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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: geekette on July 17, 2017, 04:30:04 PM

Title: Oven element short - question
Post by: geekette on July 17, 2017, 04:30:04 PM
Midway through a batch of cookies, the heating element in the oven buzzed and sparked.  I turned the oven off, and the bad spot on the element still glowed like it was getting power.  It wasn't until I flipped the breaker that it quit glowing.

My DH is concerned that more than the element is bad, and while the range is 19 years old, I'm not really keen to replace it just yet.

Repair?  Replace?

Title: Re: Oven element short - question
Post by: prognastat on July 17, 2017, 04:37:49 PM
Midway through a batch of cookies, the heating element in the oven buzzed and sparked.  I turned the oven off, and the bad spot on the element still glowed like it was getting power.  It wasn't until I flipped the breaker that it quit glowing.

My DH is concerned that more than the element is bad, and while the range is 19 years old, I'm not really keen to replace it just yet.

Repair?  Replace?

It sounds like it is an oven that still has the element inside the oven cavity instead of hidden behind one of the walls. From my understanding those are much easier to repair than those that are hidden.
Title: Re: Oven element short - question
Post by: Dezrah on July 17, 2017, 04:58:15 PM
This happened in my apartment's oven not that long ago.  The stupid thing was taking forever to cook anything.  Finally I looked inside and saw the lower element burned completely through.  I left a message for Maintenance and it was fixed that same day; they had simply replaced the element.

Just start Googling your oven model and you'll find a wealth of information on how to fix it.

I will also give you permission to replace it if it's too costly or technical or scary to fix it.  Your oven is old enough to serve its country; it's had a good life.  If anything, it was probably waiting for that one last batch of cookies to go out on a good note. ;)
Title: Re: Oven element short - question
Post by: Spork on July 17, 2017, 05:13:03 PM
Assuming this was an oven that was popular: parts will be plentiful and it will be on the order of (approximating):
* remove cover (2 screws)
* remove 2 electrical leads to element (2 screws)
* replace it and replace cover

It will take you 5 minutes. 

If it's an oddball oven that doesn't have parts available... then start thinking replacing.  But elements go out every now and then.  It can sometimes be exciting with a teeny little (controlled) fire.

I wouldn't worry about the age.  Our oven we use every day is over 65 years old.  We have a new, modern electric oven in the wall.  Except for Christmas and Thanksgiving, we use that one for storage of pots and pans.
Title: Re: Oven element short - question
Post by: robartsd on July 17, 2017, 05:23:06 PM
When the element was going out, the resistance at that particular part of the element was probably much higher than any other point on the element, so that part got much hotter than the rest. The continued glow after turning the oven off was probably just that part of the element taking longer to cool to a non-glowing state. If you can find parts for reasonable cost and feel comfortable with DIY replacement, I'd try replacing the element before deciding to replace the oven.
Title: Re: Oven element short - question
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on July 17, 2017, 05:24:46 PM
WARNING:

When the element in my oven went out, yes, it was easy to replace it. Even though the wires fell back inside the walls and that's the one thing that everyone online says to avoid happening. (I pulled the range out from the wall and took the back off, no problem.)

BUT something about the element going bad, also caused the circuit breaker to go bad. That was a $300* repair.

*Apparently my circuit breakers are made by unicorns? Or I think they said that it had not been installed properly in the first place.

So don't even use the stove top until the thing is repaired. The microwave is your friend. Also, make sure that you get the right element. I accidentally ordered a "bake" element when I needed "broil."
Title: Re: Oven element short - question
Post by: geekette on July 17, 2017, 05:27:25 PM
I know it's easy to replace - the part's <$30.  Our question was that it seemed to still have power when we turned the oven off.

We let it cool down and flipped the breaker back on.  It's staying cool.  I'm probably just especially nervous since our neighbor's house is uninhabitable now due to an electrical fire a couple weeks ago.

And now FP is making me think of shopping for a new stove...
Title: Re: Oven element short - question
Post by: Carless on July 18, 2017, 08:19:43 AM
I'm not sure you can repair it.  It's a bit like a lightbulb that burnt out now.  You need a new element.
Title: Re: Oven element short - question
Post by: prognastat on July 18, 2017, 08:29:19 AM
http://www.partselect.com/

I've used this website and you can enter your model and the problem you are having and it will give steps for troubleshooting and fixing the issue.
Title: Re: Oven element short - question
Post by: geekette on July 18, 2017, 09:15:03 AM
We ordered the part and it'll be here on Thursday.  DH is handy with a multimeter and will check to make sure the element isn't getting power when the oven's not turned on, though.