How often should I clean the inside?

Monthly. Clean the inside. Baked-on spills burn, smoke, and over time coat the temperature sensor so the oven reads wrong.

How often should I check the door seal?

Every few months. Check the door seal. A gaping oven seal shows up as one side of everything browning faster.

How often should I put an oven thermometer on the middle shelf and compare it to the setting?

Yearly. Put an oven thermometer on the middle shelf and compare it to the setting. If it's off by 25 degrees or more, it's worth having it adjusted.

Oven Maintenance & Repair Tips | My Appliance Repair Pro

What usually fails on an oven here

No heat on an electric oven is the bake element most of the time, and you can usually see the damage: a blister or a break in the coil. On gas it's the igniter. It weakens before it dies, so the sign is the oven taking longer and longer to light. Running hot or cold is normally the temperature sensor, and that's an easy fix.

Check this first — about two minutes

Do this before you pay anyone to come out. Sometimes it's all it takes, and we'd rather tell you that than charge you a visit to say it.

1Put an oven thermometer on the middle rack, set it to 350 and give it 20 minutes.
2If it's off by more than 25 degrees, that's the sensor and worth a call.

Still not fixed?

The longer version, written for an oven that has already failed the quick check above.

Guide · Oven Common Oven Repair Problems and What Causes Them Oven repair starts with the symptom: not heating, heating unevenly or running hot. The faults we find most, safe checks, and the gas smell that means stop. Read the guide →

Keeping an oven out of trouble

Most of the calls we get could have been prevented. These are the few jobs that make a real difference.

Monthly
Clean the inside. Baked-on spills burn, smoke, and over time coat the temperature sensor so the oven reads wrong.
Every few months
Check the door seal. A gaping oven seal shows up as one side of everything browning faster.
Yearly
Put an oven thermometer on the middle shelf and compare it to the setting. If it's off by 25 degrees or more, it's worth having it adjusted.

Free reminders Get a reminder when oven maintenance is due By text, email or both. Two or three a year, each with the one job that matters that month. Sign me up

When to stop and call someone

Stop here Don't push past this Stop right away if you smell gas. Don't test the igniter and don't run the oven. Get everyone out, call the gas company first, then call us. Schedule Service

Guides on ovens and microwaves

From what we see on service calls across Pinal and Maricopa County.

Step-by-step · Microwave Microwave Not Heating? Work Through This Before You Call Microwave not heating? A step-by-step check for one that runs but won't heat, the two things that are safe to check yourself, and exactly where to stop. Work through it →

Other appliances

Past the point of a home fix?

Call and we'll give you a flat rate before anyone starts, and tell you straight if it's not worth fixing.

Call (480) 791-8858 Schedule Service

(520) 788-4004 for Pinal County · (480) 791-8858 for Maricopa County