If your commercial convection oven isn’t heating or baking evenly, you may have a broken temperature sensor, broil element, or thermal fuse. Fortunately, there are easy ways to diagnose and fix these issues.
A damaged commercial convection oven can lead to spoiled food and unhappy customers, so it’s crucial that you have your equipment in good working condition. If you’re looking for dependable range, cooktop or oven repair in New York City, contact the experts at Handler Appliance.
Temperature Sensor
If your oven is not cooking evenly, you may have a faulty temperature sensor. This device measures the internal temperature of your appliance and relays this information to your control panel. Its failure can cause a variety of issues.
Temperature sensors are important in a variety of industries and applications, including medical devices, HVAC systems, and electrical appliances. They can also be found in many common everyday appliances, such as the refrigerator, microwave, and thermometer.
There are several different types of temperature sensors, but the most popular include thermistors and resistance temperature detectors (RTD). These sensors measure a voltage drop across a resistor in response to changes in temperature.
RTDs are the most precise of all temperature sensors, exhibiting a much higher degree of accuracy than thermistors. They can detect changes in temperatures between -200 and +600 degrees Celsius.
Thermistors are also highly accurate and precise, with an operating range of 0.05 to 1.5 degrees Celsius. They’re also made of ceramics or polymers and are incredibly simple to use.
Non-contact temperature sensors, such as thermal imaging and infrared sensors, determine temperatures by measuring the thermal radiation that’s emitted by an object or heat source. They’re most commonly used in environments with high temperatures or dangerous conditions, such as nuclear power plants or thermal power plants.
If you’re having trouble with your commercial convection oven, it might be time to have the temperature sensor replaced. This can be a relatively easy task, and you can usually find replacements for about $15 to $25 from the manufacturer’s website. A service technician can install a new temperature sensor for you, and you’ll be back to enjoying your cooking in no time!
Broil Element
The broil element is typically found at the top of your oven cavity and provides direct heat for broiling. It’s also used to heat food for baking. If you have a commercial convection oven that won’t broil or bake evenly, the first thing you should check is the broil element.
In commercial convection oven repair, a broil element can get damaged or broken and need to be replaced. You can check for damage by looking for burns, blistering or cracks on the element. You can also perform a continuity test to confirm whether the element is burned out and needs to be replaced.
Once you know that the element is burned out, you can order a replacement from the manufacturer. The cost of the component varies by brand, so it’s important to shop around before ordering.
When the heating element is burned out, only the broil element will provide heat and your food won’t cook evenly. This is one of the most common problems with electric ovens and it can be difficult to fix.
To check the element, disconnect the power and remove the back panel. Then, you can look at the terminals and wiring on the oven’s bake element.
If you can’t find any issues visually, you can test the bake element for continuity using a multimeter on the Rx1 setting. Touch the probes of the meter to the bake element’s terminals and the metal back of the oven.
If the element isn’t bright orange or only part of it is, this indicates that the element is burning out and needs to be replaced. A technician can replace it for you if necessary.
Igniter
The Igniter is one of the most common components in a gas oven. It is responsible for igniting the burner and starting it to heat. This is why a faulty igniter can cause the oven to not work properly.
In most cases, a defective igniter can be easily replaced by a professional. The only tools needed are a few screwdrivers and a circuit tester.
Depending on the model of your oven, this may require removal of the bottom oven plate and the top plate underneath it. The burner tube can then be removed and the igniter can be replaced.
If your oven still won’t heat up after removing the igniter, there is a chance that the safety valve is causing the problem. The safety valve sends gas to the oven’s burners when the igniter is unable to light up the flame.
This can be a frustrating situation to deal with, but the good news is that this is usually a very easy fix. Using a multimeter, test the safety valve for continuity.
Once the safety valve has been tested, your technician can replace it with a new one to ensure your gas oven is back to working properly.
Another potential issue that could be preventing your oven from heating up is a wire that is burnt out near the element or igniter. A burned out wire will often be visible and smell like smoke when it is not in use.
If the wires from the control board are damaged or shorted, they won’t be able to send voltage to the bake or broil elements or igniters. A multimeter can be used to test the electrical circuit to see if voltage is reaching the bake or broil elements or igniters.
Bake Element
The Bake Element is a component found in most electric ovens that creates heat needed for baking and broiling. If the element stops heating, it will need to be replaced to prevent your food from getting too dry or burning.
The element usually rests on the bottom floor of the oven and is held in place by a plate or bracket that attaches to the back wall of the oven. The plate or bracket also holds the element’s two metal prongs that connect to the inside of the oven.
Most modern ovens feature both a lower and upper bake element. These elements are easy to replace and typically don’t require tools.
If you can’t locate your oven’s bake element, look under one of the electric burners on the cooktop. You should see two wires that each connect to the element’s prongs.
With your oven unplugged, use a multimeter to test the wires that connect to your element’s terminals for continuity. Put the red and black wires of your multimeter’s probes against the terminals on your element.
Your multimeter should beep when the meter identifies an electrical signal that has continuity. If the meter does not beep, your terminals are in bad shape and need to be replaced.
Alternatively, you can test the bake element by physically inspecting it. Look for burns, blisters and cracks that can cause the element to break down or stop working.
You should also check the temperature sensor for continuity. This test needs to be done with the sensor at room temperature and can be performed with a digital multimeter on the Rx1 setting. The readings you get from the sensor should match the manufacturer’s recommendations for your model. If they don’t, you may need to purchase a new oven temperature sensor.
Thermal Fuse
Thermal fuses are used in most heat-producing electrical appliances. They interrupt circuits when the temperature reaches a dangerous level and can help prevent fires from occurring. These fuses are easy to replace, and can be found in most hardware stores, home improvement stores, and appliance shops.
They can be purchased for less than $10 U.S. They can also be ordered online.
The thermal fuse is a safety device that disconnects power to the oven when it overheats. This is an important safety feature that can help to protect other components in your oven from overheating and causing damage.
It is made from a sliding contact, a spring, and a fusible body, which is an electrically nonconductive material that melts at a set temperature to shut off current flow. These fuses can be found in rice cookers, ovens, and other electrical appliances.
Most fuses are located next to the AC cord and are usually covered with a rubberize sheath as insulation. Carefully remove the sheath to access the fuse.
In some cases, the thermal fuse may have a circuit breaker attached to it. If this is the case, you should disconnect it and check the fuse using a multimeter to see if it is good.
Another reason the fuse might blow is if it is plugged into a defective circuit. This could be the result of faulty wiring, a malfunctioning control board, or other issues that can cause the oven to overheat and cause it to blow its thermal fuse.
Fortunately, thermal fuses can be easily replaced by most people who are familiar with working with electricity. However, if you are not comfortable with this kind of work, it is always a good idea to hire an electrician for this type of job.