Depending on the brand and type of oven you own, it can be one of the most durable and longest-lasting appliances in your home. Ovens tend to outlive refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, and more.
That being said, that doesn’t mean that it will never need maintenance in the many years that you use it. In fact, the best way to extend the lifespan of any oven is to recognize the signs that you’re in need of oven repair service!
What are those signs? How can you ensure that you get your oven repaired before it’s too late?
Read on for the seven biggest signs that you need oven repair service.
1. Strange Noises
One sign that you’re going to need oven repairs is the dreaded strange noise coming from an oven that is turned on. Typically, ovens aren’t noisy appliances. Other than the sound of burners being turned on or off, timers going off, or dishes settling on the rack, you don’t expect to hear many sounds coming from your oven.
If you start hearing a whirring, ticking, or buzzing coming from your oven, it could be a sign that a component is faulty or loose. When left unfixed, these pieces can cause malfunctions and even start fires.
2. Issues With the Oven Door
If your oven door won’t stay shut, you have probably got a loose or broken hinge on your hands. Fortunately, this one is a cheap and easy fix. You’ll want to get it taken care of right away because unless your oven door is sealed properly, you’re going to lose heat and your food is going to end up undercooked.
3. Gas Smells or Other Strange Odors
Natural gas doesn’t have a detectable odor, but manufacturers do add a chemical to the gas to help you detect a gas leak. Most people say that gas coming from an oven smells sulfuric (think rotten eggs). Some older ovens with pilot lights do emit a small amount of gas smell when they’re turned on, but anything that seems unusual should not go unchecked.
If you smell gas or any other peculiar odors when you turn your oven on, turn it off. If your oven is leaking gas, it could lead to a fire or an explosion.
4. Glitches With the Electricity
If you’re not working with a gas oven, you may think that you’re in the clear as far as fire hazards go. However, electric ovens and stoves can still experience malfunctions with the electricity that can be equally as dangerous.
How can you spot a glitch with the electricity? Look for signs like the oven failing to turn on or off, unresponsive controls, or fluctuations in the power levels. Any of these things could indicate corrosion, shorted-out wires, or an excessively high current, all of which are issues that need professional repair.
5. Improperly Cooked Food
If you have been using your oven for quite some time, you probably not it pretty well. You know how long your signature dishes need to go in the oven and chances are, you aren’t forgetting what temperature they need to be cooked at.
However, let’s say that one day, you pull out a casserole or baking sheet of cookies and notice that for the first time, they are undercooked or overcooked. If it happens once or twice, you might chalk it up to user error. If it happens over and over again, it’s clearly not you–it’s the oven.
If your food is consistently overcooked, there may be a malfunction with the thermostat or another component that contributes to temperature control. If your food is always undercooked, this may indicate an issue with the fan, heating element, or controls. Pinpointing the source of the problem (and fixing it) is something that isn’t exactly a DIY fix but that can be easily tackled during oven repair services.
6. Lengthy Preheating Times
Even when you’re setting your oven to high temperatures, it really should not take more than a few minutes from the time you turn it on and set the temperature to the time it is fully preheated. This process relies on the heating element and the temperature sensor probe that lets the thermometer know when your oven has reached the proper temperature.
If you notice that it’s taking longer and longer for your oven to preheat, there may be something wrong with either of these components. If your oven is struggling to reach even low temperatures in a few minutes, there’s definitely something that needs repairing.
7. Faulty Burners
We’ve spent quite a bit of time talking about the oven, itself. What about the burners?
On both gas and electric ovens, you’re bound to encounter problems with the burners from time to time. They may not start when you turn the switch or you may find them difficult to control once they’re on. Some burners become weaker over time while others seem to run on high no matter where you set the dial.
If you have faulty burners, the culprit could be a number of things, from the electrical connections to the ignition components. Having even one burner out at a time can make cooking more difficult, so request oven repair services right away.
Make Your Oven Last With Oven Repair Service
Ovens are built to last and as long as you take good care of them, you can expect your oven to work for over 15 years. However, that means that you’re going to want to invest in oven repair service anytime you notice any problems. Keep an eye out for these seven signs and your oven will stick with you for over a decade.
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