Fix a Gas Oven That Heats Poorly
If your gas oven is not holding its temperature, is overheating or under-heating, or is not heating at all, there are many possible culprits. Most problems you can investigate on your own and perhaps even repair yourself. However, your oven may have problems that require the attention of a professional contractor.
Steps
- Turn off the gas supply to the oven before doing any investigative or repair work. The gas line is behind the oven. Look for a valve and a knob or handle to turn it off.
- You'll know you have turned off the gas if you try to light the oven and it doesn't work.
- Clean your oven's burners. A dirty burner is one of the main reasons why a gas oven may heat poorly. Remove any dirt that is inside or on the outside of the burner's surface.
- Use a diluted baking soda mix and a toothbrush and gently brush clean the burner holes and burner surface.
- Unravel a paper clip and use one end to poke through the burner to release any dirt inside.
- Investigate your oven's bake igniter. It may be burned out or weak, thereby causing your oven to heat poorly. If your food is taking far too long to bake, this is an indication of a weak igniter. In some ovens, there is a separate broil igniter that may be at fault if your oven fails to broil properly.
- Find the bake igniter, which is located near the burner. It's small -- usually 1-by-4 inches (2.5-by-10 cm). On some ovens, the bake igniter is round, and on others it is rectangular.
- In some instances, the igniter will still put off a light but won't ignite a flame if it's too weak. If this is the case, consult a professional repair company to purchase the part and schedule a repair.
- Check to see if the oven's temperature sensor or thermostat is working properly. Oftentimes, if your oven is heating poorly, the thermostat may be defective or not calibrated correctly.
- Some gas ovens have an electric sensor. Heat the oven and check the temperature. If the heat is off by 30 degrees or more, you need to replace the sensor.
- If your gas oven has a mechanical thermostat, you can adjust it manually. Remove the adjustment knob and locate a calibration plate on the back. Loosen the screw on the plate, adjust it to the correct setting, and tighten it back in place.
Warnings
- Don't be alarmed if you smell gas briefly as you light your gas oven. However, if you smell gas at any other time you may be in danger. Turn off the gas to your oven immediately. Call your gas power company to have them investigate the source of the gas. If it's your oven that's causing the gas smell, consult a qualified oven repair technician.
- Proceed with caution as you investigate the cause of your oven not heating properly. Some oven components have sharp edges.
