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How to Repair Common Oven Parts
Oven is a common kitchen appliance used to cook food. The heat of the oven sterilizes food items and kills the majority of microorganisms.
A reliable oven thermometer is an essential for all bakers. Knowing how your oven works will improve your baking cooking, roasting and cooking abilities. It can also help you avoid the annoying hot spots that can ruin cookies, cakes and baked goods.
Thermostat
The thermostat is one of the most important parts of your oven, helping to make sure that the temperature of your food matches what you've set in the control panel. As with any electronic mechanical switch or sensor it can have issues that can cause the oven to over or under heat, or just not be able to maintain the temperature you've set.
The oven thermostat is a small strip of two different metals joined. When heated, the metals expand and bend at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the thermostat's metal is at the temperature you've set on your control panel, it shuts off the heating element's power. As the oven cools the bimetallic strips expand, re-establishing circuit and turning on the heating element. This cycle is constantly repeated to ensure that the temperature remains constant in your oven.
To identify a problem with the thermostat, you'll need to disconnect the oven and ensure that all screws holding it in place have been removed. If you have a multimeter (which is a tool that measures the electrical current), set it to the ohms setting, and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter shows zero or close to zero, the thermostat is functioning correctly and does not need to be changed.
If the multimeter isn't reading anything, it's likely that the thermostat is faulty and requires replacement. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a new one that is the same model as the one you have. They are available through the internet or at the kitchen store, and are available at a reasonable price.
Bake Element
Ovens can't be complete without the bake element, which is the element that heats up to help your oven cook food. It's a simple component that turns electricity into the high temperatures needed for baking, roasting, and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges often include heating elements that are either visible or hidden under the floor.
In general oven heating elements comprise of high-resistance metals like nickel-chromium. They work by converting electrical energy into heat via the process of resistance which then radiates through the oven interior to raise the temperature to the desired temperature to cook different kinds of food items.
When you start your oven the heating element starts to generate heat through the high-voltage electricity flowing across its metal surface. When electric current flows through it, the element heats up. When the element reaches the temperature it is intended to it starts to shine red hot.
The baked element is the primary source of heat used in most oven functions. It's usually found in the bottom of the oven, and is used to perform the self-cleaning function in many ovens with automatic cleaning. When it begins to burn out, you might notice that your oven doesn't warm as quickly or your food is not cooked through completely.
Plug your multimeter in to its black hobs and ovens red ports. Then, press the metal probes on one end of the device against each other. Place the other end of the baking element against one terminal and place your hands on it. If the element feels warm, take it off it and start testing again. If not, take it off and try again.
Broil Element
The broil element is typically located at the upper part of the oven with hob's cavity and produces high heat like grills to brown or char food. The broil setting in your oven is a great choice for quickly searing meat or vegetables, crisping them up, reheating lasagna, or making caramel on top of a casserole.
Similar to the bake element, the broiler heating element transforms electrical energy into heat by the process of resistance. It is made up of an internal core of wires made of metal wrapped in insulating expanded perlite material. The inner core of the element is then covered with a stainless steel outer layer to shield the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer structure helps lower the broil element's temperature which makes it more secure and efficient than older styles of elements.
You can use any heating element to bake or broiling in your oven. However, it is important to choose one that is compatible with the wattage of your oven's rating. A different wattage could cause damage to your oven or cause it to overheat. You can check the power of your oven and the rating of the new heating element by checking their voltage and current ratings on the control panel of your oven.
Check the resistance of the old element, and then compare it to the wattage ratings of the new element. The higher the resistance, the greater the power that an oven element draws from.
If your broiler heating element is malfunctioning or isn't working at all, you must replace it right away. Your oven needs to function properly for you to to cook your favorite foods. If, however, your oven isn't functioning in any way or only intermittently, the issue could be in a different area of your oven.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The light lets you keep an eye on the food that is cooking without opening the door and let the heat escape. The light will also let you know when the casserole is done. It's not uncommon for the light bulb to fail. It can be a hassle, but you can fix it yourself. Before you start, make sure that the breaker hasn't tripped and that the three-prong connector is in good condition.
First, remove the light bulb that was in use and locate the new one. You may need to search online for a replacement that is compatible with the wattage and model of your oven. Some ovens and hobs uk use standard appliance bulbs that are 40 watts in power and others require a halogen lamp up to 50 watts. Consider using cotton gloves to protect the bulbs from damage caused by oil.
Before putting the new bulb in place You must first remove it from its glass casing. You should do this slowly so that you don't break it. Then, you'll need to remove the air from the bulb and replace it with a mixture. This will provide a longer life for the filament.
If your light bulb is always going out, there could be a bigger electrical issue that should be handled by a professional. Make sure you double-check that you're using the correct bulb for your oven and look over your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting tips. Also, remember that it's recommended to unplug your oven and disconnect the power from the outlet prior to you begin any repair. This will keep you from being shocked by electricity.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is an important oven component because it allows for a small amount of airflow to flow inside the cavity. This permits the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, making sure that the temperature is evenly distributed.
It also allows vapors to escape from the oven and smoke to be drained from the cooking surface. It is essential for the proper operation of any electric or gas oven.
Vents for ovens can become clogged by a variety of factors. Accidental spills or splatters can leave sticky remnants in oven vents. These can attract dust, debris and other contaminants that could cause blockages over time. Grease and oil may also become airborne, and settle on vents. Other environmental factors, such as kitchen renovations and construction work can bring dust and other contaminants into the vents, resulting in obstructions or clogs.
Depending on the model of the oven, the vent tube can comprise a spreader 46, a fill tip 12, and the bottle guide 20 which are incorporated into the pipe 32. The bottle guide 20 could have a tapered outer edge that is complemented by the tapered inside edge of the spreader, allowing the vent tubes to be inserted effortlessly into various sizes and shapes of bottle necks.
A clogged or blocked vent tube can result in an increase in pressure within the structure that surrounds it, which could result in a downdraft which pulls exhaust down vent and backwards through the oven's burners, causing damage to the oven's components. Contact a professional if you believe that your vent may be clogged or blocked. They will diagnose the problem and provide recommendations for removing or cleaning the vent.