Blown Oven Element: Signs, Costs, and How to Fix It

When your oven refuses to heat up, the blown oven element, the heating coil inside the oven that glows red when working. Also known as oven heating element, it’s one of the most common reasons your oven stops working. Unlike a faulty thermostat or control board, a blown element doesn’t need complex diagnostics — it usually shows clear signs. If the element looks blackened, warped, or has visible breaks, it’s done. No magic fixes here. Just replacement.

A oven heating element, a resistive wire housed in a metal tube that converts electricity into heat. runs on simple physics: electricity flows through the wire, it resists the flow, and gets hot. Over time, repeated heating and cooling causes metal fatigue. Cracks form. The element stops conducting. You’ll notice the oven takes forever to preheat, or only half the oven heats up. Sometimes, you’ll hear a pop or smell burning just before it dies. If you open the oven and see the element isn’t glowing at all — even when the oven is on — that’s your clue.

Replacing a blown oven element, a standard part in most electric ovens. isn’t rocket science. Many homeowners do it themselves in under an hour. The part usually costs between £30 and £80, depending on your oven model. Labor from a pro runs £60–£120. But here’s the catch: if your oven is older than 10 years, and you’re already replacing parts, it might be smarter to look at a new unit. Energy efficiency improves every year, and a new oven could save you more on your bills than the repair costs.

Don’t confuse a blown element with a bad thermostat or control board. Those are trickier. A thermostat might let the oven get too hot or not hot enough, but the element will still glow. A control board failure might mean no power reaches the element at all — but the element itself could be fine. That’s why checking the element first saves time and money. Just turn off the power, pull the oven out, and take a look. No tools needed for the visual check.

And if you’ve had this happen before? You’re not alone. A blown oven element is one of the top reasons people in Taunton call for appliance repairs. It’s not a sign your oven is failing overall — it’s just one part wearing out. Like a lightbulb, it’s meant to be replaced. Fix it right, and your oven will work fine for years more.

Below, you’ll find real guides from local repair experts on how to test, replace, and avoid future issues with oven elements — plus what else could be going wrong when your oven won’t heat up. No fluff. Just clear steps you can use.