Tag Archives: Stove Problems

Troubleshooting Stove Problems Related to the Thermostat

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Many problems with your stove can be traced back to the thermostat or other components related to temperature regulation. If your stove or range has an unreliable temperature, your Stove Problemsthermostat is most likely to blame.

The thermostat controls the oven temperature by sensing the current heat level and then cycling the heat flow on or off as necessary to maintain the desired setting. Read on for some insights as to what may be causing your temperature control issues.

Light Stays On

Your stove thermostat is connected to an oven-cycling light that turns on and off as the temperature is regulated. Seeing this light either continually turning on and off, or coming on and remaining lit for a long time are both indicators of thermostat problems.

If the oven door is not shut completely (or if the oven is repeatedly being opened and closed), the light will remain on to maintain the heat cycle. If neither of these is the reason for your issue, you may need to replace the thermostat in your range.

Burned or Uncooked Foods

If your meatloaf or brownies are burning well before the end of the cooking time indicated by your recipes, you may have thermostat problems. In this case, the sensor causes the heat cycle to remain on, which makes the oven get hotter than the temperature you have set. This results in the contents burning on the outside before the inside is fully cooked.

On the other hand, if your foods are coming out undercooked when they should be done, the thermostat is not cycling the heat on to reach the correct temperature. With this type of problem, you may see the oven cycling light stay on because the set temperature is never reached.

Calibrating the Thermostat

You may need to replace your thermostat. However, in some cases, you may be able to calibrate it to register the proper setting. First, place a thermometer in the oven (use an over thermometer — other types may melt and make a mess) and set the temperature to 350 degrees. Wait a half hour, then check the thermometer reading. If the indicated temperature is not 350 degrees, calibration may fix the problem.

This process involves accessing the oven control panel to tighten or loosen the calibration screw to adjust the temperature setting. With some oven models, however, calibration isn’t possible, and instead the sensor must be replaced.

Because your range runs on electricity, you should never attempt any repairs inside the control panel, as you may be seriously injured. An experienced appliance technician can perform a thermostat calibration for you quickly and easily, or if that’s not the problem, the tech can determine what other issues your stove may have.

In Bountiful, Utah, and the Salt Lake City area, Complete Appliance Repair is your locally owned and operated home appliance specialist. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to fix problems with your range, oven or stove.

Why Are My Stove Indicator Lights and Dials Not Working?

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Your stove indicator lights serve several important functions. When you turn the burner dials on your stove, the lights alert you to the fact that heat is flowing — or at least that’s what they’re Stove Dialssupposed to do. But what if your range lights and dials aren’t working properly? It’s inconvenient, sure, but it’s also potentially hazardous. If someone doesn’t realize that a burner has been turned on, or if the burner heat level can’t be controlled by the dial, it could result in injury or a house fire. Problems with the range indicator lights or dials often can be easily fixed, however, if you determine the cause of the problem.

Bad Indicator Bulbs

Just like any other light in your home, indicator bulbs can burn out. Replacing the bulb is the obvious solution when a light fails to work, and in some cases, this will resolve the problem. Older stoves may utilize incandescent bulbs, which can burn out after a few years. More modern ranges use LED bulbs, which may last for up to 50,000 hours before requiring replacement. Regardless, changing the bulb could be an inexpensive fix for your stove light problem.

Faulty Control Switches

Each burner on your stove features a control switch attached to its dial or knob. Called the infinite switch, this part regulates the heat level for the burner based on your chosen setting. If one of your burners only heats to one temperature or is stuck on high, you may have a problem with the burner control switch. The infinite switch also may be to blame if one of your burners won’t turn on at all, or if the stove indicator light doesn’t come on when the dial is moved. If the switch is faulty, it must be replaced ASAP, before you use that burner again.

Wiring Problems

If one of your stove lights is not quite as bright as the others, a connection issue could be the cause. Wires connect the burner control dial to the indicator light, and if they become loose, the light can become dimmer. Wiring issues may also be responsible for causing the indicator lights to remain on when the burner dial is switched to the off position, or to blink or flicker while the burner is in use.

Understanding the problem with your stove lights or dials is the first step in taking care of the issue. In many cases, however, these aren’t do-it-yourself fixes. Rather than risk injury or fire, contact Complete Appliance Repair, serving Woods Cross, Utah, and the neighboring communities. Their professional technicians can repair your range in a snap, or if you’re ready for a new stove, they can help you with that as well. Contact them today if you’re having problems with your stove indicator lights or burners.