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How to Repair Common Oven Parts The oven is a kitchen appliance that is used to cook food items. The heat of the oven sterilizes food items and kills the majority of microorganisms. A reliable oven thermometer is a necessity for bakers of all kinds. Knowing how your oven works can help you improve your baking cooking, roasting and cooking abilities. It will also help eliminate those annoying hot spots which can ruin cookies, cakes and baked products. Thermostat The thermostat is among the most important parts of your oven, helping to ensure that the temperature of your food is exactly what you've set in your control panel. As with any electronic mechanical switch or sensor, it can sometimes have problems that cause the oven to over or under heat, or just not be able to maintain the temperature you've set. The oven thermostat is an extremely small strip of two different metals that are connected. When exposed to heat the different metals expand and flex at different rates, creating or breaking an electrical circuit. When the metal in the thermostat reaches the temperature you've set on the control panel, it shuts off the heating element's power. As the oven cools, the bimetallic strips contract, re-establishing circuit and turning on the heating element. This process is repeated repeatedly to maintain a constant oven temperature. To determine if there is a problem with the thermostat, you'll need to unplug the oven and make sure that all screws that hold it in place have been removed. Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads 0 or very close to it then the thermostat is working correctly and doesn't require to be replaced. If the multimeter does not read anything, then the thermostat is not working properly and requires replacement. Cooker Spare Parts suggests that you replace your thermostat with a thermostat of the same model as the one you have. They are available online or at an appliance store and can be bought at a reasonable price. Bake Element Ovens are not complete without the bake element which provides heat to make your oven cook food. It's a simple component that transforms electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting and broiling. Heating elements are commonly found in electric ovens and ranges and are covered or hidden beneath the floor of the oven. Generally, oven heating elements are constructed of high-resistance materials such as nickel-chromium alloy. They convert electrical energy into heat using resistance. The heat then radiates through the oven's interior to reach the desired temperature to cook different kinds of food. When you switch on the oven the heating elements start to produce heat through the high-voltage electric current flowing across the metal's surface. When the electric current runs through it, the element heats up. The element will appear red hot when it is at the desired temperature. The baked element is the main source of heat used in most oven functions. It's usually found in the bottom of the oven, and is used for the self-cleaning feature in many automatic oven models. You may observe that the oven does not heat up as quickly or that your food hasn't cooked to perfection. Plug your multimeter in to its red and black ports. Then, you can press the probes made of metal on one end of the element against each other. Place the other end of the baking element against one terminal and then place your hand on it. If the element feels warm, take it off it and start testing again. If it's not, remove the element and test again. Broil Element The broil element is typically located in the upper part of the oven and can provide high heat like a grill to cook or brown food. The broil setting of your oven is a great option for quickly searing meat, crisping vegetables, reheating lasagna, or making caramel on top of the casserole. Similar to the bake element, the broiler heating element converts electrical energy into heat via the process of resistance. It is made up of an inner core comprised of metal wires, which are wrapped in an insulating and expanded product called perlite. The inner core of the element is then covered with a stainless steel outer layer to protect the wires against 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 for baking or broiling in your oven. However, you should select one that matches your oven's rated wattage. A different wattage may harm your oven, or cause it overheat. The voltage and current ratings of the latest heating elements are available on the control panel of your oven. This will allow you to examine the ratings and wattage of your oven. You should also check the resistance of your previous element and compare it to the wattage of your new broiler heating element. Read Homepage of an oven element, the greater power it draws from it. If the heating element in your broiler is acting up or doesn't work at all, you must replace it as soon as possible. Your oven must function correctly to to cook your favorite meals. However, if your oven isn't working at all, or is only working intermittently, the problem could be with a different part of your oven. Light Bulb and Assembly The oven light helps you keep an eye on the food as it cooks, without having to open the door to let heat escape. The light also lets you know when your casserole is ready. But it's not uncommon for the light to fail. This can be very frustrating however, it's an easy fix you can do yourself. Before you start, make sure that the breaker isn't tripped and that the three-prong connector remains intact. Take out the old bulb and then locate the new one. You may need to search the internet to find the correct replacement bulb that matches your oven's wattage. Some ovens utilize standard appliance bulbs that run at 40 watts, while others need an halogen lamp that can reach 50 watts. Be aware that the oils from your hands could damage a halogen bulb, so consider using cotton gloves when handling it. Before you put the new bulb in You must first take it out of its glass casing. It's important to do this slowly so that you don't fracture it. Then, you'll need to remove the air from the bulb and fill it with a mixture of gases. This will extend the lifespan for the filament. If your bulb keeps running out it could be due to an electrical issue that requires a professional to fix. Make sure you're using the correct oven bulb and look over your Use and Care Guide for additional troubleshooting tips. And remember that it's always an excellent idea to unplug your oven and disconnect the power from the outlet before you begin any repair. This will help protect you from electric shock. Vent Tube The vent tube is an important oven component that allows for a small airflow inside the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, making sure that the temperature is evenly distributed. It also allows the vapors to escape from the oven and smoke to be drained from the cooking surface. It is essential to ensure the proper operation of any gas or electric oven. Oven vent tubes may become blocked due to many factors. Accidental spills and splatters during cooking can leave sticky residues on the oven vents, which could attract dust and other debris which can lead to obstructions or blockages over time. Oil and grease particles can be blown into the air and settle around the vents, too. Other environmental factors like kitchen and construction projects can cause dust to enter the vents. This can cause clogs. Depending on the model of the oven, the vent tube can include a spreader 46, the fill tip 12, and an a bottle guide 20 that are integrated into the pipe 32. The bottle guide 20 may be fitted with a tapered outer edge that complements the tapered inside edge of the spreader. This allows the vent tubes to be inserted effortlessly into various sizes and shapes of bottle necks. A blocked vent tube could cause a loss in pressure inside the enclosure which can lead to an updraft that pulls exhaust backwards and then down the vent, causing damage to the oven components. Contact a professional if you suspect that your vent tube may be clogged or blocked. They will identify the issue and offer suggestions for removing or cleaning the vent.