If your oven is simple and mechanically controlled, if the heaters break, it will continue to cook. However, the process will be significantly extended in time, and the device itself will not react in any way to a breakdown. In any case, you will see how much the quality of the food has dropped.
If your machine is smarter and is equipped with an electronic control unit, an error message is displayed.
If you group the signs of breakdown:
uneven baked goods, almost always not baked bottom
deterioration of chamber heating
significant increase in cooking time
the oven may stop heating altogether in a certain mode (bottom, top heating, grill)
spots are visible on the hot heater
the machine is triggered
metal debris began to appear at the bottom of the chamber.
But how to determine what exactly is the malfunction of the heating element? We can say that in this node you can find two, or rather, two and a half faults. The first step is to make sure that the equipment is plugged in and there is electricity. It will not be superfluous to check the box with automatic devices and fuses. If the machine is off, it is brought into working position.
Secondly, it makes sense to pay attention to the oven fuse. It must be pulled out and examined. The inside of the fuse must be intact metal tape. If everything is in order here, and the heater still does not work, you need to open the oven and remove all the trays.
You can touch the heating element and check if it is securely fixed, inspect for defects and damage. If there is melting, bubbles, black spots, this indicates wear. Cracks and metal debris around the heater are signs of breakdown. An ohmmeter is used for control. If the device shows zero, then the unit is defective and needs to be replaced.
Heating element breakage
The first thing that can happen is a breakage. In this case, the heating thread itself fails. It is impossible to repair such a heating element, in view of the affordable cost it is easier to install a new one.
Low voltage in the network may be to blame. Such surges increase the amperage, which causes the heater to overheat, burn out and leak. After replacing the node with a new one, it makes sense to install a voltage stabilizer and connect the oven through it.
Overheating can also occur if the temperature regulator breaks down. It is the thermostat that gives a signal about the timely switching off and on of the heating element. If it fails, overheating and an open circuit occur.
Leakage
The second frequent failure is leakage. In this case, we mean the leakage of electric current to the case. Against the background of such a defect, the machine often knocks out when trying to start the oven at full power.
The source of such a malfunction is natural wear and tear. During operation, small cracks appear on the surface of the heaters, which cannot be seen with the naked eye. Moisture penetrates through them and a leak on the case is obtained.
If the situation is critical, the picture worsens, a short circuit occurs, which causes the machine to turn off. As a rule, this happens when the heating element is heated to the maximum.
In practice, there are cases when the heating element does not leak and break, but makes incomprehensible sounds when heated. This is the second and a half malfunction, so to speak - it consists in the banal contamination of the elements. If the nodes are overgrown with a layer of grease and soot, they cannot fully perform their function, and a characteristic crackling may occur.
How to replace a faulty element
Before starting work, the device is completely de-energized. If the element is hidden under the panel, you must unscrew the screws that serve to fix it. This is usually 4-6 bolts. Further, the panel is dismantled, which opens access to the heating element. You should act carefully so as not to damage the seal.
When the access is open, the element is disconnected (it is enough to pull it towards yourself, when the fasteners are unscrewed, the wires are disconnected). Special care is required here, otherwise the insulation may be damaged. The defective ten is removed, a new one is put in its place. After that, all the wires are connected in the reverse order, the fastening screws are tightened. If you need help with stove repair near me, call us right now!