Conventional oven faults

Isolate the appliance before removing covers or panels for any reason. All tests for continuity should be carried out with a battery operated test meter only.

The most likely cause of overheating will be a failure of the thermostat contact points or sealed pressure system. In such a case you will need to fit a new compatible replacement unit.

Slow initial heating-up times or uneven heat distribution within the oven is usually caused by the failure of one element. Simple testing of the element will highlight the faulty item.

Failure to heat up at all may be either the thermostat or elements. As elements are the easier of the two to check for continuity, a simple process of elimination will indicate where the fault lies.

Poor cooking results or undercooking of food can also be caused by a faulty thermostat, which turns off elements at too low a temperature. As mentioned above, the elements are relatively easy to check, so eliminate them first.

Faults in fan ovens

Faults in fan ovens will be similar to those found in conventional ovens. The thermostat and elements can be checked in the same way. As this type of oven has only one element, slow cooking or undercooking is most likely to have been caused by poor air circulation over the element.

Non-electrical faults

The main non-electrical fault with ovens, whether free standing or built-in, is the door seal. Seals are made from flexible heat-resistant rubber or woven fibre tubing in many variations of cross-sectional shapes and fixing methods. It is most important that the door be sealed correctly, not only for the efficient operation of the cooker, but also for safety reasons especially in built-in ovens, where the door sides may be close to fitted units.

Door seal kits are available for all of the leading makes and the removal of old seals and the fitting of new ones should not cause any problems. Make sure that you buy the correct replacement and make a note of how the old one is fixed before removing it. If your door seal is held by spring clips, it is advisable to get a kit which includes new springs rather than just the door seal. Make sure the new seal is trimmed to the correct length and all the fixing points are used and secure. Renew seals that become hard, cracked or brittle this will help to keep the oven at peak performance.

Regular cleaning of both oven and seals will help keep the appliance in good working order. When cleaning the oven or hob use a proper cleaning agent specifically for your type of oven. Several different types of coatings are used on both the inside and outside of ovens and they can easily be damaged by the indiscriminate use of incorrect and abrasive cleaning products.

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