Oven Not Heating Properly? How to Diagnose and Calibrate It
Your oven says 350 but your food is raw or burnt. Here is how to test, calibrate, and fix an oven that heats incorrectly.
Test Your Oven Temperature First
Before replacing anything, verify the oven is actually off-temperature. Buy an oven thermometer (about 7 dollars at any store). Place it in the center of the oven, set the oven to 350 degrees, and wait 20 minutes for it to fully preheat. Check the thermometer. If it reads within 25 degrees of the set temperature, your oven is within normal range and may just need calibration. If it is off by more than 25 degrees, you likely have a failing component.
How to Calibrate Your Oven
Most ovens allow you to adjust the temperature offset without replacing any parts. For newer ovens with digital controls, press and hold the Bake button for 5 to 10 seconds until the display shows the current calibration offset. Use the temperature arrows to adjust up or down. For older ovens with a dial, pull off the temperature knob and look for a small calibration screw on the back of the knob or inside the shaft. Turn it slightly to adjust. Consult your owner manual for model-specific calibration instructions as the method varies by brand.
Electric Oven: Check the Bake Element
The bake element is the coil at the bottom of an electric oven. When working, it glows bright red-orange evenly across its length. If you see sections that do not glow, dark spots, blistering, or visible breaks in the coil, the element has failed. Turn off the oven, remove the two screws holding the element in place, pull it forward slightly, disconnect the two wire connectors, and install the new one. Bake elements cost 15 to 40 dollars and the replacement takes about 15 minutes.
Gas Oven: Check the Igniter
Gas ovens use an igniter that glows hot enough to open the gas valve. A weak igniter glows but does not get hot enough to trigger gas flow, so the oven either does not heat at all or takes a very long time to preheat. If your gas oven takes more than 15 minutes to preheat or you can see the igniter glowing orange instead of bright white-hot, it is weakening and needs replacement. Gas oven igniters cost 15 to 35 dollars. Turn off gas and power, remove the oven floor panel, unscrew the old igniter, and connect the new one.
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