Why Is My Electric Oven Not Heating Up?

The electric oven is a staple in many kitchens, but it’s not much use if it won’t heat up. While electric ovens are generally reliable, they’re not immune to problems. In this article, we’ll dive into the most common reasons your oven may not be heating properly, helping you identify the underlying issue.

Now’s not the time to throw in the kitchen towel. Keep reading. It might only take a simple fix to get your oven heating again.

WARNING: Inspecting a faulty oven often requires that you disassemble it. Always disconnect it from power first to avoid electrocution.

Why your electric oven isn’t heating up

Here are the most likely culprits behind why your electric oven isn’t heating up.

A faulty heating element

Electric ovens typically have two or three heating elements, depending on whether it’s a convection model or not. These heating elements include:

• Bake element (bottom element)
• Broil element (top element)
• Convection element (rear element, behind a fan)

Unless you notice that your oven doesn’t heat only when you set it to broil/grill mode, it’s unlikely to be the broil element. You can easily check this by turning your oven on to broil/grill mode and seeing if the top heating element inside the cavity glows red.

The bake element is the most likely culprit unless you have a convection oven; in that case, it could also be the convection element. You can check these by removing either the bottom or back panel inside the cavity, depending on which element you’re inspecting.

To check the elements, set the oven to bake or convection mode and see if the elements glow red after a few minutes. If they don’t, they’re likely faulty. You can also inspect all three heating elements for visible damage, such as blistering or cracks. Or you can disconnect them and test them with a multimeter if you have the know-how.

If the heating element is faulty, it will need to be replaced to get your oven heating again. They can’t be repaired.

A faulty temperature sensor

The oven’s temperature sensor tracks the temperature inside the cavity, turning the heating elements on or off to maintain the set temperature. If the temperature sensor is faulty, it may result in the oven heating unevenly or failing to heat at all.

To check whether the temperature sensor is faulty, disconnect it from the oven and test it with a multimeter. The reading should be around 1,000 to 1,100 ohms at room temperature and increase when the sensor is heated with a hair dryer or similar tool. If it fails either of these tests, it needs to be replaced.

The temperature sensor is usually located inside the oven cavity, protruding through the back wall. It’s a thin metal rod. Typically, you only need to remove a single screw securing it, pull it out, and disconnect its wire harness to remove it.

The door not closing fully

If the oven door isn’t closing fully, heat will escape from the cavity while it’s running, preventing it from reaching the correct temperature. Sometimes the door may appear closed but upon closer inspection, you might see that it actually isn’t. Can you see any gaps around the edge of the door when it’s closed?

Several components of the door can malfunction, preventing it from closing completely. You’ll need to check the door hinges, latch, and springs for damage or wear. Also, ensure that no items are obstructing the door.

A tripped circuit breaker

A tripped circuit breaker is more likely to cause your oven to lose all power rather than simply stop heating. If your oven isn’t turning on, check whether the dedicated circuit breaker has tripped. You can reset the breaker by switching it to the ‘Off’ position, waiting a few seconds, and then switching it back to the ‘On’ position.

A blown thermal fuse

Many electric ovens have a thermal fuse. This safety device cuts off power when a dangerous temperature is reached inside the oven’s cavity, preventing fires and damage to the appliance. Once the thermal fuse is blown, it must be replaced; it can’t be reset or repaired.

A blown thermal fuse will result in a total loss of power to your oven or an oven that won’t heat at all. To determine if the thermal fuse has blown, you’ll need to test it with a multimeter. The thermal fuse is often located on the back of the oven, attached to the rear panel.

A malfunctioning control board

The control board is the brain of an electric oven. If it’s faulty, it may fail to send power to the heating elements, resulting in the oven not heating. Diagnosing and replacing a malfunctioning control board can be complex as there are many connections, relays, and fuses that need testing. And to do this, several wires must be disconnected and reconnected correctly.

If you’ve checked all of the other likely causes on this list and still haven’t been able to solve the heating issue, we recommend having a professional look at your oven as it could be an issue with the control board. The control board is quite expensive to replace, so if your oven is old or inexpensive, you should carefully consider whether it’s better to replace the control board or just purchase a new oven.

Quick recap

If your electric oven isn’t heating like it used to, it’s likely the result of a faulty heating element, a faulty temperature sensor, the door not closing fully, a tripped circuit breaker, or a blown thermal fuse. You may be able to fix these issues yourself with a little DIY skill; however, don’t hesitate to hire a professional if you don’t feel confident. If none of these seem to be causing the issue, it could be the control board. In that case, we recommend consulting an expert to resolve the issue for you.