Gas ovens are relatively simple in operation and require little maintenance. That's good news because it means you probably won't have many fix-it jobs on your gas oven. But if you do, here's how to do it.

How Does It Work?

Components of a typical gas oven and cooktop.

A gas oven is the baking chamber fueled by natural or propane gas. Some gas ovens have a pilot light that stays lit all the time, igniting the burners as needed. Newer models have spark igniters or an electrically heated coil, called a glow bar or glow plug to ignite the gas on demand. Igniters are wired to an ignition module that produces the high voltage required for sparking. A thermostat controls oven temperature by regulating the gas supply to the oven. If you're having trouble with the cooktop attached to your gas oven, see the Gas Cooktop Fix-It Guide .

What Can Go Wrong?

The pilot light may go out. The burner ports may need clearing. The igniter and ignition module can malfunction. The fuse and glow bar (if equipped) can fail. The door may need adjusting and gaskets may need replacing. The thermostat or capillary tube may be faulty. The pilot may need adjusting. The burner flame may need adjusting.

Caution!

Make sure you know how to shut off the gas to your oven for repairs and in case of emergency.