An oven that won’t heat — or won’t get up to temperature — can derail dinner fast. The good news is that ovens are among the most repairable appliances in the home, and the cause usually comes down to a single, often inexpensive part. Here’s what to check before you call for service.
Electric ovens
- Burned-out bake or broil element. This is the most common cause. Look inside: the bake element (bottom) or broil element (top) should glow bright orange when on. If it’s visibly cracked, blistered, or has a break in it — or doesn’t glow at all — it needs replacing. Elements are an inexpensive, common repair.
- Faulty temperature sensor. If the oven heats but to the wrong temperature, or shuts off too soon, the sensor (a thin probe inside the cavity) may be out of spec. See oven temperature problems.
- Control board or relay. Less common, but a failed control board can stop sending power to the elements.
Gas ovens
- Weak or dead igniter. This is the #1 gas-oven failure. The igniter has to glow hot enough to open the gas valve and light the burner. If it glows dimly but the burner never lights — or it doesn’t glow at all — the igniter is worn out and needs replacing.
- Gas supply. Confirm the gas is on and other gas appliances work.
What to check first (before you call)
- Make sure the oven isn’t set to a timed/delayed start or stuck in a locked self-clean mode.
- Check the breaker — an electric oven on a tripped half of a double breaker may power the display but not heat.
- For gas, confirm the supply valve is open.
A safety note
If you ever smell gas, don’t test switches or igniters — leave and call your gas company. And don’t try to force a self-clean-locked door open.
When to call a technician
Replacing an element or igniter is a common repair, but testing components and handling gas safely is best left to a pro. If your oven won’t heat, see our oven & range repair-or-replace guide, and if it’s showing a fault code, check our error-code guides.
Is a non-heating oven worth repairing?
Almost always — ovens last 13–15 years and the usual fixes (element, igniter, sensor) are inexpensive relative to a new range.
Need a hand? Appliance Recovery offers same-day appliance repair across Arlington, Fort Worth, and the DFW area, with a one-year warranty on parts and labor. Call (817) 900-8324 or schedule online.
