Is your oven overheating and burning your food? This can be extremely frustrating and can even lead to a risk of fire. Fortunately, there are a few simple things you can check if you are having this issue. Below we have described five of the most common reasons why your oven is overheating, which will hopefully help you to resolve the problem.
1. Faulty thermostat knob
A malfunctioning thermostat knob can lead to inaccurate oven temperatures. It is a quick and easy process to check if the thermostat knob is the issue.
- The first step to take is to check that the thermostat knob is fitted securely in place. If it has been knocked loose but is able to be put back into place, your issue is solved.
- If the knob is damaged in some way, such as cracked or broken, or cannot be easily popped back into place, you can order a replacement knob from your oven supplier. This will be a simple and inexpensive fix for your problem.
- Once you have put your thermostat knob back into place or installed a replacement, test to see if the issue is fixed. You should no longer have issues with your oven overheating.
2. Problem with the thermostat sensing bulb
Just as the thermostat knob can cause issues if it is not fitted securely in place, a thermostat sensing bulb can also cause problems if it becomes loose or damaged. The sensor bulb of the thermostat is what identifies the air temperature of the oven in order for the thermostat to react. This in turn controls the on and off cycles of the oven elements.
To fix an issue with the sensing bulb:
- Find the thermostat sensing bulb. It will be located at the rear of the oven cavity, often to the left, and held in place by mounting clips.
- Check to see if the bulb is damaged, dirty, or if it has come loose from its mounting clips.
- If the bulb has come loose, you can pop it back securely into its holder. If the bulb appears broken or damaged, you will be able to order a new one from the manufacturer.
- The bulb should not be touching the side of the oven if it is positioned correctly. If it is, it may mean that the mounting clips are bent out of shape. If this is the case, they can be gently bent back into place with pliers in order to ensure that the bulb does not touch the oven interior.
- When a sensing bulb is particularly dirty with grime or food particles, it can sometimes affect how it senses the oven’s air temperature. Removing the bulb and giving it a thorough cleaning may help to resolve the issue.
- Once the bulb has either been replaced or put back into the correct position you can check if your overheating issue is fixed.
3. Malfunctioning heating elements
If there is a problem with your heating elements, it can cause your oven to overheat.
In order to check your heating elements, take the following steps:
- Disconnect your oven from the power supply.
- Check to see if the heating elements are damaged or if they have come loose.
- If they are damaged, they will need to be replaced. If they are merely loose, ensure that they are fitted correctly into place.
- Reconnect your oven to the power and then check to see if it is still overheating.
4. Blocked oven vent
No one enjoys cleaning their oven, but if it is not done regularly, over time your oven vent can become blocked with grime. Because this prevents air from escaping the oven through the vent, it can lead to overheating.
To check if it is blocked:
- Inspect the vent for grease, grime, or other blockages. If it appears blocked, give the vent a thorough cleaning with soapy water.
- If you are not sure if it is blocked, check when it is turned on if you can feel hot air escaping through the vent holes. If you can’t, that suggests that it is blocked.
- Once you have removed any blockage in the vent, test to see if it is still overheating.
- Always ensure that nothing is placed on the top of the oven which could obstruct the vents. Baking trays, pots, pans, and aluminum foil all have the capacity to block the vent and prevent hot air from escaping.
5. Faulty oven fan
If none of the above checks have solved your overheating oven problem, the issue might be the oven fan. If your oven fan is faulty, you may notice that it is noisier than usual or rotating at a slower speed. This will cause the air temperature inside the oven to be higher than it should be.
To determine whether the fan is the problem:
- After ensuring the oven is switched off, locate the fan. It will be at the back of the oven.
- Remove the back panel of the oven in order to access the fan.
- Move the fan by hand. It should spin freely. If it is difficult to spin or jammed, then it will most likely need to be replaced.
- If the fan is particularly dirty, it may be grease or grime that is preventing it from spinning. Give the fan a thorough cleaning before checking to see if it spins freely.
- Once you have replaced the fan or ensured that it can now spin freely, test your oven to see if the overheating issue has been solved.
These are the main reasons why an oven may be running too hot. Hopefully, by following these steps you will be able to solve your overheating problem and once more be able to cook without burning your food.