Heating coils are very important in your oven because they are responsible for the cooking of your foods in the oven. However, like all mechanical parts, they are prone to wearing out with time and this has been the case with the current ones. Understanding some of the problems that may arise with oven heating coils will help you avoid having to spend a lot of money on repairs or new parts. In this article, you will learn about what heating coils are, the types of heating coils, problems that may occur, and how to identify and solve them. Moreover, we shall give some guidelines on how to care for your oven heating coil for efficiency.
The Function of Heating Coils in Ovens
The heating coils are the beating machine of an electric oven. Their main function is to heat the electrical energy and use the heat to cook the food. There are usually two coils in a standard oven: the bake element, which is situated at the bottom, and the broil element which is situated at the top. Together they both function to regulate the flow of heat and this makes sure that baking and broiling are done in equal symmetry.
Types of Heating Coils (Bake Element vs. Broil Element)
1. Bake Element: Bake element is a heating component placed at the base of the oven and produces the most heat when you bake an item. This cools during cooking and it bakes the food from the bottom through a heating coil built in the oven.
2. Broil Element: The broil element is on the other hand situated at the top of the oven. It is utilized when you use the broil control, to heat food from the bottom up. This is perfect for toasting and preparing the top layer in certain dishes such as casseroles or gratin.
These two coils are very important in your oven, and any problem with these parts will greatly impact the way you cook your food.
Common Issues with Oven Heating Coils
Heating coils of ovens are long-lasting but they can develop several problems over time. Here are some of the most common problems:
1. Uneven Heating: A common problem associated with a heating coil in an oven is that of uneven baking. If your food is not cooked to your preferred level or cooked unevenly then one of your heating coils is not functioning properly.
2. Physical Damage: The heating coils of ovens are also capable of getting damaged with time. These are signs that you can easily see, such as cracks, burns, or broken parts of the coil which tell you that your heating coil in oven is not working as it should.
3. Heating Coil Not Heating: At other times, the heating coil may not heat at all. This is mainly caused by electrical problems and damages, mechanical overhaul, as well as physical breakages.
4. Sparks or Smoke: In case you see sparks or smoke coming from your oven, then it may be time to replace the heating coil. This is usually a result of a short circuit in the electric oven heating coil.
5. Slow Heating: If your oven takes longer to heat up than it normally should, then it could be as a result of a faulty heating coil. This is often a sign that the coil is on its last legs so to speak.
Diagnosing Problems with Oven Heating Coils
However, first, we should find out what causes the given symptom, in other words, it is crucial to reach a proper diagnosis. Here are some steps you can take:
1. Visual Inspection: First, turn off the power supply of the oven and then, carry out a simple check on the heating coils. You should look for signs of damage, for example, cracks, breaks, and burned areas at the coil.
2. Test for Continuity: With a multimeter, you can test for the continuity of the heating coil. A working heating coil will light up a continuous flow of electricity. If the multimeter fails to indicate continuity, then it is very certain that the coil is faulty and should be replaced.
3. Check for Sparks or Smoke: This is a dangerous problem that needs to be fixed if your oven is sparking or smoking while in use. It may be caused by a faulty coil or a short circuit. Do not use your oven anymore and turn it off until the fault is rectified.
How to Fix Common Heating Coil Issues
1. Fixing Uneven Heating: Insufficient heating is commonly attributed to a partially damaged coil. There are no magical solutions in such a case since one can only try to shift the food or flip it halfway through the cooking process to get a better result; the coil may need replacement.
2. Fixing a Non-Heating Coil: If one of your coils is not heating, the first thing you want to do is test for continuity with a multimeter. If the coil is non-continuous, then the coil will have to be replaced. Also check tightness of the connections of the units and ensure that no sign of corrosion is present.
3. Fixing Sparks or Smoke: Never continue cooking with the bad element and always check the coil for blackening or other signs of physical harm. In most cases, sparks mean that the heating coil in ven is unsafe for use and should be replaced. However, if you are unsure, please seek the services of a professional.
Oven Heating Coil Replacement
If you’ve diagnosed that your oven heating coil needs replacement, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
1. Gather the Necessary Tools
- You will need:
- A screwdriver
- A multimeter (not required for testing).
- A new heating coil which can be used in your oven model
2. Turn Off Power: Doing this will ensure that no electrical power will be supplied to the stove hence; safe for one to work on it.
3. Remove the Old Coil: With a screwdriver, remove the connectors that secure the heating coil into position. After that, unscrew it and carefully pull the coil from the back of the oven. Take care because the wires connected to the coil will still be present.
4. Disconnect the Wires: The best approach is to photograph the wire connections before disconnecting them so that you can easily reconnect them to the new coil. Do it gently while unplugging the wires.
5. Install the New Coil: Screw the wires to the new heating coil as you did it in the reference photo that you took earlier. Fasten the coil in position by using screws.
6. Test the Coil: After the proper connection has been made reconnect all wires then turn on the power and familiarize yourself with its performance. Ensure that coil was heating sufficiently.
Tips for Maintaining Oven Heating Coils
To maximize the time it will take before you replace the oven heating coil, it is important to maintain it properly. Here are some tips to keep them in good shape:
1. Regular Cleaning: Curious about how to clean oven heating coils? Dry up the coils with a damp cloth only after they have cooled down after each use. This helps to avoid constriction of food debris and overall harm in the future.
2. Avoid Spills: If there is any dish that might spill place a tray under it to avoid having food falling on the coil as this may lead to either damaging or burning of the coil.
3. Regular Inspection: Make it a routine to sort your electrical appliances in terms of the frequency of use and the wear and tear you should check the heating coil on your electric oven. It is always cheaper to fix a problem when it is small than when it has grown to a big one.
4. Use Oven Safely: Do not put too many utensils on the cooking chamber and hoods do not place a big cooker directly on a heating coil as this puts a lot of pressure on the coil that in the long run brings it harm.
Heating coils are an important part of your oven and are responsible for heating the oven chamber, but like any other part, they do get worn out with time. When it comes to uneven cooking, a non-heating coil, or sparks, it is usually possible to diagnose and repair most of these problems on your own. Nonetheless, the cleaning and inspection of the oven heating coils are the most important things that you need to do to extend the life of the heating coils.
If you discover that your heating coil is worn out, PartsFe has variety of oven heating coils for a reasonable price. An oven heating coil replacement is quite simple when you have the right tools and parts, and your appliance will be operational in a flash.
