricity.<br /><br />Vent Tube<br /><br />The vent tube is an essential oven component that allows for a tiny airflow inside the cavity. This allows the bake-element to circulate heat throughout the oven, ensuring that the temperature is distributed evenly.<br /><br /><br /><br />It also allows the vapors that are released from the oven to escape, as well as allows smoke to be removed from the cooking surface. It is crucial for the proper operation of any electric or gas oven.<br /><br />Vents in ovens can get blocked or clogged due to a variety of factors. Accidental spills or splatters could leave sticky residues on oven vents. These can draw in dust, debris and other contaminants that could cause blockages over time. Grease and oil particles can become airborne and settle on the vents, as well. Other environmental factors, like kitchen and construction projects can create dust in the vents. This can cause clogs.<br /><br />Depending on the oven model the vent tube could comprise a bottle guide 20, spreader 46 and fill tip 12 that are integrally formed with the pipe 32. For instance, the bottle guide 20 may have a tapered exterior surface that is complemented by the tapered inner surface of the spreader 46, allowing the vent tube to be effortlessly placed into various sizes and forms of bottle necks.<br /><br />A clogged or blocked vent tube can cause an increase in pressure within the enclosing structure. This could result in a downdraft which pulls exhaust down vent and backwards towards the oven burners, causing damage to the oven components. Contact a professional if you suspect that your vent tube may be clogged or blocked. They will determine the cause and offer suggestions for removing or cleaning the vent.<br /><br />