How To Replace An Oven Heating Element

Oven not heating? If your oven heating element has gone out, here is a detailed procedure to remove and replace it. Removing and replacing an element in your oven is not a difficult task. It will involve removing a few screws and sliding off and reconnecting 2 electrical connectors. An oven element will cost you on average a cheap $20 to $25 dollars, possibly less. This task should take about 20 minutes in total. Doing this yourself will save you hundreds of dollars instead of calling an appliance repair company.

You will first notice that your oven is not heating properly. You have most likely done some troubleshooting and found that the baking element is bad. Now you need to order a new oven heating element replacement. Be absolutely sure to replace the element with the same one or one the manufacturer suggests or a genuine replacement part. You can go to an appliance parts website and type in the make and model of your oven to find the exact replacement. If in doubt, go to your oven manufacturers website and see if you can find a part number. Once you have your replacement element, go to the step by step procedure below. This procedure works for both the broil and bake elements.

Usually 2 screws at back of oven hold the broil or bake elements in place

How To Remove And Replace An Oven Element

1. Turn off breaker to the oven.
2. Unplug the oven’s plug from the electrical outlet.
3. Open the oven and remove the racks so you can access the back of the oven.
4. Locate the 2 or 3 screws that hold the bad element to the back of the oven.
5. Carefully remove the 2 or 3 screws that hold the element to the wall of the oven. There may also be a few screws holding the element in place in different areas so check and remove the screws as necessary.
6. Carefully slide the element out about 4 to 5 inches. You will then see either 2 screws or 2 female wiring connectors that connect the element prongs to the electrical supply.
7. Remove the 2 screws or female wire connectors from the element prongs to fully disconnect the bad element.
8. Take the old element completely out of the oven.
9. Put the new element into the oven and secure the prongs to the 2 electrical connectors the same way it was wired before.
10. Slide the element back into the opening where it secures to the oven back wall.
11. Install the 2 screws that hold the element to the back wall of the oven.
12. Plug in your oven and turn the ovens electrical breaker to “ON”.
13. Test the oven by putting it on bake mode and check to be sure it is heating properly. The baking element may smoke a little as the manufacturer adds some protective coating to it. Don’t worry as this is normal and the coating will burn off within a few minutes.
14. If test is successful, you have installed the element correctly. Job well done!

Range/Stove/Oven Repair – Replacing the Bake or Broil Element

An oven element usually goes bad because of the ovens age or if it is used quite frequently. Also grease splatter onto the element can shorten the lifespan. You will usually notice that a bad element has a large burn mark or is actually broken. Most appliance repair companies will charge at least $100 dollars to come out and repair this for you and then also charge you for the element itself. This repair can be done for about $20 dollars and will take about 20 minutes of your time. So DIY and save your hard earned money! ALWAYS USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN WORKING WITH ELECTRICITY.

If you have an easier install method for a burned out oven element or a cheap appliance parts website, please leave a comment below to assist our other readers.