Common Stove and Oven Problems We Solve

Cooking appliances can fail in a variety of ways. Sometimes the issue is gradual like an oven that takes too long to preheat while other times it is sudden like a burner that simply will not light. We have encountered and resolved every type of failure imaginable. Below are the most common issues we address for our customers in Lawrence.

Oven Won’t Heat or Reach Temperature

This is the most common complaint we receive. You set the oven to bake but it remains cold or lukewarm. For gas ovens this is frequently caused by a weak igniter. The igniter must get hot enough to open the safety gas valve. If it glows but does not reach the critical temperature the gas will never release. For electric ovens it is often a burnt out heating element. Elements can break or blister over time breaking the electrical circuit. It can also be a failure of the temperature sensor which tells the control board when to cycle the heat on and off. We test the resistance of these components to determine exactly which part has failed.

Burner Won’t Light (Gas Ranges)

There is nothing more frustrating than clicking a burner dial repeatedly with no flame appearing. This issue often stems from the ignition system. It could be a dirty spark electrode that cannot create a strong enough arc to ignite the gas. It might be a failed spark module which sends the high voltage pulse to the burner. Sometimes it is a clogged burner pore where food debris blocks the gas flow. We clean and inspect the entire burner assembly. We check the alignment of the electrode and test the spark module to ensure your burners light instantly every time.

Electric Burner or Element Not Working

On electric stoves a surface element that fails to heat can disrupt your entire meal. For coil top stoves this is often a loose connection at the receptacle block or a broken element coil. For glass top stoves the radiant element under the glass may have burned out. Another common culprit is the infinite switch which is the knob you turn to control the heat. If the internal contacts of the switch are worn out it will not send power to the element. We use multimeters to trace the voltage from the wall to the element to pinpoint the break in the circuit.

Oven Temperature is Inaccurate

If your cookies are burning on the bottom or your roast is still raw in the middle your oven likely has a temperature calibration issue. Over time temperature sensors can drift and lose their accuracy. Alternatively the control board may be reading the sensor incorrectly. In some cases the thermostat itself may be sticking. We can often recalibrate the oven control to offset the temperature difference. In other cases we replace the temperature sensor probe to ensure the oven cavity is actually at the temperature displayed on the panel.

Oven Door Won’t Close or Unlock

The oven door is a heavy component with a complex hinge system. If the hinges get bent or the springs lose tension the door may not close tightly. This allows heat to escape which wastes energy and damages the knobs and control panel above the door. Conversely we often see self cleaning ovens that get stuck in the locked position after a cycle. This is usually due to a failure in the door lock motor assembly or a heat sensitive latch that has warped. We can manually open the door and replace the faulty lock mechanism to restore function.

Glass Cooktop is Cracked or Damaged

Glass cooktops are sleek and beautiful but they are vulnerable to impact damage. Dropping a heavy pot can crack the ceramic glass surface. A cracked cooktop is a serious safety hazard as liquids can seep through the crack and short out the high voltage electrical components below. We perform glass cooktop replacements for all major brands. We carefully disassemble the unit to remove the broken glass and install a pristine new surface ensuring all seals are watertight.

Self-Cleaning Cycle Malfunction

The self cleaning cycle subjects the oven to extreme temperatures to burn off food residue. This intense heat can sometimes be the breaking point for older components. We frequently see thermal fuses that blow during a self clean cycle cutting power to the oven completely. We also see control boards that overheat and fail. If your oven died during a clean cycle we can diagnose the thermal cutoff and restore power to the unit.