A Kenmore oven is one of the most reliable, sturdy, and well-built kitchen appliances currently on the market. And, when well maintained, it works like a dream for cooking up all those mouth-watering gourmet meals that you and your family love.
Over time, however, your Kenmore oven is prone to breaking down due frequent use and every day wear and tear.
While inconvenient, minor breakdowns and repairs are completely normal, and usually don’t require too much effort to resolve.
So to help you fix your beloved Kenmore oven, let’s take a look at a few tips and tricks on how to repair an oven’s most common problems.
Oven Not Heating
If your Kenmore oven is not heating properly, you’ll need to check the following 3 things:
- Oven igniter (for gas ovens)
- Baking or broil elements (for electric ovens)
- Power supply
Faulty Igniter
Haven’t cleaned your oven in a while? Dirt and debris could be building up, in turn, affecting the igniter’s ability to function properly.
To resolve this common problem, start by turning off the power to the oven, or by unplugging the unit from its outlet. Then, visually inspect the igniter for dirt and debris, and clean, scrub or brush away if needed.
Finally, plug the oven back into a working power source and test to see if you’ve fixed the problem.
If your oven still won’t heat, the best thing to do is to call an appliance repair service, who can quickly send over a qualified technician to run a quick test and repair your issue.
Cracked Baking Element
As opposed to your oven’s broil element, your Kenmore oven’s baking element generates the heat that cooks your food from the bottom. If the element is cracked, blistered, broken or damaged, the oven won’t likely heat up properly.
Replacing a faulty baking element is simple. All you need is a screwdriver and a proper replacement element.
- Turn off the power.
- Remove the oven racks.
- Unscrew the baking element from the oven.
- Exchange the faulty element with the new element.
- Replace the racks, turn the power back on and test the oven.
Power Supply
When it comes to power supply issues, always proceed with caution. Working with electricity is potentially dangerous and you should never attempt to repair or service an appliance while it’s still plugged into a live power source.
- Go to your home’s main breaker panel.
- Check to see if your oven’s break switch is in the ‘off’ position.
- If so, turn the switch to the ‘on’ position.
- Test the oven.
However, if the breaker is on, you might also need to test the outlet. Do this by:
- Unplugging the oven.
- Plugging a lamp or another device into the outlet.
- If the lamp or device turns on, the outlet works.
When your Kenmore oven won’t heat and trying to troubleshoot the problem doesn’t help, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional repair technician. An appliance repair technician has the right tools to properly investigate and solve your oven’s heating problems.
Oven Bakes Unevenly
An oven that bakes food unevenly doesn’t achieve the best cooking results.
In this situation, you’ll need to check the oven’s element, its main control board, and temperature sensor.
Broil Element Problems
Similar to above, you’ll need to check the broil element for signs of damage. Are there any cracks or blisters?
Visible signs of damage indicate that you need to replace the broil element.
The method for replacing the broil element is the same as replacing a cracked baking element. If you attempt this on your own, all you’ll need is a screwdriver and a new broil element.
Main Control Board
A malfunctioning main control board can also impact the oven’s functionality.
If you suspect a faulty control board, however, it’s best to contact an appliance repair service for help. If improperly reinstalled, the main control board won’t work at all, and may even cause other problems with your appliance.
Temperature Sensor
A broken temperature sensor can cause your oven to run too cold or hot, which can also cause your food to cook unevenly.
However, to test whether or not a temperature sensor is working, you’ll need to use a multimeter to check for continuity.
So again, if you don’t have oven repair experience, it’s in your best interest to get this issue checked out by a professional.
Oven Broiler Won’t Work
If your oven broiler won’t work, check the broil spark electrode, wire connection, and relay board.
Burnt Wire Connection
A burnt wire connection can be extremely dangerous if left unaddressed. In fact, over time, broken wire connection can potentially cause an electrical fire.
So here’s a tip: if you smell burning around your oven or smoke coming from the outlet, stop using the appliance immediately, turn the power off at your home’s main electrical panel, and contact a professional repair company immediately.
Relay Board
If the broiler feature won’t work, you might need to replace the relay board.
Here’s a trick: unplug the oven, wait a few minutes and plug the appliance back into the outlet. In some cases, this can help to reset the relay board and resolve your problem.
