The Myths And Facts Behind Oven
How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is an appliance used in kitchens that is typically used to cook food items. The heat from the oven sterilizes food and kills the majority of microorganisms.
All bakers need an accurate oven thermometer. Understanding how your oven works can help you improve your baking and roasting skills and eliminate those annoying hot spots that wreak havoc with cakes, cookies and other baked items.
Thermostat
The thermostat is among the most important parts of your oven, helping to make sure that the temperature of your food matches what you've set in your control panel. It could be a problem, just like any other sensor or switch that is electro-mechanical. The oven can overheat or underheat, or not keep the temperature you set.
The oven thermostat is tiny strips of two different metals that are bonded together. When heated, the different metals expand and flex at different rates, creating or breaking an electrical circuit. When the thermostat's metal attains the temperature you've set on your control panel it shuts off power to the heating element. As the oven cools, the bimetallic strips contract in a circuit, re-establishing it and activating the heating element. This cycle is constantly repeated to ensure a constant temperature in your oven.
You'll need the oven disconnected and all screws removed to diagnose the problem with the thermostat. Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting, and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or close to it, then the thermostat is working correctly and doesn't need to be replaced.
If the multimeter isn't reading anything, then the thermostat is not working properly and requires replacement. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a brand new one of the same type that your old one. The thermostats are available for purchase at a reasonable cost online or in the kitchen store.
Bake Element
The bake element is vital to the functioning of your oven. It generates heat that lets it cook food items. It's a simple component that transforms electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting and broiling. Heating elements are usually found in electric ranges and ovens and are either covered or concealed under the floor of the oven.
Generally, oven heating elements are made from high-resistance components like nickel-chromium alloy. They work by converting electrical energy into heat by the process of resistance, which radiates outwards into the oven's interior to raise the temperature to the desired level to cook various types of food items.
When you start your oven, the heating element begins to generate heat by the high-voltage electricity flowing across its metal surface. When electricity flows through it, the element heats up. When the element reaches its temperature it starts to glow red hot.
The baked element is the main source of heat in all oven functions. It is typically located at the lower levels of the oven. A lot of ovens that are automated also have it to clean themselves. When it starts to burn out you may find that your oven isn't able to warm as quickly or your food isn't fully cooked.
To verify that you have a working oven baking element, plug your multimeter into its red and black ports, then touch the probes made of metal against each other on one end of your element. Set the other end of the probe against one of its terminals, and place your hand on it to feel whether the element is warm to the touch. If not, remove it and try again.
Broil Element
The broil element is usually situated in the upper part of the oven cavity and provides the same high temperature as grills to cook or brown food. Broil settings in ovens are ideal for quick cook meat or crisp vegetables, to heat up lasagna, or caramelize the topping of a casserole.
The broiler heating element has a similarity to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy through resistance into heat. It is composed of an inner core made up of metal wires, which are wrapped in an insulating expanded product known as perlite. The inner core is then encased in an outer layer of stainless steel, which protects the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer structure helps lower the broil element's temperature making it more secure and efficient than the older designs of elements.
You can use any heating element you want to use for baking or broiling in your oven. However, you should select one that matches your oven's rated wattage. A different wattage may cause damage to your oven or cause it overheat. The current and voltage ratings of the latest heating elements are available on the control panel of your oven. This will allow you to examine the wattage and rating of your oven.
Verify the resistance of the old element, and then compare it with the wattage rating of the new one. The greater the resistance of an oven element, the greater power it draws from it.
Replace the broiler element as soon as possible If it's not functioning or if it's acting up. ovens and hobs must function properly for you to to cook your favourite meals. If your oven does not operate in any way, or just intermittently then the problem may be with another part.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The light allows you to monitor your food while it cooks without opening the door and let heat escape. The light also lets you know when the casserole is ready. It's not uncommon for the bulb to fail. It can be a hassle, but you can fix it yourself. Make sure the breaker is not tripped, and that the connector has three prongs.
First, take out the light bulb that was in use and locate the new one. You may have to look online to find the correct replacement bulb that is compatible with your oven's wattage. ovens and hobs -watt appliance bulbs, while others require halogen bulbs up to 50 watts. It is recommended to use cotton gloves to protect the bulbs from the damage caused by oil.
Remove the glass casing of the bulb prior to replacing it. It is important to do this slowly so that you don't fracture it. Then, you'll need to remove the air from the bulb and fill it with an amalgamation of gases. This will ensure a longer lifespan for the filament.
If your bulb is constantly blinking, it could be a bigger electrical issue that should be handled by an expert. Be sure to double check that you're using a correct bulb for your oven, and consult your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting advice. And remember that it's always recommended to unplug your oven and disconnect it from the outlet prior to you start any repair. This will help protect you from electrical shock.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is an important oven element because it allows for a tiny amount of airflow to be created within the cavity. This allows the bake-element to circulate heat throughout the oven, ensuring that the temperature is distributed evenly.
It also allows the vapors that are released from the oven to escape, and also allows smoke to be drawn away from the cooking surface. It is crucial for the proper operation of any electric or gas oven.
Vents in ovens can get blocked due to a variety of factors. Accidental spills or splatters can leave sticky residues on oven vents. These can attract debris, dust and other contaminates that could cause obstructions over time. Grease and oil particles may become airborne and settle around the vents, as well. Other environmental factors like kitchen and construction work can create dust in the vents. This can lead to clogs.
Based on the oven model the vent tube could comprise an a bottle guide 20 and spreader 46, as well as fill tip 12 that are formed with the pipe 32. The bottle guide 20 can be fitted with a tapered outer edge that matches the tapered inside edge of the spreader to allow the vent tubes to slide effortlessly into various sizes and shapes of bottle necks.
A clogged or blocked vent tube can result in an increase in pressure within the structure that surrounds it, which can create a downdraft situation that pulls exhaust down the vent and then backwards over the oven's burners, which can cause damage to the oven components. Contact a professional if you think your vent pipe might be blocked or clogged. They will identify the issue and give suggestions for clearing or cleaning the vent.
