How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is an appliance in the kitchen that is used to cook food. The heat generated by the oven sterilizes food items and kills most of the micro-organisms in them.
A precise oven thermometer is a necessity for all bakers. Knowing how your oven functions will improve your baking and roasting skills and eliminate those irritated hot spots that wreak havoc with cookies, cakes and other baked items.
Thermostat
The thermostat is an essential part of your oven. It helps to ensure that the temperature of food matches the temperature that you set on the control panel. Unfortunately, like any other electro mechanical switch or sensor, it can sometimes have problems that cause the oven to over heat or under heat, or not be able to keep the temperature at what you've set.
The oven thermostat is basically tiny strips of two different metals that are bonded together. When heated by the oven, the metals expand or bend at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the thermostat's metal attains the temperature you've set on your control panel, it turns off the power to the heating element. As the oven cools the bimetallic strips expand to re-establish the circuit before turning on heating element. This process is repeated over and over to ensure that the temperature remains constant within your oven.
To identify a problem with the thermostat, you'll need to disconnect the oven and make sure that all of the screws that hold it in place have been removed. If you have a multimeter (which is a device that measures electrical current), set it to the ohms setting and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or very close to it, then the thermostat is operating properly and doesn't require to be replaced.
If the multimeter does not detect anything, the thermostat is faulty. It is time to get it replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a fresh one of the same type as the one you have. These thermostats are available at a reasonable cost on the internet or in the kitchen store.
Bake Element
Ovens are not complete without the bake element which provides heat to make your oven cook food. It's a small component that transforms electricity into the high temperatures required to bake, roast, and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges typically have heating elements, which can be either exposed or hidden beneath the floor.
Generally, oven heating elements are constructed of high-resistance materials such as nickel-chromium alloy. They convert electrical energy into heat through the process of resistance, which then radiates throughout the oven 's interior to raise the temperature to the desired temperature for cooking different types of food items.
When you start your oven the heating element gets to produce heat from the high-voltage electrical energy that flows across its metallic surface. When the electric current runs through it the element is heated. When the element reaches its temperature, it starts to be lit up in red hot.
The baked element is the primary source of heat in most oven functions. It's usually found in the bottom of the oven, and is used to clean the oven in many automatic oven models. You may notice that the oven does not warm up as quickly, or that your food hasn't been cooked to perfection.
Plug your multimeter in to its black and red ports. Then, press the probes made of metal on one side of the element to each other. Place the other end against one of its terminals and put your hand on it to test if the element is warm to the touch. If not, remove it and try again.
Broil Element
The broil element is typically located at the top of your oven cavity and provides high heat like a grill to brown or char food items. The broil setting of your oven is a great option for quickly searing meat and vegetables, crisping up vegetables, warming lasagna or making caramel on top of the casserole.
The broiler heating element has a similarity to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy by resistance into heat. It consists of an inner core of wires that are wrapped in insulating perlite material. The inside of the element is then covered with a stainless steel outer layer to shield the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer design can help reduce the temperature of the broil element, making it safer than older styles.
You can use any heating element you want to use 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. A different wattage may 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 looking at their voltage and current ratings on the control panel of your oven.
Verify the resistance of the previous element, and then compare it to the wattage ratings of the new element. The greater the resistance, the greater power an oven element uses.
Replace your broiler element immediately If it's not working or if it is acting up. Your oven needs to function properly to be able to cook your favourite meals. If your oven does not 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 keep an eye on the food that is cooking without opening the door and let heat escape. The light will also notify you when the casserole is finished. It's not uncommon for the light bulb to fail. It can be a hassle, but you can do it yourself. Make sure that the breaker is not tripped and that the connector has three prongs.
Remove the old bulb and then find the new one. It is possible to look online to find the correct replacement bulb that matches your oven's wattage. Some ovens use standard appliances with bulbs that are 40 watts in power, while others need a halogen lamp up to 50 watts. Be aware that the oil in your hands can damage a halogen bulb, so consider using cotton gloves when handling it.
Remove the glass casing of the bulb before replacing it. Do this slowly to avoid breaking it. You'll then need to remove the air from the bulb and replace it with a mixture. This will prolong the lifespan of the filament.
If your bulb is constantly blinking, it could be a bigger electrical issue that must be addressed by a professional. Double check that you are using the correct oven bulb and consult your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting advice. Remember to unplug the oven and shut off the power before you start any repairs. This will help prevent suffering an electric shock.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is a crucial oven element because it allows for a tiny amount of airflow to be created within the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat around the oven, ensuring that the temperature is evenly distributed.
It also allows vapors from the oven to escape, as well as allows smoke to be drawn away from the cooking surface. It is essential for efficient operation of any electric or gas oven.
Oven vent tubes can become blocked or clogged due to a variety of factors. Accidental spills or splatters could leave sticky remnants in oven vents. These can attract dust, debris and other contaminants that could cause blockages over time. Oil and grease particles can be blown into the air and settle around the vents, and vice versa. Other environmental factors, like kitchen renovations and construction work could introduce dust and other contaminants into the vents, leading to clogs or blockages.
Depending on the model of the oven, the vent tube can include a spreader and an fill tip 12 and the bottle guide 20 which are incorporated into the pipe 32. For instance, the bottle guide 20 may have a tapered exterior surface which is in harmony with the tapered inside of the spreader 46 to allow the vent tube to be easily inserted into different sizes and forms of bottle necks.
A clogged vent tube can cause a decrease in pressure inside the enclosure, which could cause an exhaust downdraft, which pulls the exhaust backwards and down the vent, causing damage to oven's components. Consult a professional if suspect that your vent tube could be blocked or clogged. They will diagnose the issue and offer suggestions on how to clear or clean the vent.