Stove Not Heating? Common Causes and How to Fix It

When your stove not heating, a malfunction in the heating system that prevents the oven from reaching or maintaining temperature. Also known as oven not heating, it’s one of the most common appliance issues homeowners face. It’s not just inconvenient—it can throw off meals, waste time, and even signal a safety risk. The problem usually isn’t the whole appliance failing. More often, it’s one key part that’s gone bad: the heating element, the metal coil inside the oven that generates heat when electricity passes through it, the thermostat, the device that senses temperature and signals the heating element to turn on or off, or the control board, the electronic brain that manages power flow to all oven functions.

Most people assume a broken stove means a new one is needed. But that’s not always true. A blown heating element can cost under £50 to replace. A faulty thermostat might just need recalibration. Even a loose wire or tripped circuit breaker can look like a full system failure. The key is knowing where to look. If your oven doesn’t heat at all but the light still turns on, it’s likely the element or thermostat. If it heats unevenly or won’t hold temperature, the thermostat or control board is probably to blame. And if the display is glitchy or shows error codes, the control board may be failing. These aren’t guesses—they’re patterns seen in hundreds of real repairs across Taunton homes.

You don’t need to be an electrician to check the basics. Turn off the power, pull out the element, and look for visible cracks or burn marks. Test the thermostat with a multimeter if you have one. Reset the circuit breaker. These simple steps rule out the easiest fixes before you call someone in. And if you’re unsure? It’s better to pause than risk a fire or shock. Many of the posts below walk you through exactly how to do these checks safely and clearly. You’ll find real-world advice on diagnosing each part, what the repair costs actually look like, and when it’s smarter to replace instead of fix. No fluff. No theory. Just what works.