Make sure the multimeter is calibrated and then turn the dial to the lowest ohm rating. Place the multimeter on the thermostat. If the thermostat has a reading of zero or as close to zero as possible, it is working fine. However, if it has no reading at all, your oven thermostat is faulty and will need replacing.
An often fault that causes electric ovens to produce no heat entirely is when the thermostat or selector switch has become burnt out. If the thermostat or selector switch burns out and stops working then so will your oven.
You will know your cooker thermostat is broken if the temperature inside isn't reaching the heat you've set it to with the knob, if the temperature inside is always at maximum regardless of what you've set the temperature to, or if the knob isn't clicking when you turn it.
The heating element will stop working. The sparking ceases after a few seconds. There may also be a "burning plastic" odor at this time. We recommend that you not use the oven if the bake or broil element fails.
The cost to replace an oven thermostat is $100 to $350 on average. Signs of thermostat failure include the heating light never switching on or the oven not heating. A thermostat turns the heat on and off as needed to reach the right temperature setting.
Standard thermostats: Enlist a friend or family member to assist, Position one person by the thermostat and one person by the furnace. Slowly turn the thermostat from off to heat and increase the temperature. Both the thermostat and furnace should make a sound.
Locate the thermostat and disconnect the wires to remove thermostat. Remove the screws holding the thermostat in place and gently pull it out. Install the new thermostat: Position the new thermostat in the same place where the old one was.
Signs of a Bad Thermostat
If there's no change in your home's temperature when you adjust the temperature, or the display is unlit or unresponsive, your thermostat may be broken, or the batteries need replacing.
A faulty temperature sensor will cause the oven not to heat to the correct temperature. If food is taking longer to cook, or is undercooked when cooking time is completed this is due to the oven not reaching the desired heat. You need to make sure that the temperature sensor isn't touching the interior oven wall.
Remove the oven temperature knob and turn it over. It should have one or two screws on the back. If the oven is running cold, you will want to turn the screws counterclockwise, and if it is running hot, you will want to turn them clockwise. Turn them gradually, about an eighth of a turn each time.
On average, electric oven repair costs tend to sit between £80-£170 for a new element to be fitted. If the problem lies with the thermostat, you'll need to get an oven thermostat repair cost from a specialist. Alternatively, you could be looking at paying between £50 - £150 if your thermostat needs to be replaced.
2.6) Thermostat
The most likely cause of a thermostat tripping the electric is that the wiring for the thermostat has shorted out on the grounded parts of the oven, the insulation on the wiring has become damaged or wiring has come loose.
If you have a faulty oven thermostat, you will know about it. As the heat is no longer regulated, this could cause burnt or even undercooked food - and nobody wants that!
The rule of thumb is that if repair costs exceed 50% of the price to install a new oven, you should buy a new oven instead of replacing it. For example, if your oven costs $2,000 but costs $1,500 to repair, you could use that $1,500 for a new and improved oven.
If there's a problem with the element, the light is never going to turn off because it's never going to hit the correct temperature. On the other hand if when you turn the thermostat on the light does not turn on at all, that shows there's a problem with the thermostat.
Depending on your type of oven, a possible reason your oven is not heating may be due to a faulty igniter in gas ovens or a broken heating element in electric ovens. These parts are the source of your oven's ability to heat, and if they aren't working, your oven won't be able to perform its job.
Technically, yes your oven should still get hot if your light has stopped working. However, it will make your life considerably more difficult. You won't be able to identify whether or not your appliance is on, and you won't be able to tell when your food is cooked as easily!