15 Amazing Facts About Oven That You've Never Heard Of
How to Repair Common Oven Parts The oven is an appliance in the kitchen that is used to cook food. The heat from the oven sterilizes foods and kills the majority of micro-organisms in them. All bakers require an accurate oven thermometer. Understanding how your oven works will help improve your baking and roasting skills and eliminate those annoying hot spots that wreak havoc with cakes, cookies and other baked items. Thermostat The thermostat is an important part of your oven. It assists in ensuring that the temperature of food matches the temperature you have set on the control panel. Best ovens can be problematic, just like any other switch or sensor that is electro-mechanical. The oven can overheat or underheat, or not keep the temperature you set. The oven thermostat is a small strip made of two different metals that are bonded together. When heated by the oven, the metals expand or flex at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the thermostat's metal reaches the temperature you've set on your control panel it shuts off heating element's power. As the oven cools down the bimetallic strip contract, re-establishing the circuit and turning on the heating element. This process continues to maintain a constant temperature within your oven. The oven must be disconnected and all screws removed to diagnose a thermostat problem. Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting, and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or close to it, then the thermostat is working correctly and doesn't require to be replaced. If the multimeter fails to read anything then the thermostat is not working properly. It must be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a brand new one that is the same model as the one you have. These thermostats are available at a reasonable cost online or at the kitchen store. Bake Element Ovens can't be complete without the bake element, which creates heat to make your oven cook food. It's an easy component that transforms electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting, and broiling. Heating elements are typically found in electric ranges and ovens and are either uncovered or hidden under the oven's floor. In general oven heating elements comprise of high-resistance elements such as nickel-chromium. They convert electrical energy into heat through the process of resistance, which then radiates throughout the oven's interior, causing it to increase the temperature to the desired temperature to cook various types of food. When you start your oven the heating element gets to work by generating heat by the high-voltage electricity moving across its metal surface. When the electric current flows through it, the element heats up. The element will appear red hot when it reaches the desired temperature. The baked element is the primary source of heat in most oven functions. It's usually located at the lower levels of the oven. A lot of ovens that are automated also have it to clean themselves. You may observe that the oven doesn't warm up as quickly, or that your food hasn't been cooked to perfection. Connect your multimeter to its black and red ports. Then, press the probes made of metal on one end of the element to each other. The other end should be placed against one of its terminals and put your hand on it to feel whether the element is warm to the touch. If it's not, remove the element and try again. Broil Element The broil element is typically situated in the upper part of the oven and can provide high-temperature heat similar to a grill to cook or brown food items. Broil settings in ovens are a great way to quickly sear meat or crisp vegetables, to heat up lasagna, or caramelize the topping of a casserole. The broiler heating element is similar to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy by resistance into heat. It is composed of an inner core comprised of metal wires, which are wrapped in an insulating, expanded material known as perlite. The inner core is then encased in an outer layer of stainless steel to protect the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer structure reduces the broil element's temperature making it more durable and safer than older types of elements. While you may use any heating element in your oven, you should choose one that matches the wattage that is recommended for your oven. Using a different wattage can cause damage to your oven or cause it to overheat. The current and voltage ratings of the new heating elements can be located on the control panel of your oven. This will allow you to examine the ratings and wattage of your oven. It is also advisable to check the resistance of your old element and compare it with the power of the new broiler heating element. The greater the resistance of an oven element the more power it draws. Replace the broiler element as soon as possible If it's not working or is acting up. It is essential that your oven function correctly to be able to cook all of your favorite food items. If your oven does not function at all, or only intermittently, the issue may be with another part. Light Bulb and Assembly The light allows you to monitor your food while it cooks without opening the door and letting heat escape. The light also lets you know when your casserole is ready. However, it's not uncommon for the light bulb to go out. This can be very frustrating but it's an simple fix that you can tackle yourself. Before you start, make sure that the breaker hasn't tripped and that the three-prong connector is in good condition. Remove the old bulb and then find the new one. You may need to look online for a replacement that is compatible with the wattage and model of your oven. Some ovens have normal appliance bulbs that are 40 watts in power, while others need a halogen lamp up to 50 watts. Consider using cotton gloves to shield bulbs from the damage caused by oil. Remove the glass casing of the bulb prior to replacing it. It is important to do slowly to avoid breaking it. You'll then need to remove the air from the bulb and replace it with a mixture. This will ensure a longer lifespan for the filament. If your light bulb is always blinking, it could be a bigger electrical issue that should be addressed by a professional. Double check that you are using the correct oven bulb and consult your Use and Care Guide to get additional troubleshooting tips. Remember to unplug the oven and turn off the power before you start any repairs. This will help prevent getting an electric shock. Vent Tube The vent tube is a vital oven part that allows for a tiny airflow inside the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat around the oven and ensures the temperature is evenly dispersed. It also allows the vapors to escape from the oven, and smoke to be drawn from the cooking surface. It is essential for proper functioning of any electric or gas oven. Vents in ovens can get clogged or blocked by several reasons. web link or splatters while cooking can leave sticky residues on oven vents, which could draw dust and other debris that could eventually cause blockages or clogs over time. Grease and oil may also become airborne and settle on vents. Other environmental factors, like kitchen construction and renovations, can introduce dust or other pollutants into the vents, which can cause blockages or clogs. Depending on the model of the oven the vent tube could comprise a spreader 46 and an fill tip 12 and an a bottle guide 20 that are integrally formed into the pipe 32. The bottle guide 20 can have a tapered outer edge that complements the tapered inner edge of the spreader, allowing the vent tubes to be inserted smoothly into different sizes and shapes bottle necks. A blocked or clogged vent tube can cause a loss of pressure within the enclosing structure. This can result in a downdraft that pushes exhaust down the vent and backwards towards the oven's burners, causing damage to oven components. Consult a professional if think your vent pipe could be blocked or clogged. They will identify the problem and offer suggestions on how to clean or clean the vent.