Electric Oven Not Working? Common Causes and Quick Fixes

When your electric oven, a household appliance that uses electrical current to generate heat for cooking. Also known as electric range oven, it's one of the most relied-on devices in the kitchen suddenly stops working, it’s not just inconvenient—it throws off your whole day. Unlike gas ovens, electric ones don’t have a pilot light or flame, so when they fail, the issue is almost always electrical. The most common culprits? A broken heating element, the coil inside the oven that glows red-hot to produce heat, a faulty control board, the electronic brain that tells the oven when and how much to heat, or a tripped thermostat. These aren’t rare problems—they happen in homes across Taunton every week.

If your oven won’t heat at all, start by checking if the element is glowing. If it’s dark while the oven is on, that’s a dead giveaway. A cracked or blistered element is easy to spot and usually costs under £50 to replace. But if the element looks fine, the issue might be deeper. A blown thermal fuse, a malfunctioning temperature sensor, or a damaged control board can all prevent power from reaching the heating element. Many people assume they need a full oven replacement, but in most cases, it’s just one small part. Repairing the control board, for example, can cost less than a new oven—and it’s often fixable without replacing the entire unit. Even if your oven heats unevenly or shuts off randomly, it’s rarely a sign you need to buy new. More often, it’s a sensor misreading or a loose connection.

Before you call a technician, try a simple reset: turn off the circuit breaker for the oven for 60 seconds, then turn it back on. That fixes a surprising number of glitches. Also, check if the oven is set to a timer or self-clean mode—sometimes, those settings lock out normal operation. If you’re comfortable using a multimeter, testing the heating element and thermostat takes under 10 minutes. But if you’re unsure, don’t risk it. Electric ovens run on 240 volts, and even a small mistake can be dangerous. That’s why local experts in Taunton see the same issues over and over: broken elements, failed control boards, and worn-out wiring. The good news? Most of these repairs can be done in under an hour. Below, you’ll find real-world guides that walk you through diagnosing and fixing these exact problems—no jargon, no fluff, just what actually works.