Bad Oven Element? How to Test, Fix, and Know When to Call a Pro

If your oven heats up slower than usual or not at all, the heating element is the usual suspect. A faulty element can leave you with cold meals and a kitchen that feels useless. The good news? Most people can diagnose a bad oven element in under 30 minutes and replace it without special tools.

First, make sure the oven is unplugged or the circuit breaker is off. Safety always comes first. Once you’ve cut the power, open the back panel or the oven interior to locate the element. In most electric ovens it’s a shiny, coil‑shaped piece sitting at the bottom (or sometimes on the top for a broiler).

How to Test the Element

Grab a multimeter – you probably have one in a toolbox. Set it to the resistance (ohms) setting. Touch the two probes to the metal terminals on the element. A healthy element reads between 10 and 30 ohms. If the meter shows infinite resistance or a wildly high number, the coil is broken and needs replacement.

While you’re at it, give the element a quick visual check. Look for black spots, bulges, or a broken wire. Any visible damage means the element is bad, even if the multimeter reads okay.

Replacing the Element

Order a replacement that matches your oven’s make and model – the part number is usually on a sticker inside the oven door. When the new element arrives, slide the old one out of its mounting brackets, disconnect the wires, and attach the new one. Most elements click into place, and the wires simply snap onto the same terminals.

After re‑securing the back panel, turn the power back on and run a quick bake cycle. If the oven reaches the set temperature, you’ve fixed the problem. If it still won’t heat, the issue might be a faulty thermostat, a bad wiring connection, or the oven control board.

When to call a professional? If you’re uncomfortable working with electricity, notice any damaged wiring, or the oven still won’t heat after a new element, it’s time to call us. Our technicians have the tools to test the thermostat, inspect the control board, and safely replace any part that’s beyond a simple element swap.

Bottom line: a bad oven element is a common, cheap fix that most homeowners can handle themselves. Give the element a quick visual and resistance test, replace it if it’s dead, and you’ll be back to roasting, baking, and broiling in no time. If the problem persists, don’t waste another dinner – call a pro and get your oven humming again.