Oven Door Handle Falling Off? Fix It In 7 Simple Steps

If your oven door handle is loose or even falling off, then don’t worry. You’re not alone.

There’s plenty of users that report this as an issue, and it can leave you hesitating to even use your oven in case the whole handle comes off, and you can’t get to your food!

Thankfully, there are some typical causes with simple solutions we can walk through in this article.

If your oven door handle is loose or falling off, the first thing you’ll want to try is tightening the screws on it. Provided that’s not the issue, you’ll need to pull out the oven, take off the door, then remove the handle by unscrewing each screw. Aim to replace the screws, and fully clean out the screw ports.

That’s the quick answer, but there’s more to it than that!

Read on, and I’ll walk you through how to fix a loose oven door handle in detail.

Materials Needed To Fix an Oven Door Handle

First, you need to gather all the materials you need to fix your oven door handle. This includes: 

• You need a screwdriver that will fit the screws in your oven door handle. In most cases, this is going to be a Phillips head screwdriver; however, there could be some oven door handles that require flat-head screwdrivers. 
• You also need a new set of screws to replace the ones in the door handle. Take a look at the manual to figure out what types of screws your oven door handle requires. 
• You will also need a damp cloth with some cleaning solution to clean the ports for the screws once you remove the old door handle. 

Of note, you may have thought about using glue to fix the door handle; however, this is not recommended. Glue is not as strong as screws. Therefore, this is only going to be a temporary solution. Eventually, you are going to pull the door handle off of your oven again. As a result, it is better to use screws. 

Fixing an Oven Door Handle: The Steps Required

Once you have all the materials you need, it is time to fix your oven door handle. The steps to follow include: 

Step 1: Open the Oven Door and Release the Hinges

First, you need to open the oven door. Then, release the hinges. Even though these hinges are located in a slightly different location and every oven, they are usually located at the bottom of each side of the oven. 

These hinges function just like any other hinges on any other door. They are designed to give the door flexibility while also keeping it attached to the oven. Release the hinges to free the door from the oven. This will make it much easier for you to work with the door handle. 

Step 2: Detach the Door from the Oven

After you have released the hinges, the door should come right off the oven. Therefore, try lifting the oven door up in the air. As long as you have released the hinges, the door should come free from the rest of the oven. 

After you have released the oven door, place it on a flat surface. You do not want to place it on a slanted surface because the oven door is not going to stay still when you work on it. If you feel like there is enough room in your kitchen, you may want to lay it on the floor. You’ll also want to put a towel underneath the door to protect the glass from breaking.

Step 3: Remove the Screws from the Oven Door

After this, you should remove the screws from the oven door. Take a look at the oven door and see where the heads of the screws are located. In a lot of cases, they are located at the top of the inside of the oven door.

You need to use a screwdriver to release the screws from the oven door. Even though a lot of oven door handles use Phillips head screws, this is not universal. If you’re not sure about screw sizes, you can try to look for them online using your appliance’s make and model. There are many websites out there that can help you find what you’re looking for.

Step 4: Clean the Ports and Examine the Screws

After you have removed the screws from the oven door, take a close look at them and see if they are damaged. The screws might be rusted over. Or, you may notice a lot of cracks in the screws themselves. If the screws look damaged, they will need to be replaced.

You do not necessarily need to replace the screws if they are not damaged. At the same time, it is a good idea for you to have replacement screws just in case you need them. You may want to take a look at the manual to see what types of screws your oven door requires.

If you decide not to replace the screws in the oven door handle, then you should clean them thoroughly using a damp cloth. Try to remove any dirt, grime, and food particles from the screws. That way, they will do their jobs when you put them back in the oven door handle. If you want to ensure they’ll stay in place, you can add Loctite or glue to the screw threads.

Finally, you should also clean the ports thoroughly before you decide to put the screws back in the oven door handle. You should try to get rid of any dirt, grime, or rust that is present in the screw ports. 

Step 5: Put the Screws in the Oven Door

After you have decided to either clean your screws go with new screws, it is time to put the screws back in the oven door. You will need to use the same screwdriver to get the screws back in the ports quickly and securely. 

Make sure you have a solid connection between the screws and the empty sockets before you screw them in. Then, make sure the connection is tight before you are finished. This will be important for keeping the door handle in place. 

Step 6: Put the Door Back in the Oven

Once you have put the screws in place, it’s time to put the door back in the oven. To do this, you simply have to work the process in reverse. Position the oven door over the hinges. Then, refasten the hinges, making sure the connection is secure. 

Be careful when you let go of the door handle. If the hinges have not been fastened appropriately, then the door might fall off the hinges again. Ensure the hinges are tight before you step away.

Step 7: Test the Oven Door Handle 

Once you are done putting the door back in the oven, open and close the oven door a few times. Then, test the handle thoroughly. It should stand up to the force of your grip. 

These are a few basic steps you should follow if you want to prevent your oven door handle from falling off. Because the vast majority of door handles are attached to the oven door using screws, you simply have to clean and replace the screws to get the door handle to work properly. Take a look at the manual if you are not sure what type of screws your oven door handle takes.

How To Protect the Door Handle on Your Oven

The reality is that your oven door handle is going to take a beating. You may not realize just how much you use your oven; however, but every time you open and close the oven door, you place stress on the door handle. Therefore, you should do everything you can to protect it from harm. A few basic steps you need to follow include:

• Clean the Door Handle Regularly: First, you should make sure you clean the door handle regularly. A lot of times, the door handle starts to gray because it is exposed to a lot of dirt, grime, and grease. This is going to cause the door handle to break down, so make sure you clean it regularly to prevent this from happening. 
• Run the Self-Cleaning Cycle: You also need to protect the screws on the inside of the door handle. When you are done cooking a meal, you should run the self-cleaning cycle of the oven. That way, you can remove contaminants from the inside of the oven. This can prevent the screws from rusting. 
• Don’t Hang on the Door Handle: Generally, this is more important for children; however, you should make sure nobody hangs from the door handle. It is not unusual for small children to jump and hang on the door handle, treating it like a jungle gym. If you police your kitchen effectively, you should extend the lifespan of your oven door handle. 

Over time, your oven door handle may start to break down. If you see cracks on the outside of the door handle, then you may need to replace the handle itself. You should take a look at the manual to see what you need to do get a new door handle.

Prevent Your Oven Door Handle from Falling Off 

Ultimately, if you would like to prevent your door handle from falling off, you need to pay attention to the screws that attach the door handle to the oven door. If your door handle keeps falling off, you may need to clean the screws before you put them back in the door handle. If the screws look damaged, then you may need to replace them entirely. 

After you have fixed your door handle, you should do everything you can to protect it. Make sure you keep the inside and the outside of the oven door clean if you would like your door handle to last as long as possible.

I hope you have enjoyed learning more about protecting the door to your oven. If you would like to learn more about what you can do to get the most out of your oven, take a look at a few related articles and guides below! Make sure your oven lasts as long as possible!