Oven Not Heating or Slow to Preheat

An oven not heating, or taking far longer than before to preheat, almost always has one of a few causes. The first question is whether yours is electric or gas, since the two fail differently.

For any work inside an electric oven, switch off its breaker first. If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas utility. Do not touch the gas valve or lines.

Electric oven not heating

Step 1. Is the whole range getting power?

Check the clock and the burners. An electric range runs on 240 volts, which uses two breaker poles. If one pole trips, the clock and lights may work but the oven gets no heat. Reset the double breaker fully by switching it off and then on. If it trips again, stop.

Step 2. Look at the bake element

With the oven cold and off, look at the bottom element. A blister, a break or a burned spot means it has failed. Turn the oven to bake: an element that stays dark after several minutes is dead. Replacing an element is a common repair, but it connects to high voltage, so we recommend a technician. GE’s support page on an electric range oven that will not heat while the burners work lists the same first checks: the bake or broil setting, the door latch on self-clean models and the bake element.

Step 3. Slow preheat

A worn element may glow but heat poorly. A temperature sensor that reads wrong, or a door seal that leaks, also slows preheat. Look at the gasket around the door: gaps or flattened sections let heat out. Check that the door closes squarely.

Step 4. Control or relay

If the element is good and has power but you still have an oven not heating, the control board, relay or thermal fuse may be at fault. A thermal fuse is a safety part. Never bypass it. It blows because something overheated, and the cause needs finding.

Gas oven not heating

Igniter

A gas oven lights with an electric igniter, which glows and then opens the gas valve once it draws enough current. A weak igniter glows but never opens the valve, so the oven stays cold. This is the most common cause of a gas oven not heating. Watch through the bottom: if the igniter glows orange for a minute or more with no flame, it has weakened. Replacement is the standard fix, and it is a technician job because it is next to the gas path.

Pilot or burner

Older ovens with a standing pilot may have a pilot that went out. Relighting one is a matter of following the manual, but if the smell of gas is present, do not try. Blocked burner ports or a bent flame spreader can also cause a weak flame.

Gas supply

If your cooktop burners are also not working, the problem may be the supply, such as a shutoff valve that was turned. Do not adjust the valve if you smell gas. Call the utility.

Preheating slowly

• Check the oven with a thermometer. Many ovens say they are ready before the cavity has actually reached temperature, and a separate thermometer shows the truth.
• Clean spills off the bottom, since burnt food and foil around the element slow heat.
• Do not line the floor of the oven with foil, which can block the element and damage the finish.
• Check that racks sit where the manual says, and that nothing is stored inside.

When to call

Call about an oven not heating if the element is visibly damaged, if the igniter glows but no flame appears, if the breaker trips or if the oven heats only after a long delay. A technician visit finds the part before any work is done. For other oven faults, see common oven problems and for temperature that is inconsistent across the cavity, oven uneven heating.

See our oven repair page for what we cover, book at /book/ or call (916) 582-7791.

Common questions

How long should an oven take to preheat?

Most take about ten to fifteen minutes to reach 350 degrees, depending on the model. A noticeably longer time than usual points to a weak element, sensor or door seal.

Why is my gas oven igniter glowing but there is no flame?

A weak igniter does not draw enough current to open the gas valve. It usually needs replacing. Because it is part of the gas system, we recommend a technician.

Can a tripped breaker cause an oven not to heat?

Yes. If one pole of the double breaker trips, the clock and lights may still work while the oven has no heat.

Is it safe to bypass the thermal fuse?

No. It is a safety device, and the reason it opened needs to be found and fixed.