Cooking ovens really haven't changed much over the years, except that the controls have become more sophisticated. You now can set controls to start and stop cooking at various times, even checking and regulating temperatures for you, so that dinner is ready when you are--if it works correctly. If not, here's how you can fix it.

How Does It Work?

An electric oven is a baking chamber. It's either part of an electric range or a standalone appliance without the cooktop. It is a 240/120-volt circuit--240 volts for the heating elements and 120 volts for the accessories. A thermostat senses and regulates oven temperature. Time and temperatures are regulated by an electric timer motor or by a digital controller. Most electric ovens have two heating elements, the main one on the bottom of the chamber and another one on the top, typically used for broiling. Also see the Electric Cooktop Fix-It Guide, the Gas Oven Fix-It Guide, and the Gas Cooktop Fix-it Guide .

What Can Go Wrong?

Components of a typical electric oven and cooktop.

One or both oven elements may burn out. The temperature control may malfunction. The oven selector switch may not work properly. The capillary tube (the tube attached to the oven wall that senses the temperature in the oven and activates the control that adjusts the temperature) may be out of adjustment. The temperature control may not be accurate. The door may not close properly.

Caution!

In self-cleaning ovens, the capillary tube contains a caustic fluid. Wear rubber gloves and handle it gently.