Why Is My Gas Oven Not Heating Up?

If your gas oven isn't heating properly, you can probably fix it yourself. Check your symptoms to see if this fix will work for you.

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Time

Less than 30 minutes

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

$25

Introduction

Have you noticed your gas oven is taking too long to heat up, or it no longer heats at all?

There's a 95 percent chance you just need to replace a $25 igniter. Gas oven igniters last around eight years. As they start to wear out, you may notice these symptoms:

  • Takes too long to heat up;
  • Never reaches bake temperature;
  • Cooks unevenly;
  • Stove burners light, but oven won't heat up.

In around 30 minutes, by replacing the worn-out oven igniter, all these problems can be solved.

But before you replace the igniter, be sure the cause isn't bad gas flow. Look behind your oven to confirm the gas line isn't crimped, and the gas valve handle is in line with the gas line. (If you have a built-in oven, your gas line is not exposed and can't be crimped or turned off.)

Note: If you hear a small explosion and the oven door is knocked open, or you smell gas while your oven is on, shut off your oven right away. These can also be signs that you need a new igniter, but it's best to call a pro to handle it.

Here's how to replace a gas oven igniter.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Electrolux generic oven igniter
  • Vegetable oil

Project step-by-step (4)

Step 1

Access the igniter

  • Unplug the oven or turn off the breaker in the service panel.
  • Open the oven door all the way.
  • Pull out the oven racks and set them aside.
  • Remove the two flathead screws at the rear right and left corners of the bottom panel.

fixing a Gas Stove Step 1a Remove Grates And Screws

  • Lift the back of the bottom panel up to 45 degrees.
  • Slide up the front lip of the bottom panel and lift out the panel.
  • You may find another metal panel below the bottom panel. This is called the heat deflector. There's usually just one nut holding the deflector in place. Use pliers to remove the nut and lift off the deflector.

fixing a Gas Stove Step 1b hands Lifting Bottom Panel and Turning a Nut

Step 2

Remove the old igniter

  • Make sure your oven is unplugged.
  • You should see a long metal tube with holes in it. That's the venturi or burner tube. Two Phillips head screws connect the igniter to the burner tube.
  • Put a drop of oil on the threads of the two screws.
  • Unscrew the two screws.
  • Lift the old igniter out and cut the two wires going to the igniter, as close to the igniter as possible, with wire strippers.

Fixing a Gas Stove Step 2 close up of adding Oil and Removing Screws

Step 3

Install the new igniter

  • Have the new igniter handy.
  • With wire strippers, strip back 1/4-inch of the insulation on both wires from the oven to the igniter.
  • Twist the wire from the igniter onto the wire from the oven. Turn one of the wire nuts to the right until it won't go any further. (Two ceramic wire nuts come with the new igniter.)
  • Repeat the same procedure with the other wire from the igniter to the other wire from the oven. Note: Either wire from the igniter can be joined to either wire from the oven. There is no polarity issue.
  • Line up the holes on the igniter to the holes on the burner tube. Reinstall the two screws holding the igniter and turn them until they're tight.
  • Tuck any extra wire down low into the oven cavity to get it out of the way.

fixing a Gas Stove Step 3 close up of Stripping Insulation and Tightening Nuts and Screws

Step 4

Finish up

  • Plug your oven back in or turn on your breaker. Set the oven for 350 degrees and press start.
  • You should see the igniter start to glow brighter and brighter. Within two minutes, you should see the gas burning from the holes on the burner tube.
  • If you don't see the igniter glowing, unplug your oven and re-check the wires joined by the ceramic wire nuts to make sure they're touching each other. Then re-tighten and check your oven again.
  • If you still can't see any glow from the igniter, you've got a faulty oven controller. You can call in a pro to replace the controller or install a new controller yourself. However, a bad controller is the culprit only about five percent of the time.
  • Reinstall heat deflector and tighten the nut.
  • Slide front of lower panel back into its front channel on the frame.
  • Drop front panel down from 45 degrees to flat.
  • Reinstall two long flat head screws at back right and left corners to hold down lower panel.
  • Put the racks back into the oven with curved part of rack pointing up. Put curved side in first and then push all the way back.

fixing a Gas Stove Step 4 close up of Testing Ignigter and the Glowing flame