How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is a kitchen appliance that is commonly used to cook food. The heat generated by the oven sterilizes food items and kills most of the micro-organisms present in them.
A precise oven thermometer is a necessity for all bakers. Knowing how your oven functions will improve your baking cooking, roasting and cooking skills. It can also help you avoid those annoying hot spots which can ruin cakes, cookies and baked items.
Thermostat
The thermostat is an important part of your oven. It helps to ensure that the temperature of food matches the temperature you set on the 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 just not be able to keep the temperature you've set.
The oven thermostat is essentially an extremely small piece of different metals bonded together. When exposed to heat, the different metals expand and flex at different rates, forming or breaking an electrical circuit. When the thermostat's metal is at the temperature you've set on your control panel it shuts off heating element's power. As the oven cools, the bimetallic strips contract in a circuit, re-establishing it and turning on the heating element. This cycle is constantly repeated to ensure that the temperature remains constant in your oven.
To determine if there is a problem with the thermostat, you'll have to remove the oven and verify that all screws that hold it in place have been removed. If you have a multimeter (which is a tool that analyzes the electrical current) set it to the ohms setting, and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or close to zero the thermostat is operating properly and doesn't need to be changed.
If the multimeter isn't reading anything, then the thermostat is defective and requires replacement. Cooker Spare Parts suggests that you replace your thermostat with a thermostat of the same type as the previous one. They are available on the internet or in the kitchen store, and can be bought at a reasonable cost.
Bake Element
The bake element is crucial to the functioning of your oven. It provides the heat needed to cook food. It's a basic component that transforms electricity into the high temperatures required to bake, roast, and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges typically contain heating elements, which can be either exposed or hidden beneath the floor.
The majority of oven heating elements are constructed from high-resistance components like nickel-chromium alloy. They work by converting electrical energy into heat using resistance. This heat then radiates through the oven's interior to achieve the desired temperature to cook different kinds of food.
When you start the oven the heating elements begin to produce heat due to the high-voltage current flowing across the metal surface. The element is a coil or ribbon (straight or corrugated) of wire. When the electric current passes through it, it starts to get hotter. The element will turn red hot when it reaches the desired temperature.
The baked element is the primary source of heat for most oven functions. It is typically located at the in the bottom of the oven. Many automatic oven models also have it to clean themselves. When oven with hob begins to smoke you may notice that your oven doesn't heat up as fast or that your food isn't cooked through completely.
Connect your multimeter to its black and red ports. Then, press the metal probes on one side of the device against each other. Set the other end of the probe against one of its terminals and put your hand on it to determine if the element is warm to the touch. If it's not, take off the element and try again.
Broil Element
The broil element is usually located at the top of the oven's cavity and produces the same high temperature as a grill to cook or brown food items. The broil setting in your oven is an excellent option for quickly searing meat, crisping vegetables, reheating lasagna or caramelizing the top of a casserole.
The broiler heating element has a similarity to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy through resistance into heat. It consists of an inner core of metal wires wrapped in insulating perlite material. The inner core of the element is then covered with an outer layer of stainless steel to protect the wires against direct contact with the oven. The three-layer design can help lower the temperature of the broil element, making it more secure than older styles.
While you can use any baking or broiling heating element in your oven, make sure to choose one that matches the wattage rating of your oven. A different wattage could damage your oven, or cause it overheat. You can determine the power of your oven as well as the rating of the new heating element by checking their voltage and current ratings on the oven's control panel.
It is also advisable to check the resistance of your old element and compare it with the wattage of your new broiler heating element. The higher the resistance of an oven element, the more power it uses.
If your broiler heating element is malfunctioning or isn't working in any way, you should replace it right away. Your oven needs to function properly to to cook your favorite meals. If your oven is not working at all, or is only working intermittently, the issue may be in a different area of your oven.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The light lets you keep an eye on the food that is cooking without opening the door and let the heat escape. The light will also notify you when the casserole has been cooked. It's not unusual for the bulb to die. This can be very frustrating but it's an easy fix you can do yourself. Before you start, make sure that the breaker hasn't tripped and that the three-prong connector remains intact.
Remove the old bulb and then look for the new bulb. It is possible to look online for a replacement bulb that is compatible with the wattage and model of your oven. Some ovens have standard appliance bulbs that are 40 watts in power, while others need a halogen lamp up to 50 watts. Be aware that the oil from your hands can damage the bulb, so consider using cotton gloves when handling it.
Remove the glass casing from the bulb before replacing it. It is important to do this slowly so that you don't break it. After that, you'll need to remove the air from the bulb and fill it with an amalgamation of gases. This will provide a longer life for the filament.
If your light bulb is constantly running out it could be an electrical issue that requires the assistance of a professional. Make sure that you're using a correct bulb for your oven, and consult your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting tips. Remember that it's an excellent idea to unplug your oven and disconnect it from the outlet prior to you begin any repair. This will prevent you from getting an electric shock.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is a crucial oven component because it allows a small amount of airflow to be created inside the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, making sure that the temperature is distributed evenly.
It also allows the vapors escape from the oven and smoke to be drained from the cooking surface. It is necessary for the proper operation of any gas or electric oven.
Vents in ovens can get blocked by various reasons. Accidental spills or splatters may leave sticky remnants in oven vents. They can attract dust, debris and other contaminates that could cause obstructions in the course of time. Oil and grease can also become airborne, and then settle around vents. Other environmental factors like kitchen and construction work can create dust in the vents. This can lead to clogs.
Based on the type of the oven the vent tube could include a spreader and an fill tip 12 and an a bottle guide 20 that are integrated into the pipe 32. For instance, the bottle guide 20 could have a tapered exterior surface which is in harmony with the tapered inside of the spreader 46, allowing the vent tube to be effortlessly fitted into various sizes and forms of bottle necks.
A clogged or blocked vent tube could cause the loss of pressure inside the structure that surrounds it, which could result in a downdraft that pulls exhaust down the vent and backwards towards the oven's burners, which can cause damage to the oven's components. If you believe that your vent tube is clogged or blocked, consult an expert for assistance. They will determine the cause and offer suggestions on how to remove or clean the vent.