With Thanksgiving approaching, we want to make sure that our ovens are ready for all that cooking. A problem with your oven could affect your Thanksgiving and force you to alter your plans. With how often we use our ovens, regular maintenance can go a long way in prevention of issues that affect its performance. Sometimes, though, problems arise anyway. When that happens, it’s important to call a professional to have it fixed so you can get back to life as normal.
Here are some maintenance tips to keep your oven in good condition all year round, and especially for holidays like Thanksgiving.
Maintenance
Clean Regularly
Regular cleaning keeps substances from building up, which can make cleaning harder over time and cause damages to your appliance. If your oven smokes when you turn it on, this is likely a sign that there are food pieces stuck in your oven and that it’s time for a cleaning. You also want to clean around the oven, not just the appliance itself, as dirt can cause damage to it.
Remove Accessories Before Cleaning
It’s easier to clean the trays, racks, burner grates, and other easily removable parts if you take them off in order to do so. Removing them in order to clean them will ensure a thorough cleaning that doesn’t miss any spots that you potentially could if you left them in their proper place and tried to clean them like that.
Check The Burners
If your oven has removable burners, you’ll want to check that they’re working properly. They can wear out and need replacement. To keep them in good condition, make sure you wipe up any spills, as these can wear your burner out.
Check The Seal
The seal of your oven keeps heat from escaping, which helps your food cook properly. If the seal is wearing down, this allows for heat to leak out, which will affect how well your oven can maintain its temperature. If it’s not in good condition, you’ll need to replace it.
Calibrate
Calibrating will help your oven reach the temperatures it claims to. If the temperatures don’t match what you set them to, you could need to calibrate your oven in order to fix this.
Sometimes, even with regular maintenance, problems still spring up. Here are some common problems that you should call a professional to come repair before it’s time to cook all day.
Repairs
It Won’t Turn On
If your oven doesn’t turn on, this is anywhere from an easy fix to a more complex one. It could simply not be plugged in. However, there could be a more serious problem causing your oven not to turn on. These can be anywhere from a broken wire to a bad broil element to a number of other potential issues. These can cause electrical shock, so rather than trying to troubleshoot it yourself, it’s best to call a professional who knows how to handle these issues.
It Won’t Heat To The Correct Temperature
If you find that your food is taking longer to cook all the way because your oven won’t reach the right temperature, this can be due to the temperature sensor not working properly or due to the fact that your oven needs to be calibrated.
It Won’t Cook Evenly
If your food isn’t cooking evenly, this could be due to the positioning of the racks or the state of the pans and trays you’re using. Pans with lots of buildup won’t cook as well as pans that are clean. On the other hand, it could be the oven itself needing repairs, due to a damaged or broken element.
The Door Won’t Open Or Close
If your door isn’t opening, this could be because there’s a problem with the lock or it could be as simple as a jam that will resolve itself after being unplugged for a few minutes. If your door won’t open or if it won’t close, this could be due to the hinges and springs being damaged and needing repairs.
The Light Won’t Turn On
Generally, if your light won’t turn on, a simple bulb replacement will fix the problem. In other cases, it could be because of a connecting wire, a light switch that won’t work properly, an electronic control, or other such problems. Professionals can help solve these problems in a safe and effective manner.
Do You Need Oven Repair?
VanderDous wants to help you keep your oven running properly all year round. If you want a professional to come inspect your oven for either maintenance or repairs, our experts will do an exceptional job. For more information about oven repair or to schedule an appointment, please contact us at VanderDous today!