Oven​ ​Not​ ​Heating?​ ​How​ ​to​ ​Replace​ ​a​ ​Bake Element

**NOTICE**
Due the danger and complexity of electronic equipment repair, the following shared technical tips are intended for professional reference only. Please refer to manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability or safety of this information. 

If an electric oven is not baking at all, the issue can be diagnosed fairly quickly. If the oven has a sensor, shut the door completely to confirm the oven doesn’t work. If the door is working properly, then the issue may originate inside the unit.

Confirm that you need oven repair by actually seeing that the baking element is not heating. The back element itself can be checked once power has been disconnected from the oven and the element has been properly isolated. It should have roughly 10-50 ohms when checking for resistance. If the resistance is not within that range, the baking element on the bottom of the oven needs to be replaced. Replacing the bottom element is relatively simple; start by disconnecting power to the oven. Then, pull out the racks, remove the doors, and unplug the bake element.

Next, unplug the oven from the bottom. There should be two screws at the back of the oven holding the heating element in place. Remove the screws with a screwdriver, and plug the new element in at the same location of the old one. Make sure it fits properly.

Once the screws are on tightly, push the element into the oven cavity. At this point, all wires should be inside the wall and not visible. Things will get trickier if the bake element is hidden. More disassembly is required, and it’s recommended that you check the service manual for your specific product. Other components can prevent your electric oven from heating to the proper temperature such as the oven sensor probe,  main oven control board, and door alignment issues to name a few.

Special thanks to Fred’s Appliance Academy for this helpful tip!