How to Repair Common Oven Parts
Oven is a common kitchen appliance used to cook food. The heat from the oven sterilizes food and kills the majority of micro-organisms in them.
A precise oven thermometer is an essential for bakers of all kinds. Knowing how your oven works can help you improve your baking cooking, roasting and cooking abilities. It will also eliminate those hot spots that can cause damage to cakes, cookies and baked items.
Thermostat
The thermostat is a crucial element of your oven. It helps to ensure that the temperature of food corresponds to the temperature you set on the control panel. As with any electro mechanical switch or sensor, it can sometimes have problems that result in the oven going over or under heat, or not be able to keep the temperature at the level you've set.
The oven thermostat is basically an extremely small strip of two different metals connected. When heated to a certain temperature, the two metals expand or bend at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the thermostat's metal attains the temperature you've set on your control panel it shuts off heating element's power. As the oven cools the bimetallic strip contract to re-establish the circuit before turning on the heating element. This cycle is constantly repeated to ensure that the temperature remains constant within your oven.
The oven must be disconnected and all screws removed in order to determine the issue with the thermostat. If you have a multimeter (which is a device that detects electrical current) set it to the ohms level and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter displays zero or close to zero, the thermostat is functioning correctly and does not need to be changed.
If the multimeter does not read anything, then the thermostat is defective and needs to be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a fresh one of the same type that your old one. They can be purchased online or at a kitchen goods store, and can be purchased at a reasonable price.
Bake Element
The bake element is essential for the proper operation of your oven. It provides heat that lets it cook food. It's a small element that converts electricity into the high temperatures required to bake, roast, and broiling. Heating elements are usually found in electric ranges and ovens, and they can be covered or hidden beneath the oven's floor.
In general, oven heating elements are made from high-resistance materials like nickel-chromium alloy. They work by converting electricity into heat through resistance. This heat then radiates through the oven's interior to achieve the temperature required for cooking different types foods.
When you turn on the oven, the heating elements begin to produce heat through the high-voltage electric current flowing across the metal's surface. The element is a coil or ribbon (straight or corrugated) of wire, and when the electric current flows through it, it starts to increase in temperature. When the element reaches the temperature it is intended to it starts to shine red hot.
The baked element is the primary source of heat used in most oven functions. It's typically located in the bottom of the oven and is used for the self-cleaning feature in a variety of ovens that are automatic. When it starts to smoke you may be noticing that your oven doesn't warm as quickly or your food is not fully cooked.
Connect your multimeter to its red and black ports. Then, press the probes made of metal on one end of the element against each other. Place ovens hobs against one of its terminals, and then place your hands on it to feel whether the element is warm to the touch. If not, remove it and try again.
Broil Element
The broil element, which is usually located on the top of the cavity, offers high temperatures to brown or char the food. The broil setting in your oven is an excellent choice for quickly searing meat, crisping vegetables, reheating lasagna, or making caramel on top of a casserole.
Similar to the bake element the broiler heating element transforms electrical energy into heat via the process of resistance. It is made up of an internal core of metal wires wrapped in an insulating expanded perlite material. The inner core of the element is covered with an outer layer of stainless steel to shield the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer design helps lower the temperature of the broil element, making it safer than older designs.
While you are able to use any heating element in your oven, make sure to choose one that matches the wattage that is recommended for your oven. A different wattage could cause damage to your oven or cause it to overheat. You can check the power of your oven and the rating of the new heating element by looking at their voltage and current ratings on the oven's control panel.
You should also check the resistance of your previous element and compare it with the wattage of your new broiler heating element. The greater the resistance of an oven element, the more power it uses.
If your broiler heating element is malfunctioning or isn't working at all, you must replace it as soon as possible. It's important that your oven function properly to cook all of your favorite foods. If best oven doesn't function in any way, or just intermittently, then the issue could be with another part.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The light allows you to monitor your food while it cooks without opening the door and let the heat escape. The light will also let you know when the casserole is done. It's not uncommon for the light bulb to fail. This can be very frustrating but it's an easy fix you can accomplish yourself. Before you start, make sure that the breaker isn't tripped and that the three-prong connector remains intact.
Remove the old bulb, and then look for the new bulb. You may need to search the internet for a replacement that is compatible with the wattage and model of your oven. Some ovens have standard appliances with bulbs that are 40 watts in power and others require an halogen lamp that can reach 50 watts. Be aware that the oil in your hands can damage the bulb, so you should use cotton gloves when handling it.
Before putting the new bulb in place, you should first take it out of its glass casing. It is important to do this slowly so that you don't break it. You'll have to remove the air from the bulb and replace it with an appropriate mixture. This will prolong the filament life.
If your bulb is constantly being replaced, it could be a bigger electrical issue that should be addressed by a professional. Double check that you are using the correct oven bulb and look over your Use and Care Guide for more help in troubleshooting. Make sure to unplug the oven and turn off the power before beginning any repairs. This will prevent you from getting an electric shock.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is an important oven part that allows for a tiny airflow inside the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, ensuring that the temperature is evenly distributed.
It also allows the vapors to be released from the oven, and smoke to be drawn from the cooking surface. It is crucial for the proper functioning of any gas or electric oven.
Vents for ovens can become blocked by various reasons. Accidental spills or splatters may leave sticky residues on oven vents. They may draw in dust, debris and other contaminants that can cause obstructions over time. Grease and oil particles may become airborne and settle on the vents, too. Other environmental factors, like kitchen construction and renovations, can introduce dust and other contaminants into the vents, resulting in blockages or clogs.
Depending on the oven model the vent tube may comprise an a bottle guide 20 or spreader 46 as well as a fill tip 12 that are constructed with the pipe 32. For example the bottle guide 20 may have a tapered outer surface which is in harmony with the tapered inner surface of the spreader 46 to allow the vent tube to be effortlessly inserted into different sizes and shapes of bottle necks.
A blocked or clogged vent tube can cause a loss of pressure within the structure that surrounds it, which could result in a downdraft that pulls exhaust down the vent and backwards through the oven burners, causing damage to oven components. If you believe that your vent tube is clogged or blocked, contact an expert for assistance. They will determine the cause and make recommendations on how to clean or clean the vent.