Broken Oven

[Puffer]

The stove works fine but the oven has suddenly stopped heating. Last night we took out the underneath drawer and examined the interior but couldn't find the problem - honestly, we didn't really know what to look for. my roommate said he could smell gas but by that time i had cleared the area as he started running a lighter back-and-forth.

any suggested troubleshooting tips or suggestions?

i'm hoping my roommate just jarred something loose while slamming the underneath drawer shut, and that it can be fixed easily. or, maybe it's just a piece of crap that needs to be replaced.

 

[next2naus]

sounds like the pilot light is out.

 

[shorty]

In reply to:

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[jmatt]

Look way at the back center under the oven chamber, you either have to open the drawer or lift up the bottom of the oven chamber (if possible).If you don't have electric ignition, that's where the pilot light will normally be. It will be a small flame that usually will get a little larger when you turn on the oven knob.

Since you're roomie smelled gas, I would assume it went out. You simply relight it to get it working again. It's possible your silly roomie* may have already relit it.

If it is lit, wou could have one of a few problemms:

1. The Thermostat is out. It's a little cylindrical metal piece at the end of a wire that sticks in the enlarged pilot flame when you turn on the oven. It's an easy fix, you just have to make sure you get the proper replacement (or tell your landlord...).

2. The thermostat got moved out of place. Can happen if your roomie is in the habit of slamming the broiler door closed. Just --> CAREFULLY and GENTLY<-- bend it back in place. You might need some needle-nose pliers, mainly because it could be hot. Don't crush it if you use pliers.

3. The little piece of metal that deflects the enlarged pilot onto the thermostat could be bent or has shifted. this WILL be hot, so if you need to bend or move it back, pliers are a necessity...

* BY THE WAY. When you smell gas, the ABSOLUTE WORST way to look for it is with a match or lighter... USE A FLASHLIGHT!!!. There could be more gas than you think, especially in an enclosed area like an oven. Explosions or flash fires are not good things...