Oven Won’t Turn Off? These 7 Fixes Might Help

Oven Refusing To Switch Off

Are you experiencing problems switching off your oven after use? I assume yes, that’s why you have decided to read this article. An oven that does not switch off presents many hazards in terms of fire outbreaks and increased energy consumption. As such, it is essential to address the issue immediately.

However, despite how dangerous the situation might seem, do not panic. We have prepared a detailed article providing relevant and reliable information about possible reasons why your oven won’t switch off.

7 Reasons Why Your Oven Refuses To Switch Off

· Defective control board

What is a control board? It is a part of the oven containing relays in charge of sending voltage to the bake and broil cuts based on the user settings and the sensor input. If there is an issue with one of the relays, the control board will send continuous voltage to the oven’s heating circuit. It is not uncommon to find these relays having shorts and closing.

Lastly, if the oven stays on even after switching off, the problem might be that the control board is defective. In that case, the best way is to replace it.

Oven's control board
If the oven doesn’t function properly on pressing the buttons and you’re sure the keypad is working because the display changes/makes beeps on pressing the buttons, then the control board may be defective.

· Failed Relay board

A failed relay board is another issue that could cause your oven not to switch off. Some ovens are fitted with relay boards. Relay boards are similar to control boards. It usually has numerous layers controlling the voltage in the heating element.

How does it work? The relay board receives signals from the control board in the control panel and gives feedback by closing and opening relays and managing the oven voltage.  If one of these layers fails, the relay board sends continuous voltage to the heating element.

How do you resolve the issue with a defective relay board? The only solution is to replace the whole board.

· Broil element

What are broil elements? These are elements fitted at the top of the oven section. As the name suggests, they are used for boiling purposes. Also, you can sometimes use them to preheat the oven before starting the actual cooking. However, they are often not fully utilized despite having so much to offer.

The broiler pans are used to collect fats, preventing your steak from soaking in its fats. Also, you can prepare vegetables, cinnamon toast, and cheese toast on the broil element.

How does the broil element prevent the oven from switching off? If this element is shorted, it will be visibly damaged, and the oven might not turn off. It is best to inspect the broil element for possible damage like holes or blisters.

What should one use to conduct inspections? A multimeter can assist in testing the broil for continuity. The broil will be shorted out if the test shows continuity from the terminals to the outer case and replaces them.

· Bake element

If the heating element burns out, you are likely to experience shortness in the oven. If the bake element become shorted out, the oven will not shut off. However, the best thing is that you can easily identify the defective element as it displays blisters or holes.

How do you know if the bake element is the reason why your oven won’t switch off? Like the broil element resting process, you need to use a multimeter to test the elements’ defectiveness. If there are some holes, the best thing is to replace the element.

Red hot bake element
If the bake element burns out, there will be shortness in the oven and it will not shut off.

· Ranges surface element problem

Like other elements like baking in an oven, the surface components of a range can be short. If the electrical contact fuses, resulting in a constant voltage to the burner, the surface element will require replacement. Such issues will prevent it from being turned off.

The best way to resolve the issue is first to conduct an inspection. Unplug the oven from the socket and allow it to cool down. Inspect carefully for possible damage or wear and tear. If there are no identifiable damage, swap the malfunctioning burner with a properly functioning one; if the oven turns off, in such case, the only alternative is to replace the element.

· Ranges-surface element switch

The surface element switch serves as the control thermostat for… well, the surface elements! These tell the oven how hot it should get, and when to turn on and off. If the contacts within the surface element fuse together, it might result in the oven failing to switch off.

How do you resolve the issue of surface element switches? Refer to the user manual for the oven to locate the surface element switch. Unplug the oven, allowing it to cool, then inspect the switch for possible damage. If it is damaged, the best alternative is to replace it and have your oven back to normal.

· Broken knob

Is your oven’s knob broken? Sometimes the problem with your oven not switching off might be a result of a broken knob. A cracked or broken knob cannot turn the temperature control stick off, and despite the knob turning and appearing to be off, the burner will remain on until the temperature control stick turns off.

How do you know if the issue is with the knob? Remove the knob and try turning it off manually. Use a pair of pliers to turn the temperature control off and if it works, consider replacing the knob. However, avoid using your oven without a knob as the space might allow moisture to damage the electronics.

Why Is My Oven Hot Even After Turning It Off?

Generally, an oven ought to be hot when on and cool off when turned off. However, if your oven continues to heat even after being put off, it can be an awful occurrence. The most common issue is usually a malfunctioning thermostat, or the sensing bulb losing a leak or losing its pressure altogether. In this section, we examine the issue and the solution.

However, given that the oven is continuously heating, before implementing these measures, consider disconnecting the oven from the socket to allow it to cool off completely.

· Malfunctioning temperature sensor

The oven usually has a temperature sensor that determines and monitors the temperature.  If the sensor becomes faulty, you might see the warning message on the oven control board. To resolve the issue, you need to replace the faulty sensor with a fully functioning one.

· A faulty thermostat

A thermostat in an oven helps with detecting temperatures within the oven. It also controls the heating components depending on the oven temperature settings. However, when it has malfunctioned, it will not perform its purpose, resulting in continuous heating of the oven.

How do you resolve this issue? The first step to solving the thermostat issue is disconnecting the oven from the power and allowing it to cool off. Then, remove the control knob and carefully disconnect the thermostat from the wiring in the oven. Also, take off the thermostat capillary tubes from the oven. Push the tubes carefully through the opening, either on top or to the back, and take off the old thermostat.

Take the new thermostat, thread the capillaries through the oven wall, and set it properly. Reattach the wires to this thermostat, inserting the mounting screws in place. Lastly, replace the temperature regulating knob on the new thermostat.

· Defective control board

Is your oven continuously heating even after switching off? The issue could be with the control board. The control board is responsible for sending voltage to the break and broil elements based on the user settings. When switched off, the process will stop, and the oven will not overheat.

However, if it is defective, it will continuously send voltages to these heating elements even after turning them off. As a result, such wrong signals will make it continue heating despite switching it off.  Consider replacing the control board to resolve the issue.

Reasons Why Your Oven Light Won’t Turn Off

 While oven lights that do not turn off do not pose any danger, they are a nuisance and waste energy. Below are some of the reasons why your oven light won’t turn off.

· The oven light switch is on.

One of the common reasons why oven lights aren’t turned off is that the oven switch is on. Thus, ensure you switch off the oven light before panicking and finding complex problems that do not exist. Where is the oven light switch located? Well, this depends on the oven model. If you are unsure, refer to the user manual to determine the exact location of the switch.

· Unseated door

The oven door ought to connect with the door light switch. However, when this does not happen, the light remains on. How do you ascertain that this is the issue? Open the oven door and press the switch off button; if the light turns off, the door has an issue and needs to be replaced. While replacing, check to see if the door springs are broken, worn out, or have rust and replace them too.

· Malfunctioned door light switch

Most of the oven models are fitted with both manual and door light switches. If the door light fails, but when turned off manually, it works, it could explain continuous lighting issues. In that case, it will require replacement.

If your oven is not switching off, do not panic. Instead, examine the possible causes like issues with the thermostat, among others discussed above. Then implement the necessary solutions to resolve the issue. However, never ignore or leave this issue unaddressed if it poses a life danger and increases your electric bills.

Hi there! I’m Craig, and I’m the founder of Appliance Analysts. When it comes to appliances and anything electrical, I’ve always loved opening things up, figuring out how they work, and fixing them. This website is where I share free advice from myself and our experts to help our readers solve their appliance/HVAC problems and save money. Read more