Most Common Range Problems And How To Fix Them

Your range is probably one of the most used appliances that you have in your home. Therefore, when it is not working as it should, this can be really frustrating and upsetting to your daily life. Keep reading if you want to know more about some typical range problems and how to solve them.

Stops Self-Cleaning

One of the benefits of having a modern range is that they come with certain features that make it easier and faster to cook. One of those features is the option to self-clean; however, when this stops working, it can mean lots of time and elbow grease on your part.

If you are having trouble with your self-cleaning feature, you should first make sure all of your knobs, timers and cycle is correct. If this doesn’t work, you might have an issue with your thermostat, control board, and more. Remember, a broken range calls for a professional to repair it; therefore, you shouldn’t try to fix this on your own.

Burner Doesn’t Turn On

If you are dealing with an electric range, your burner not turning on could be because of a power outage or some other electrical issue. However, if you have a gas burner, you could usually use a match to light it. Otherwise, try doing the following, and see if it helps:

• Start by giving your stovetop a good cleaning from the burner base to the burner grate, making sure to remove any debris
• Check the wires that connect to the igniter, and reconnect any that are loose
• Call a professional, and let them do a proper inspection

Isn’t Heating Properly

You might find that you have set your oven to a certain degree; however, it does not seem as hot as it should be. If the temperature sensor is too close or touching the wall, this could cause the temperature to not register properly. Otherwise, if you have an ohmmeter, check to see if the sensor is working properly, and replace it if necessary.

If you do end up replacing the sensor, then you will need to recalibrate your oven. Use an oven thermometer to see if the temperature rises by turning the oven to 350 degrees and checking every 20 minutes for a couple of hours. Get the average temperature of your oven by dividing the total number of temperature readings by the number of times a reading was performed, and adjust the temperature dial accordingly.

Won’t Heat Up at All

If your oven isn’t getting hot no matter how long you leave it on, you might have a problem with your heating element; if it’s an electric oven, or igniter; if it’s a gas oven. If you find that your burners on your gas range aren’t lighting as well, you might need to have a professional check your gas line.

Otherwise, if it is simply a matter of needing a new heating element or igniter, you might be able to do this repair yourself.

The Oven Light Won’t Come On

If your interior light goes out, this is typically as easy as changing the bulb. Just as you would remove any other bulb, turn it counterclockwise, and pull it out. With a gloved hand or a cloth, insert the new bulb in its place, and you should be good to go.

Door Doesn’t Close

In order for your oven to operate effectively and safely, the door must be able to shut all the way. If yours isn’t closing, you might have a spring that needs replacing.

After turning the oven off, take the door off by pulling it up and out. Check the hinges, springs, and under the bottom door to see if any parts need replacing and change them. If you have done this but your door is still having issues, there might be a problem with the door’s sensor.

Burner Doesn’t Get Hot

So, your burner turns on but doesn’t seem to be getting hot. If your stove is electric, make sure your stove is connected to a power source. Also, try disconnecting it from the socket and reconnecting it, as a poor connection could be the reason why your burner isn’t heating properly.

If you notice that the socket looks damaged in any way, you might just need to replace the socket, as these things can go bad after a while.

Although there are some issues with your range that you might be able to fix yourself, when in doubt, you should always call a professional. Dealing with appliances, especially ones that involve gas lines, can be quite tricky and dangerous. Therefore, even if you think you know what is wrong, you should still have a professional perform an inspection.