5 Possible Reasons Your Oven Isn’t Working (With Fixes)

Are you stuck trying to figure out why your oven isn’t working?

Sadly, this is a common issue. In fact, thousands of people are in the same situation as you.

But the good news is that you’ve come to the right place for answers.

If your oven isn’t working, there’s a good chance you have a faulty burner, socket, or igniter switch. A damaged temperature sensor, a dirty burner or gasket, or a broken door could also explain the issue.

Don’t worry, though. Keep reading to learn more about these issues and get your oven working again!

5 Reasons Why Your Oven Isn’t Working (With Fixes)

There’s nothing more annoying than wanting to cook a delicious meal, only to find that your oven is not working correctly.

Luckily, in this article, you’ll learn how to fix this issue.

Some of the most common reasons why your oven might not be working are: 

#1 The Range Burner Is Not Heating

Similar to an electric stove, an electric oven needs to have a range burner that turns on. There are situations where these burners simply burn out and need to be replaced. 

When this happens, you can experience all sorts of issues while using your oven.

Luckily, fixing this issue is very simple. You’ll just need to:

1. Identify which burner is faulty and remove this burner from the oven. To do it, you’ll need to unplug it from the burner socket. Then, take a burner that you know is functioning properly and plug it into this slot.
2. Try to light the oven again. If the working burner heats up, then you know the problem is the burner you have removed. In this case, you need to replace it.
3. If the burner that is supposed to be working still doesn’t heat up, the problem is related to the switch or the socket. In this case, you should take a look at the socket. If it looks damaged, you may need to replace it.
4. If you replace the socket and the burner and the oven still will not light, and the problem is the ignite switch. In this case, you will need to replace the switch to get the oven working again. 

If you don’t feel comfortable replacing the burner, socket, or ignite switch, I recommend calling a professional.

#2 Temperature Issues

If your oven isn’t working, there’s a good chance it isn’t maintaining the right temperature. This may happen if there’s an issue with the temperature sensor.

You see, this sensor is responsible for letting the oven know what the temperature is. If the oven does not know what the current temperature is, it will have a hard time figuring out whether it needs more heat or not. 

To check the oven temperature sensor, I recommend watching this video or following the next instructions:

1. Check the manual to figure out where the temperature sensor is located. Its location may vary depending on the oven’s brand and model you own.
2. Make sure the temperature sensor is not making physical contact with the inside wall of the oven. This can throw off its ability to detect the right temperature.
3. Once you locate the temperature sensor, you need to use a multimeter to make sure the temperature sensor is still functional. You should get a reading of 1080 – 1090 ohms at room temperature. If you are getting an appropriate reading, this is a sign that the temperature sensor still has a current flowing through it. 

If the temperature sensor is working correctly, then you might need to recalibrate the oven. Follow this quick guide to do it:

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F on the sensor. Please check the inside temperature of the oven with a separate thermometer every 20 minutes. You need to keep doing this for two hours. 
2. Once you are done, please calculate the average reading of the temperatures you have taken. Use this number to adjust the temperature dial accordingly by following the manual.

But, if the problem is your temperature sensor, you’ll need to replace it. To do it, please take a look at the manual to see what type of temperature sensor your oven uses. Then, you’ll need to order a new one and replace the faulty one. 

#3 The Gas Burner Is Not Lighting Properly

If your oven isn’t working, chances are the gas burner is not lighting. 

To check if that’s the case, you’ll need to make sure you don’t have a power outage because if the power is out, then your gas stove is not going to light.

But, if that’s not the case, you’ll need to check if the burner is dirty or if the wires attached to the igniter are loose. Here’s how to do it:

1. Take off the burner grate, cap, and base.
2. See if there is any food debris sticking to the burner. This is one of the most common reasons why your burner might not be lighting properly. You may need to use a can of compressed air or a toothpick to remove the debris. 
3. Take a close look at the wires connecting to the igniter. If there is a loose connection in place, you will need to tighten it before you try to get the oven to work again. 

If you are uncomfortable tightening the connections to the igniter, you should reach out to a professional. After you have followed all of these steps, if the gas burner is still not lighting, you may need to replace it. In this case, you should also call a professional for help. 

#4 The Oven Turns On But Isn’t Heating

Another problem you may experience is that the oven will turn on but will not heat up.

There are several possible reasons why this might be happening. If you have an electric oven, the problem could be the heating element. If you have a gas oven, the problem could be the igniter.

To fix this problem, you’ll need to:

1. Make sure you have turned off the power to the oven. 
2. Use a screwdriver to remove the heating element or the igniter. The heating element is usually located inside the oven. The igniter is usually located underneath the oven. But, please check your manual for detailed instructions.
3. If you are replacing the igniter, you may need to remove the broiler and the storage drawer to access it. This is something that should only require a screwdriver. 
4. If you are replacing the heating element, it may not be in plain view. It is usually located inside the oven, but you may need to reach out to a professional who can help you. 

After you have replaced either the igniter or the heating element, you should try to turn on the oven again. It should heat up. If it does not, you may need to reach out to a professional. 

#5 The Door Won’t Stay Closed

You may think that your oven isn’t working, but chances are the door is not completely closed.

Check if that’s the case, and if there’s an issue with your door, please follow these simple instructions:

1. Take a look at the food you are putting in the oven. Make sure this is not creating a mechanical obstruction that prevents the door from closing. 
2. Check the racks in the oven. If you have swapped out the racks recently, you need to make sure they’re not getting in the way. You might need to adjust the racks to get the door to close. 
3. Take a look at the latch on the inside of the oven door. This is responsible for grabbing the exterior of the oven and locking the door into place. You might need to remove dust and debris from the last to get it to close properly.
4. Check the hinges attached to the oven door. If there is something wrong with the hinges, you might need to replace them. You could also try lubricating them to make them close more reliably. 
5. You should also take a look at the rubber gasket that goes around the exterior of the door. This is responsible for creating a seal between the door and the oven. If the gasket is made of rubber or silicone, it may have started to crack. In this case, you will need to replace it.

These are a few of the many possible reasons why you cannot get your oven door to close. If you have tried all of these reasons and the oven door still will not close, it is time to reach out to a professional for help. 

Conclusion

That about covers it!

There are different reasons that could explain why your oven isn’t working.

Remember, you may need to check your oven’s temperature sensor, burner, igniter, or door.

Keep in mind that gas ovens and electrical ovens behave differently. Therefore, you should make sure you understand the difference between them before trying to fix the problem.

Even though you can handle a lot of these issues on your own, you should not hesitate to reach out to a professional if you feel uncomfortable at any point. You always need to place your safety at the top of the priority list. 

I hope you have enjoyed reading this list of possible reasons why your oven might not turn on. If you would like to learn more about how you’re out of work, take a look at a few of the related articles below!