Broken Oven Element – What to Do When Your Oven Won’t Heat

If your oven feels like a cold box, the element is usually the culprit. A burnt‑out element means no heat, which can ruin dinner plans and waste energy. Before you call anyone, there are a few quick checks you can do yourself.

How to Test a Broken Oven Element

First, unplug the oven or switch off the circuit breaker – safety first. Locate the heating element; it’s the shiny coil at the bottom of most electric ovens. Remove the screws and pull it out gently. Use a multimeter set to the ohms setting: touch the probes to the element’s terminals. A healthy element reads between 20 and 40 ohms. If the meter shows “0” (short) or “OL” (open), the element is dead and needs replacing.

While you have it out, inspect it for visible signs: black spots, breaks, or a thin, ghostly line where the coil has burned out. Sometimes a loose connection can cause the same symptoms, so give the wiring a wiggle and make sure the contacts are clean.

When to Call a Professional

If the multimeter test looks good but the oven still won’t heat, the fault could be in the thermostat, control board, or wiring – areas that need a qualified tech. Also, if you’re not comfortable handling electrical parts, it’s smarter to let the pros step in. A professional can diagnose the exact problem, source the right replacement part, and fit it safely.

Rugby Appliance Repair Services has technicians who know every make of oven on the market. They can usually order the correct element in a day and have it installed within a few hours. Typical repair costs in Rugby range from £80 to £150, depending on the oven model and part price. Compared with buying a brand‑new oven, repairing the element saves you up to 70%.

Why choose us? We offer same‑day service for urgent jobs, a clear price quote before we start, and a guarantee on both parts and labour. Our vans are stocked with common elements, so most repairs are finished on the first visit.

Bottom line: a broken oven element is a common, fixable issue. Test the part yourself if you feel safe, but don’t hesitate to ring Rugby Appliance Repair Services when the problem is deeper or you need a quick, reliable fix. Let us get your oven back to full heat so you can finish that roast without a hitch.