At a Glance:
Sometimes even the premium stoves give you inaccurate temperature readings at times, but did you know there is a solution to this unnerving issue? When you’re choosing an oven for your new kitchen, you want to make sure it has features that will benefit your meals (like self-cleaning options or a quick boil burner), but you also want to make sure your oven will stand the test of time.
Many times, though, after a few years of wear-and-tear, you might run into a few common stove problems that hit your kitchen unexpectedly. There’s no need to panic or head to your local appliance store to buy a new oven just yet. Check our guide to see if you’re experiencing these five common stove problems and see how you can fix them without breaking the bank below!
5 Common Stove Problems
There are many different common stove problems you may run into, like your electric stove top won’t turn off, or your gas burner won’t light. We’ll go through five of the most common stove problems below and inform you on how to service it on your own or if you need a professional.
If you choose to service your oven by yourself, we advise you to turn off the power and unplug the appliance for safety.
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Ranges1. Gas Stove Not Lighting
Gas stoves are conveniently functional. They provide your kitchen with instant heat, the ability to cook if you lose power, and long-term cost benefits, but what happens if your gas stove isn’t lighting?
Reasons: There could be a few different reasons why your gas stove isn’t lighting.
- Your stovetop could be clogged with food.
- There could be a loose connection.
- You could have a faulty igniter.
Solutions: If you find that your gas range burner won’t ignite, test and see if these are your issues by following the steps below.
Clean the Stovetop: To do so, simply take a rag with warm water and soap and gently scrub away. Soak each burner in vinegar and use a bristle brush to remove any lingering food. Lastly, use a toothpick or a needle to clean the rest of the caked-on food out of the burner holes.
Reconnect the Ignitors: Your stove ignitions can come loose during installation or by moving your stove to clean. To reconnect your stove igniters, follow these steps:
- Shut off the power to your appliance by unplugging or flipping the breaker.
- Remove grates and burner caps from any problematic burners.
- Remove the burned base and search for any disconnected wires.
- Secure those connections or wires, and then place the burner base, caps, and grate back.
- Plug or flip the breaker back on and test for the connection.
Replace the Ignitors: If you’ve cleaned your stovetop, look for loose connections, and still, if your burners aren’t lighting, then it may be time to replace the ignitors.
A quick test to see if your ignitors are faulty is by turning the kitchen lights off, flipping the igniter knob on, and watching if your stove produces yellow or orange sparks. If they produce yellow or orange instead of a bright white-blue color, it’s time to replace it.
How to Replace: To replace and fix a faulty igniter, you need to turn off the power and gas, take off the burner cap, and use a screwdriver to disconnect the base of the burner. Disconnect all the wires and reference the model number of your stove to find the right replacements. Once the replacement has been delivered, reinstall the igniter by connecting the wires and replacing all the parts.
Recommended Read: Our Guide to Shopping for Your Next Electric or Gas Range
2. Oven Doesn’t Heat
Depending on if you have a gas oven or an electric oven will depend on if you need to replace a gas line or simply replace the igniter or heating element.
Reason: If your oven doesn’t heat effectively, then you may need to replace a gas line. If that is the case, a professional is needed for these services. But, before you replace that line, make sure to check if your igniter needs to be replaced first. If your electric oven doesn’t heat, then it’s most likely the heating element.
Solution: To replace a heating element or an old igniter, follow the steps below.
- Turn off the power before servicing your oven.
- Use a screwdriver to remove the igniter or the heating element (the heating element can be found inside the oven while the igniter is underneath).
- Follow the above steps on how to replace your igniter.
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3. Stove Won’t Turn Off
If your gas or electric stove won’t turn off, a few reasons are listed below.
Reasons
- You may have a disconnected or loose cord.
- You may have a tripped breaker.
- You may have a faulty burner or socket.
- You may have an internal fuse blow.
Solutions
- Reconnecting a loose cord is an easy fix! If this is the case, simply plug your oven back into the outlet.
- If the cord is connected correctly and your oven still won’t turn on, check the breaker. To reset your breaker, simply flip the switch back to “on.”
- If neither of these issues is the case, then you may have a faulty burner or socket (which comes with the territory of having an older appliance). To test to make sure that your burner isn’t working, swap the faulty one with a working one and test to see if you can turn it on. If you still can’t, then you may need to replace that burner which is a quick and inexpensive fix.
- Your internal oven’s fuse box may be blown, and if so, the entire appliance may not work properly. To fix this issue, you will need to refer to your owner’s manual to find where the fuse box is. Once you’ve located it, check to see if any of the wires are disconnected. If the fuse is blown, then you will need to replace it.
