Oven Not Heating Properly
Oven won't heat up? Learn common causes, safe troubleshooting, and repair costs ($150–$500).
Typical repair cost: $150–$500 · DIY difficulty: Moderate · About 30–60 minutes.
What usually causes it
- Faulty bake or broil element
- Broken igniter (gas)
- Bad temperature sensor
- Control board failure
- Calibration off
What you need
- Screwdriver
- Multimeter
- Oven thermometer
How to fix it yourself
- Visually inspect the bake element — look for breaks, blisters, or burn spots
- For gas ovens, watch if the igniter glows then gas ignites (if it glows but no gas, replace igniter)
- Use an oven thermometer to check actual vs. set temperature
- Recalibrate the oven using the owner's manual instructions
- Check the temperature sensor resistance with a multimeter (should be ~1080 ohms at room temp)
- If the element or igniter is clearly damaged, replacement parts are usually $20–$50
When to call a pro
If the control board is faulty or you smell gas but the oven won't ignite — turn off gas and call immediately.