Why Is Your Gas Oven Not Heating to the Right Temperature?

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DanMarc
July 5, 2022
Oven Repair

How to determine if your oven is heating up to the correct temperature?

To determine if the oven is heating up and cooking at the correct temperature is simple. All you need is a basic temperature gauge that can withstand the oven temperature. Put it in your oven and then preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and wait. You will need to give it enough time to preheat, and then you can check the gauge. The gauge will tell you if the actual temperature inside your oven matches what it is being set to. 

Before you start

Anytime that you are working on appliances with electrical wires, make sure you use proper procedure. Always consider your safety and the safety of those around you before attempting a repair on an appliance.

Before you begin your DIY project, make sure you feel confident to do so. When working with gas-powered appliances like your oven, always shut the gas off before attempting a repair.

There are the four things to check while troubleshooting your gas oven problems:

  • The gas ignitor is at the back of the oven compartment
  • Thermostat or selector switch
  • Calibration dial
  • The oven door won’t shut

1. Your gas oven’s ignitor is out

If your gas oven isn’t preheating correctly (or at all), you should start by checking the bake ignitor. Before you start, pull the oven out from the wall and ensure the gas is turned off. 

In most gas ovens, the ignitor is located at the back of the oven compartment. 

Unbolt the ignitor from the oven floor and remove it.

Use a multimeter to detect if there is continuity. You can do this by taking one probe and placing it on a terminal, then putting the other probe on the second terminal. Your multimeter should register between 0-1100 ohms if there is continuity. If your multimeter is not showing in this range, then your ignitor has lost continuity, and it will need to be replaced.

Depending on the oven, there may be a bad gas safety valve also, so include that in your check also.

2. The thermostat or selector switch is burnt out

If your oven still isn’t heating, you should check the thermostat and selector switch.

The selector switch is on the face of your oven and is what changes your settings, such as bake or broiler.

Your thermostat is responsible for controlling the temperature in your oven. If it is burnt out or faulty, then it will cause issues with the temperature. 

Before you start, pull the oven out from the wall and ensure the gas is turned off. 

Use a multimeter to detect if there is continuity.

Depending on your oven type, the thermostat may be located behind the back panel, beneath the backsplash, below the control panel, or under the exhaust hood. 

The thermostat is a thin piece of metal that is usually attached to a coil of wire.

Once you have located it, remove the thermostat so you can test it.

Once you have ensured the multimeter is calibrated and turned to the lowest ohm rating, you can put the multimeter on the thermostat. The reading should be zero or as close to zero as possible. That indicated the thermostat is working fine and therefore not the issue. If it has no reading at all, it indicates your oven thermostat is faulty and will need replacing.

3. Your oven needs to be calibrated

If your oven is not operating at the correct temperature, it may need to be calibrated. This is also a fix for ovens that run too hot.

Start off by finding the calibration dial. In the majority of ovens, the calibration dial will be located on the back of your temperature knob or down at the bottom of the small shaft. Consult your owner’s manual if you have problems finding it. You should be able to see an adjustment screw on the dial once it has been located.

This screw is where you will need to adjust the temperature. If your oven is running too cold, you will need to increase the temperature of the oven by turning the screw counterclockwise. If your oven is running too hot, you will need to decrease the oven temperature by turning the screw counterclockwise. In the majority of ovens, half of a turn should decrease/increase the oven temperature by 25 degrees.

Once you have made your adjustments, you should test your oven by preheating it and using the oven temperature gauge. 

4. The oven door won’t shut

If the oven won’t shut, it will struggle to reach temperature and isn’t safe for use. 

Before you start, pull the oven out from the wall and ensure the gas is turned off.

Pull the door straight up and out to remove it from the oven. If it doesn’t pull straight up, you will need to unscrew any screws that are holding the hinges in place inside the oven.

Inspect the hinges. If they are faulty or damaged, they will need to be replaced. 

Slide out the bottom drawer and check under the oven to see if the door springs are faulty or damaged. You may need pliers to remove any broken springs and replace them with new springs. 

Inspected the silicone or rubber gasket around the oven door. If it is damaged in any way, it should be replaced. 

If the oven door is still not shutting, the door sensor may need to be replaced.

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