Oven not heating

How an oven heats

An electric oven heats with a bare metal element on the floor of the oven (the bake element) and a second one at the top for broiling. When the bake element burns out, the broiler may still work, which is a helpful clue.

A gas oven uses a glowing igniter to heat up, and the gas valve only opens once the igniter gets hot enough. As igniters age they glow but don't get quite hot enough, so the oven never lights or takes a very long time.

Why an oven won't heat

Let's fix it

1. Check the settings and the clockMake sure the oven isn't set to delay start, timed bake or a locked mode, and that the clock is set. After a power outage, many ovens won't heat until the clock is reset.
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2. Check the powerFor an electric oven, look for a tripped breaker. Electric ovens use a double breaker; even if it doesn't look tripped, turn it fully off and back on. If the clock works but nothing heats, the oven may be getting only half its power. A gas oven still needs its plug and outlet to have power for the igniter and controls.
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3. Know which kind you haveIf you have blue gas flames on the stovetop, or a gas line behind the range, it's a gas oven. If not, it's electric. The next steps are different for each.
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4. Electric: look at the bake elementWith the oven cool and off, look at the element on the oven floor. Blisters, breaks or a burned spot mean it's burned out. So does a bright flash you saw when it failed. Turn on bake and wait a few minutes: a good element glows red along its whole length.
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5. Electric: replace the elementTurn off the breaker. Remove the screws holding the element to the back wall, pull it forward a few inches and take the wires off its ends. Hold the wires so they don't slip back through the wall. Connect the new one the same way and screw it in. Take a photo of the wires before you disconnect anything.
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   Something went wrong?

   • The screws on the element won't come loose Spray them lightly with penetrating oil and wait 10 minutes. Don't force them; the back wall can bend.

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6. Gas: watch the igniterTurn on bake and look through the broiler drawer or the oven floor slot. The igniter should glow bright orange, and the burner should light within about 90 seconds. If it glows but never lights, the igniter is usually too weak. If you smell gas without a flame, turn the oven off. If the smell is strong or doesn't fade quickly, leave and call your gas company from outside.
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   Something went wrong?

   • The igniter glows but still no flame after 90 seconds Turn it off and let the gas clear. A weak igniter is the usual cause; replacing it involves gas parts, so call a pro if you're unsure.

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7. Check the temperatureIf the oven heats but food takes too long, put an oven thermometer on the middle rack and set it to 350°F. After 20 minutes, check it a few times over the next 10 minutes. Ovens swing above and below the setting, so go by the average. Many ovens let you adjust the temperature offset in the settings; check the manual.
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Watch it done

Gas Oven Won't Heat? Easy DIY FixBy Jonny DIY on YouTube. Their method may vary a little from ours.

Watch on YouTube

If it still won't heat

If the microwave runs but doesn't heat, there's a separate guide for a microwave that's not heating.

If a stovetop burner won't heat, check our guide for an electric stove burner that's not working.

If the element and igniter both look fine, the temperature sensor inside the oven may have failed. It's a thin rod near the top back wall, and replacing it is simple on many models, but check the manual first.

If the display shows an error code, look it up in the manual or on the maker's website. Codes often point straight at the failed part.

Oven heating questions