Most “my oven is dead” calls we get in Agoura Hills turn out to be one part. Not the control board, not the thermostat. One part that’s worn out, usually after 8 to 12 years of heating up and cooling down.
Which part depends on whether your oven runs on gas or electric.
Electric oven: look at the element
Turn the oven to 350 and look inside after a couple of minutes. The bake element is the tube along the bottom. It should glow orange-red.
- No glow at all: the element is probably open (burned through). Look for a blister, a crack, or a spot where the metal looks pitted.
- Glows only in patches: it’s failing. It’ll quit completely soon.
- Glows fine but the oven is still cold: now it’s something else, usually a temperature sensor or the control board.
A bake element is a $30 to $80 part and takes about 20 minutes to swap. Cut the breaker first. People skip that step and regret it.
Gas oven: listen for the click, watch for the glow
On a gas oven the igniter is a small ceramic piece near the burner. It heats up, and once it draws enough current it opens the gas valve. Here’s the catch: an old igniter can still glow orange but not pull enough current to open the valve. So the glow doesn’t prove it’s good.
Rule of thumb: if it glows for 60 to 90 seconds and the burner never lights, replace the igniter. Do not hold a match to it. Please.
Igniters run roughly $40 to $120 for the part. Most of the cost on a service call is the visit.
When it’s not either of those
A few other things cause a cold oven:
- A tripped breaker, since electric ovens use a 240V double breaker and one half can trip alone
- A failed temperature sensor (the thin probe at the back of the oven)
- A bad control board, which is the expensive one
- Locked-out settings after a power flicker
If you smell gas and nothing lights, shut off the valve and call. Don’t keep clicking the knob.
Is it worth fixing?
If the oven is under 12 years old and the part is an element or igniter, yes, nearly every time. You’re spending $150 to $300 total to avoid a $1,200 or more replacement. If the control board is the culprit on a budget range that’s past 12 years, then it gets closer to a coin flip and we’ll tell you so.
Quick answers
Why did my oven stop heating but the stovetop works? The bake element or igniter is separate from the cooktop burners, so one can fail alone.
Can I replace the element myself? Usually yes, with the power off at the breaker. Two screws, pull it out, unplug the wires, swap.
How long does an oven repair take? Most are done in one visit, under an hour, if we have the part on the truck.
If you’d rather not poke around inside your oven, give us a call. We’ll tell you what’s wrong before we touch anything.