Oven heating up slowly - what to check?

[Lurker Steve]

A friend of mine has an old oven that is taking about an hour to heat up to
the proper temperature. Before they shell out for a new range, is there
something that a repair novice can check and service?

Thanks.

 

[Sofie]

Lurker Steve:
Check the main (lower) heating element..... replacing it yourself is fairly
easy and costs usually around $30 to $35.
--
Best Regards,
Daniel Sofie
Electronics Supply & Repair
--------------


"Lurker Steve" <lurkersteve@evilemail.com> wrote in message
news:tU70c.5708$C65.3052@nwrddc01.gnilink.net...

A friend of mine has an old oven that is taking about an hour to heat up
to
the proper temperature. Before they shell out for a new range, is there
something that a repair novice can check and service?

Thanks.

 

[Jerry G.]

Most of the time it is one of the heating elements or both. It is also
possible that one side of the voltage to one of the elements is missing.
When the oven starts, both the upper and lower work together until the oven
is up to near the proper temperature. Then when in the bake mode, only the
bottom one should be working.

I would try the both elements together, since it is an old unit. See if the
parts dealer will let you return them, if you find you want to scrap the
stove. But, if the stove is working correctly, it will be about as good as a
new one, except for the new fancy options.

An oven is basically a simple hot box, and a base electrical system. Once
the elements are operating correctly, and the thermostat works, there will
be very little difference between an old unit, and a new one.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
=========================================


"Lurker Steve" <lurkersteve@evilemail.com> wrote in message
news:tU70c.5708$C65.3052@nwrddc01.gnilink.net...
A friend of mine has an old oven that is taking about an hour to heat up to
the proper temperature. Before they shell out for a new range, is there
something that a repair novice can check and service?

Thanks.

 

[Engineer]

"Lurker Steve" <lurkersteve@evilemail.com> wrote in message
news:tU70c.5708$C65.3052@nwrddc01.gnilink.net...

A friend of mine has an old oven that is taking about an hour to
heat up to
the proper temperature. Before they shell out for a new range, is
there
something that a repair novice can check and service?

Thanks.

It happend to us. It was one dead element - easily diagnosed and
replaced.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Ken Shaw]

I agree with "Engineer". Happened to us too. Most ranges use both the bottom
and top (broiling) heating elements to come up to temperature fast. Then,
when the oven reaches the temperature, the broiler unit turns off and the
bottom element is used to hold temperature. If the bottom element is burned
out (happens now and then) the broiler unit has to do all the work, which
takes longer. The bad part is then the oven may cool down until it reaches a
low enough temperature to kick the broiler element back in (usually around
200 degrees), resulting in undercooked food.

Be sure to turn off the power to the oven before doing any investigations.

If the oven is a common brand, replacement elements can be found at a number
of places like Home Depot, Sears, or any good electrical supplies store. Be
sure to take the bad element with you when getting a new one to be sure it
will fit.

Since they do burn out, the elements often are just plugged in. If not, they
are attached with screws through a mounting plate to the back of the oven
chamber. Be gentle removing since the wiring connections behind the plate
are usually made with all too short wires and clips. In the worst case, you
may have to pull the oven out from its cabinet mounting to get to the back
to refasten the wiring in this case.

Hope this helps.

Another engineer

 

[Engineer]

"Ken Shaw" <shawk@proaxis.com> wrote in message
news:104kcitn763el8a@corp.supernews.com...

I agree with "Engineer". Happened to us too.

(snip)

In the worst case, you
may have to pull the oven out from its cabinet mounting to get to
the back
to refasten the wiring in this case.

Hope this helps.

Another engineer

Yeah, had to do that, too!

Cheers

Roger