Is Your Oven Too Hot? Here’s How to Fix It

When your oven gets too hot, it can cause your food to overcook and even become a fire risk. The most common cause of this happening is when the thermostat that controls the internal temperature fails to work correctly, but there are also several other possible causes.

Simply go through each of the components listed below to find the cause of your oven getting too hot, and then you’ll be able to fix it.

Thermostat Button

If the thermostat button becomes faulty, it will cause the temperature in the oven to not be accurate.

To check if it is faulty:

1. Make sure that the thermostat button is securely attached in place.
2. If it is attached correctly, then it is not the source of the problem, and you can move on to checking the next component. However, if you find that it is faulty, then it will need to be recalibrated and possibly replaced if the actual button is cracked or broken.

Thermostat Sensing Bulb

The next component to check is the thermostat sensing bulb, which you will find in most conventional ovens. When it becomes faulty, it causes the thermostat to not work correctly, and this causes your oven to overheat.

To fix it:

1. Locate the thermostat sensing bulb. You will find it in most ovens at the back left side or at the rear of the oven.
2. Inspect the bulb to see if it has become loose from its holder or it is damaged.
3. If you find that the bulb is loose, then you’ll need to repair the holder so that it is properly in place. If the bulb is damaged, then you’ll need to replace it. However, if you find no damage and it’s properly in place, then it is fine, and you can move onto the next component.

Check for Grime

Over time, the thermostat in your oven can get covered in grime and loose food particles, which stop it from working correctly.

If this is the case, it is very easy to fix, all you need to do is:

1. Locate the thermostat within your oven.
2. Remove it from your oven.
3. Give it a thorough clean, and then reinstall it back into the oven.
4. Check if this has solved the problem. If your oven is still overheating, move on to checking the next component.

Blocked Oven Vent

Sometimes your oven vent can get blocked up, and this causes your oven to overheat since air cannot be discharged correctly through the vent.

To check if it is blocked:

1. Check your oven vent for any signs of blockages, and then give your oven vent a thorough cleaning.
2. Check if cleaning it has solved the problem by turning your oven on. If the problem is still occurring, you can move on to checking the next component.

Control Panel

Some makes and models of ovens have an electric control panel. If your home has a power outage, it can cause the control panel to not work correctly.

To check if this is the cause of the problem you need to:

1. Locate the fuse box in your house.
2. Reset the circuit breaker in your fuse box.
3. Unplug your oven for five minutes, and then turn the power back on.
4. Check if this has solved the problem. If not, move on to checking the next component.

Thermostat

One of the most common causes of an oven getting too hot is a faulty thermostat.

To check if it is faulty:

1. Turn your oven on and set it to a heat level.
2. Use a separate heat-resistant oven thermometer to check the oven’s temperature. If you find that the heat level is different from the level that you set it to, then this shows that it is faulty and will need to be replaced. If it does match the level you set the oven to, then this shows it is not faulty, and you can move on to checking the next component.
3. If faulty, replace the thermostat in your oven, and then check if the problem has been solved.

Heating Elements

When the heating elements in your oven malfunction, they cause the oven to overheat.

To check the heating elements:

1. Make sure that the power is switched off to your oven.
2. Inspect the heating elements for any signs of wear and tear and if they have become loose.
3. If you find that they are damaged, then they’ll need to be replaced.
4. If there are no obvious signs of damage, then use a multimeter to check the elements for continuity. If they have no continuity, then they are broken and need to be replaced. If they have continuity, then they are not the source of the problem, so you can move on to checking the next component.
5. Once the elements are replaced, check to see if the problem has been solved.

Temperature Sensor

If your oven is an electric one, then it will have a temperature sensor in it that makes sure your oven heats up to the correct temperature.

To check the sensor, you need to:

1. Make sure that the power is switched off to your oven.
2. Locate the sensor. It is usually located at the rear of the oven and looks like a long and thin tube.
3. Check that the sensor is not bent out of position – sometimes they can bend out of place and touch the oven wall, which will result in it not working correctly. If you find it has bent out of position, you can adjust it so it is positioned properly and then test if this solves the problem of your oven overheating.
4. If the sensor is positioned correctly, then use a multimeter to test the resistance at its probe ends (first make sure that the oven has completely cooled down). A strong reading on the multimeter will be around 1,100 ohms – if it is more or less than this, then it is a good sign it is faulty and will need to be replaced.
5. Once you’ve replaced the temperature sensor, check to see if your oven is still overheating. If not, move on to checking the next component.

Selector Switch

The purpose of the selector switch is to let the thermostat know what the heating element is doing. When it communicates the wrong information about the temperature of your oven, then your oven won’t work correctly.

To check the selector switch:

1. Locate the selector switch, and make sure the power is switched off.
2. Use a multimeter to check the switch for any shorts.
3. If you find any, then you should replace the switch and then check if this has solved the problem. If the switch is fine, then move on to checking the final component.

Oven Fan

The purpose of the fan is to help cool your oven down, and when it becomes faulty, your oven will overheat. If the oven fan is noisy or is turning around slower than normal, then this is a good sign it is faulty.

To check if the fan is faulty:

1. Locate the oven fan, and make sure the power is switched off.
2. Remove the inside fan panel, and try to turn the fan around by hand.
3. If it is stiff, then this means it is faulty and needs to be replaced.
4. If it moves around freely, then check if any of the fan blades are broken or loose. If so, you will most likely have to replace the fan.
5. If it moves around freely and is not broken in any way, then check to see if any grease or food particles are interfering with the operation of the fan, and if so, give it a good clean.
6. Once you have replaced the oven fan or given it a clean, check to see if your oven is now working correctly.