Oven Replacement Timing: When to Fix vs. Replace Your Oven

When your oven stops heating properly, the big question isn’t just oven replacement timing—it’s whether fixing it makes any sense at all. An oven is a complex system: a heating element, a control board, a thermostat, and sometimes a faulty door seal all work together. If one part fails, it doesn’t always mean the whole unit is dead. But if you’re spending more than half the cost of a new oven on repairs, or if the same issue keeps coming back, it’s time to think about replacement. This isn’t guesswork—it’s based on real repair data from homes in Taunton and across the UK.

Most ovens last between 10 and 15 years. After that, parts like the heating element, the component that generates heat inside the oven cavity start wearing out more often. Replacing a heating element costs between £50 and £150, including labor. That’s usually worth it—if it’s the only thing wrong. But if your control board, the electronic brain that manages temperature and settings is failing too, you’re looking at £200 to £400 in repairs. At that point, you’re paying for a 12-year-old oven to work like a new one, and it’ll likely break again in a year. The oven lifespan, the average time a home oven functions before needing replacement isn’t just a number—it’s a warning sign. If your oven is over 10 years old and needs more than one repair, replacement is almost always the smarter move.

It’s not just about money. Older ovens use more energy, take longer to heat up, and often have uneven cooking. Newer models are up to 30% more efficient. If you’re cooking meals every day, that adds up. Plus, if your oven is sparking, smells like burning plastic, or won’t hold temperature, it’s not just inconvenient—it’s a safety risk. You don’t need to wait for it to catch fire to act. A broken heating element is easy to fix. A failing control board? That’s a red flag. And if your oven’s display is glitchy or buttons don’t respond, that’s usually the control board talking—and it’s not saying anything good.

Below, you’ll find real repair stories from Taunton homeowners who faced the same choice: spend more on repairs or walk away. Some saved hundreds by replacing just the element. Others saved even more by replacing the whole oven before it broke again. No fluff. No sales pitch. Just what actually happens when your oven starts acting up—and when it’s time to let it go.