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4. Oven Not Baking Evenly
If you discover your oven isn’t baking evenly, there are four main reasons to look out for.
Reasons
- Your oven racks aren’t adjusted correctly.
- Your temperature sensor is malfunctioning or broken.
- You have a burned-out bake element.
- Your oven may not be calibrated correctly.
Solutions
- The way your food or cookies bake does depend on the positioning of your oven racks. If they aren’t adjusted correctly, your delicious dinners may be notoriously undercooked. When starting a recipe, make sure to double-check where your oven racks need to be placed and move accordingly.
- One way to check to see if your oven isn’t baking evenly is by checking the temperature sensors. You may be setting your oven to an even 400 degrees, but your cookies are baking at a boiling 550 degrees, resulting in burned baked goods. If this is the case, you will need a professional to install a new temperature sensor.
- The bake element to your oven is located at the bottom of the appliance, and this element works cohesively with your broil elements that are at the top of your oven. If you’re discovering your meals are being repeatedly undercooked, your bake element may need to be replaced. Unfortunately, this element can’t be fixed and needs a professional to replace it.
- Calibration boards in ovens are set by the manufacturer. To test to see if the oven’s calibration is off, set your oven to a temperature and use a separate thermometer to measure the accuracy. If your oven is reflecting a different temperature than the thermometer, a professional will need to be called to recalibrate it.
5. Oven Door Won’t Shut
What’s more frustrating than your oven door not shutting? This can cause uneven baking, higher gas bills due to escaped heat, and a hazardous environment.
Reasons: Your oven may have old hinges, or it may have broken springs.
Solution: To make sure that your oven door shuts, turn off the power and unplug your oven. Next, pull up and out on your oven door to remove it from the appliance (you may need to unscrew the door). Check to see if the hinges are working properly. If not, simply replace them.
If you find your oven door is still getting stuck or just not opening, check for any broken door springs. To do this, slide the bottom drawer of your oven out and look underneath the appliance to analyze the door springs. If you find these springs are broken, remove them with pliers, and replace them by wrapping the springs around the two bolts.
Lastly, you may just need to replace the rubber or silicone gasket that is around the door. This easy and cheap fix will have your meals back to perfection in no time!
Recommended Read: Our Favorite Kitchen Range Brands [GE, Samsung, LG Ranges, and More!]
Replacing Your Oven
If your oven is well over a decade old, we advise replacing it. An old oven can cause higher gas or electric bills, uncooked or overcooked meals, and safety hazards for families. Aztec Appliance showcases over 30 different brands of ranges for your kitchen. Choose between a premium Monogram range or a budget-friendly Frigidaire range.
Keep in mind that a stove shouldn’t take too long to heat up, so if you find your range to be slow to get to your desired temperature, this is a good indication that you may need to replace this appliance.
Ovens are a necessity in the kitchen. To cook healthy, whole meals for your family, you need this essential appliance to be working correctly. In most cases, there is a simple and cheap fix to common stove problems. Still, in rare cases, Aztec Appliance is glad to come to service your appliances.
Stove Problem FAQs
Let’s review a few remaining questions pertaining to common stove problems below.
What causes a stove to stop working?
A gas oven or stove may stop working as the result of a faulty igniter. An electric oven or stove may stop working if the heating element stops working. If you suspect either of these situations, it is advised that you contact a repair service.
Why is my stove top working but not my oven?
A stove top may stop working due to a blown internal fuse. This could also be a matter of an issue with wiring or a breakdown of the temperature sensor or control board.
Why Trust Aztec Appliance?
Since 1972, Aztec Appliance has been offering quality sales and service for name-brand appliances. Our mission is to not only help you achieve all your appliance dreams, but we also want to bring value to your home beyond materialistic amenities. Our team is an authentic group of people dedicated to our work, and we share the same undeniable passion for people and serving them the best we can. Suffice it to say, we know appliances.
Whether it’s a first birthday, a backyard wedding, or a retirement celebration, our hope is to give you the opportunity to enjoy life’s little moments. After all, memories are not consigned to the big moments — they exist within the little ones. And you can rest assured our inventory of top-performing kitchen, laundry, and outdoor appliances will help you spend less time keeping the home and more time with the people who make it home.
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Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today, and shop ranges online for the guaranteed lowest price at Aztec. Check out Aztec Appliance reviews, and if you have questions, our friendly product experts are always happy to help you discover common stove problems you may be experiencing— whether you call us at 858-987-5777 or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by our Aztec Appliance San Diego showroom located at the heart of downtown. Visit us today!
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