How does an oven heating element go bad?

Author: Sierra Schulist  |  Last update: Monday, August 25, 2025

As the wires inside a cooker elements get hotter, they expand; when they cool, they shrink back down. This repeated expanding and shrinking can cause damage to the wire over time, meaning that your oven may eventually break for no apparent reason. Elements can also break if they overheat.

What causes oven element failure?

Common Causes of Oven Element Failure

If your oven element is several years old and used frequently, it may simply be at the end of its lifespan. Electrical problems are another common cause of oven element failure. Poor connections, faulty wiring, or power surges can damage the element.

What causes heating element to go out in oven?

The household fuses or circuit breakers may "blow" or trip. The heating element will stop working.

How do I know if my oven element is bad?

  1. Visible damages. The most apparent signs the heating element is broken are visible damages. ...
  2. Dirty oven. With constant use and abuse, your kitchen range becomes dirty over time. ...
  3. No longer bright orange. ...
  4. Uncooked or half-cooked food. ...
  5. An increase in the electrical bill. ...
  6. Conclusion.

What causes a heating element to burn out?

Faulty Wiring: Problems with the wiring within your furnace can cause inadequate amounts of electrical power to your heating element, causing it to burn out in. Corrosion: Corrosion on a heating element is not a serious problem at first, but can later cause small cracks which cause burn out.

Oven Won’t Heat? Bake/Broil Element Testing, Troubleshooting

How long should an oven element last?

As an estimate, most cooker elements should last for about 5 years. Of course, this is dependent on the health and overall quality of your oven; the better your oven, the longer its parts should last.

Why do heating elements fail?

Causes of heater wire failure are oxidation, high temperature corrosion, deformation leading to locally increased temperatures and changes in electrical properties.

Is it worth replacing the heating element in the oven?

If you have oven issues, it's worth investigating the heating element as a potential culprit, but a broken heating element doesn't always signal the end of your oven's life. Spotting the signs of a faulty element early allows you to fix the issue with a simple replacement, saving time and money.

How much does it cost to replace a heating element in the oven?

Common electric oven issues and repair prices
  1. Replacing the heating element: £80-£170.
  2. Thermostat replacement: £50 - £150.
  3. Fan replacement: £75 - £130.
  4. Bulb replacement: £30 - £50.

How to diagnose a bad heating element?

To test the element, you must measure its resistance. Switch the multimeter settings to measure resistance and place the nodes on the two screws. A functioning heating element should read between 10 and 30 ohms. The heating element is broken if the meter reads 1 or 0.

How long should an oven last?

The life expectancy of an electric oven is around 13 - 15 years. The life expectancy of a gas oven is around 15 years. The life expectancy of a dual-fuel oven is also around 15 years. However, the lifespan of these kitchen appliances depends on how frequently you use them.

How to fix an oven that doesn't heat up?

Troubleshoot an oven that's not heating up
  1. Inspect circuit breaker. If your oven is not heating, it could be the result of a tripped circuit breaker. ...
  2. Check outlet. ...
  3. Inspect heating element (electric oven only) ...
  4. Check oven door seal. ...
  5. Locate temperature sensor. ...
  6. Examine igniter.

Is it easy to fix a heating element in an oven?

Replacing a broken element isn't too complicated, but it can be tricky working in such a small space. Before you begin, you'll need to turn the power off to your oven. Then, take out the old element by unscrewing it and detaching the wires running into it.

How much does it cost to replace the heating element in an oven?

The cost to replace a heating element in an oven is $150 to $450. A new heating element for an oven costs $15 to $100 for the part alone. Ovens have 2 heating elements, the baking coil, and the broil element.

How do I know if I need a new heating element?

Signs of a Bad Heating Element
  1. Warm or cool water when you turn on the hot water handle.
  2. Hot water that does not last long.
  3. Having Your water heater's circuit breaker trip frequently.

How do I know if my oven thermostat or element is bad?

No heat - Your oven isn't producing any heat, it could be due to a broken thermostat and can also be caused by other problems, such as a faulty heating element. Temperature Extremes - Your oven temperature abruptly and unexpectedly increases or dips causing inconsistent cooking and baking.

What causes oven element to burn out?

Due to the hot temperatures within the oven cavity, it isn't unusual for it to burn out while enduring the high temperatures.

Is it cheaper to repair or replace an oven?

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.

Why do heating elements fail in the oven?

Heating elements endure stress from frequent use, leading to wear and tear over time. Continuous heating and cooling cycles can weaken the elements, eventually causing them to break. Solution: Regular inspections can help identify any signs of wear before they result in a complete failure.

Can I replace my oven heating element myself?

Most oven heating elements last quite a few years, but just like any other appliance part, eventually they wear out or can break if something falls onto them. No need to panic. Thankfully, replacing your oven's element is a simple repair to make, as you only need a screwdriver.

What causes heating element to go out?

Sediment Buildup

The affected heating elements get forced to work harder and eventually burn out. To prevent sediment buildup and extend the service life of heating elements, drain your heater's tank every few months.

What is the life of a heating element?

In general, all resistance heating alloys have a practically unlimited life below 600°C provided they are not exposed to any chemically, mechanically, or electrically damaging conditions.

Can a heating element catch fire?

Obviously, that's just how it happens sometimes--it happened to me. The element shorts out inside the Cal rod and causes the element to burn that way . It happens all the time.

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