How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is an appliance used in kitchens that is commonly used to cook food items. The heat produced by the oven sterilizes food items and kills the majority of micro-organisms that are present in them.
An accurate oven thermometer is an essential for bakers of all kinds. Knowing how your oven functions will improve your baking, roasting and cooking skills. It will also help eliminate the annoying hot spots that can cause damage to cakes, cookies and baked goods.
Thermostat
The thermostat is an important component of your oven. It assists in ensuring that the temperature of food is in line with the temperature that you set on the control panel. It can be problematic as is any other switch or sensor that is electro-mechanical. The oven can overheat or underheat, or not maintain the temperature you have set.
The oven thermostat is basically an extremely small strip of two different metals that are bonded together. When exposed to heat the different metals expand and flex at different rates, making or breaking an electrical circuit. When the metal in your thermostat reaches the temperature you set on the control panel it will shut off heating element's power. As the oven cools the bimetallic strip contract, re-establishing the circuit and turning on the heating element. This cycle is constantly repeated to maintain a constant temperature in your oven.
You'll need the oven disconnected and all screws removed in order to determine the issue with the thermostat. Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting, and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or very close to it then the thermostat is working correctly and doesn't need to be replaced.
If the multimeter doesn't show anything then the thermostat is not working properly. It needs to be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a new one of the same type that your old one. They are available through the internet or at a kitchen goods store, and are available at a reasonable price.
Bake Element
Ovens can't be complete without the bake element which provides heat to make your oven cook food. It's a simple element that converts electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges often contain heating elements, which can be exposed or hidden beneath the floor.
In general, oven heating elements are made of high-resistance materials such as nickel-chromium alloy. They convert electricity into heat through resistance. This heat is then radiated through the interior of the oven to reach the desired temperature to cook different kinds of food.
When you switch on your oven, the heating element begins to generate heat by the high-voltage electricity flowing across its metal surface. The element is a ribbon or coil (straight or corrugated) of wire. When the electric current passes through it, it starts to increase in temperature. When the element reaches its temperature, it starts to glow red hot.
The baked element is the main source of heat in most oven functions. It's typically located at the bottom of the oven and is used to clean the oven in many ovens with automatic cleaning. When it begins to smoke, you might find that your oven isn't able to warm as quickly or your food isn't fully cooked.
Plug your multimeter in to its red and black ports. Then, press the metal probes on one side of the element against each other. Place the other end of the baking element against one terminal and place your hands on it. If the element feels warm, remove it and try testing it again. If not, take it off and try again.
Broil Element
The broil element is typically situated in the top of the oven and can provide the same high temperature as a grill to cook or brown food items. The oven's broil setting is ideal for quick sear meat, crisp vegetables, reheat lasagna or caramelize the topping of the casserole.
The broiler heating element is similar to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy via resistance into heat. It is made up of an internal core of wires that are wrapped in insulating expanded perlite product. The core of the element is covered with an outer layer of stainless steel to protect the wires against direct contact with the oven. The three-layer design helps lower the temperature of the broil element, making it safer than the older models.
You can use any heating element for baking or broiling in your oven. However, you should choose one that is in line with the wattage that your oven is rated for. Utilizing a different wattage may harm your oven or cause it to overheat. You can verify 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.
Examine the resistance of the previous element, and then compare it to the wattage rating of the new one. The higher the resistance, the greater the power that an oven element draws from.
If your broiler heating element is malfunctioning or isn't working at all, you should replace it immediately. It is essential for your oven to function correctly to be able to cook all of your favorite food items. If your oven doesn't operate in any way, or just intermittently, then the issue could be in a different part.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The light allows you to monitor your food as it cooks without opening the door and letting heat escape. The light also lets you know when your casserole is ready. It's not uncommon for the light bulb to fail. This can be very frustrating but it's an easy fix you can tackle yourself. Before you begin, be sure that the breaker isn't tripped and that the three-prong connector is intact.
First, take out the old light bulb and find the new one. You may have to search online for a replacement that matches the wattage and type of oven you have. Some ovens use standard 40-watt appliance bulbs and others require halogen bulbs up to 50 watts. Consider using cotton gloves to shield the halogen bulbs from damage caused by oil.
Before you put the new bulb into place it is important to first remove it from its glass casing. It's important to take this step slowly to ensure that you don't damage it. You'll have to remove the air from the bulb and replace it with a mixture. This will prolong the lifespan for the filament.
If your bulb is constantly going out, Www.ovensandhobs.uk there could be a bigger electrical issue that must be dealt with by an expert. Make sure you're using the correct oven bulb and consult your Use and Care Guide for additional troubleshooting tips. And remember that it's always an excellent idea to unplug your oven and disconnect it from the outlet prior to you start any repair. This will keep you from getting an electric shock.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is a vital oven component that permits an airflow within the cavity. This allows the bake-element to circulate heat throughout the oven, ensuring that the temperature is distributed evenly.
It also allows the vapors escape from the oven, and smoke to be drawn from the cooking surface. It is vital for the proper operation of any gas or electric oven.
Oven vent tubes can become blocked or clogged due to a variety of factors. Accidental spills or splatters may leave sticky residues in oven vents. These can attract dust, debris and other contaminates that could cause clogs over time. Oil and grease particles can become airborne and settle on the vents, too. Other environmental factors, such as kitchen renovations and construction work, can introduce dust and other contaminants into the vents, leading to blockages or clogs.
Depending on the model of the oven the vent tube could include a spreader and the fill tip 12, and the bottle guide 20 which are incorporated into the pipe 32. For instance, the bottle guide 20 could have a tapered outer layer that is complemented by the tapered inside of the spreader 46, allowing the vent tube to be effortlessly fitted into various sizes and designs of bottle necks.
A blocked vent tube could cause a reduction in pressure inside the enclosure, which could cause an exhaust downdraft, which pulls the exhaust backwards and down the vent, causing damage to oven components. Consult a professional if think your vent pipe could be blocked or clogged. They will diagnose the problem and provide recommendations for removing or cleaning the vent.