While Frigidaire is most commonly known for the fridge and freezer appliances, they make some great ovens that have been praised for their build quality. However, these ovens have been known to run into a particular problem where they will suddenly stop heating.
While this can seem like a catastrophic failure, don’t worry! The problem usually isn’t as bad as it seems. This article will cover both the causes of this problem and how you can get it fixed quickly and easily.
Why is your Frigidaire Oven Not Heating?
Usually, when a Frigidaire oven stops heating, it’s due to a failure of one of the heating components.
So in order to fix the problem, you’ll first need to identify which component is the culprit and then have it replaced.
1. A Power Supply Issue
One of the most common reasons a Frigidaire oven won’t heat is due to it not receiving power. This can happen for several reasons, but the most common is that the circuit breaker has tripped due to something like a power surge.
However, in some rarer cases, it may also be a problem with the electrical outlet it’s plugged into, and it should be moved to another one.
2. The Oven Door isn’t Fully Closed
While this might seem obvious, it’s often an easy issue to overlook. If the door isn’t fully closed, it will cause much of the heat to leak out into the kitchen, and then the food won’t cook.
Additionally, Frigidaire ovens have a safety feature where the oven will automatically turn itself off if the door has been opened for longer than 1 minute.
So the door will need to be inspected to ensure it’s properly closing.
3. The Igniter is Faulty
The igniter is a small component that ignites the gas which heats the oven. It achieves this by drawing in electrical current, which allows it to heat to a very high temperature.
However, it’s pretty common for these components to burn out and not produce enough heat to light the gas. The gas valve will only open when the igniter is hot enough, so if the igniter’s not working properly, the gas won’t flow into the oven.
The igniter will need to be inspected for continuity, and if it’s found to be faulty, it will need to be replaced with a new one.
4. The Heating Element is Burnt Out
Electric ovens use a heating element to produce heat. These are comprised of a metal alloy bar that lines the bottom or top of an oven.
Their material allows them to reach the extremely high temperatures required to cook your food. However, these elements can sometimes burn out. When this happens, the defective element will need to be swapped out for a new one.
5. The Broil Spark Electrode has Failed
Unlike the igniter, which uses heat to ignite the gas, the broiler in a Frigidaire oven is lit using a separate component called the broil spark or broil burner.
This burner uses a spark electrode, and much like a spark plug in an engine, it will produce an electrical spark that ignites the gas for the boiler.
Just like regular spark plugs, these can also burn and prevent the oven’s broiler from producing heat and will need to be replaced.
6. The Thermal Fuse has Blown
The thermal fuse acts as a safety component that monitors the internal temperature of the oven.
If the temperature exceeds a given threshold to the point where there is a risk of internal damage or even fire, the fuse will blow and immediately stop the oven heating.
While this is a great safety measure, thermal fuses are single-use components, and once they blow, they will need to be replaced. The good news is they are cheap to replace and easy to install.
7. There is a Control Board Problem
The oven control board acts as the appliance’s brain and will send out instructions to the various components based on the user’s input from the front control panel.
So if the oven control board runs into issues, then many of the internal components, such as the igniters or broil function, will not work.
You can visually inspect the oven control board for signs of damage, such as burning or loose wires, and test it with a multimeter to determine functionality.
As these are quite complicated components, the usual course of action when there is a control board issue is simply to replace the entire board with a new one.
How to Fix a Frigidaire Oven Not Heating
Now you have a better idea of which components within the oven may fail and prevent it from heating; the next step is to replace that relevant component.
Depending on the intricacy of the replacement, sometimes you will be able to perform this yourself quite easily. On the other hand, other component replacements may be too difficult and require additional help from a trained technician.
1. Check the Power Supply is Working
If the oven doesn’t have a consistent supply of power, it won’t be able to heat properly. The first thing to do is check the circuit breaker and see if it’s been tripped due to something like a power surge. If it’s in the off position, flick it back on.
If this doesn’t fix the issue, then there may be a problem with the power socket, and you should test it on a different power socket to see if that’s the issue.
If this is the cause of the problem, you will need to contact an electrician to repair the defective wall outlet.
2. Check the Oven Door
When the oven door isn’t completely closed, the oven might turn itself off for safety reasons.
Inspect the door closely to make sure it is latching correctly. If, for any reason, the door is not closing properly, check for any obstructions.
It’s quite common for them to become caked with crumbs and grease, in which case you should give them a clean with a brush and some hot, soapy water.
3. Replace the Faulty Igniter
If the igniter has been inspected for continuity and is found to be faulty, the only option is to replace it.
- Start by unplugging the oven from the power supply; as you’ll be handling wires, you need to ensure no electrical current is passing through the oven.
- To gain access to the igniter, you will need to remove the oven door. To do this, push it all the way down and flip the two hinge locks down. Then you can push the door back up and lift it by the sides to pull it away from the oven.
- Next, you need to unscrew and remove the bottom panel where the igniter is located behind.
- Locate the old igniter and remove both the wires and screws holding it in place. Once it’s fully disconnected, you can discard the old igniter.
- Then you should install the new igniter in its place, attaching the wires in the same configuration and screwing it back down to the oven.
- Now you can re-assemble the oven by attaching the bottom panel and re-attaching the front door.
4. Replace the Oven Heating Element
If the heating element has failed, it will need to be replaced. You should start by contacting Frigidaire customer support, who will assist you in purchasing a replacement element.
You can remove the old heating element by unscrewing it from the mounting plate and carefully disconnecting the attached wires.
Place the new heating element in its place, re-attach the two wires, and screw it onto the mounting bracket, which then screws back onto the mounting plate.
Once installed, you should plug the oven back in and turn the temperature up to maximum. If you see the new heating element start to glow red, then you know it’s now heating properly.
5. Replace the Broil Spark Electrode
Much like the igniter, once the broil electrode has failed, it will need to be replaced. To do this, you should refer to your Frigidaire oven manual to locate the exact location of the electrode.
Then you can replace it in the same manner as the igniter. Remember to unplug it from the power first.
6. Replace the Blown Thermal Fuse
Once the thermal fuse has blown, the only option is to replace it, as these are single-use components.
- Once again, begin by unplugging the oven from the power.
- Pull the oven away from the cabinet.
- Remove the outer back panel using a screwdriver to reveal the thermal fuse.
- Disconnect the wires and remove the mounting screws holding the old thermal fuse in place.
- Pull the old thermal fuse out; this can now be discarded.
- Put the new thermal fuse in place of the old one, re-screw it back to the oven, and attach the wires you previously removed.
- Re-attach the panel and push the oven back into place.
7. Replace the Oven Control Board
When the control panel fails, it’s very difficult to accurately diagnose and repair on a component level. So usually, the whole board will just be replaced.
However, as this is quite a complex process, we recommend contacting Frigidaire customer support, who will arrange for a trained technician to come and perform this installation for you.
Adrian is an ISCET licensed professional that has completed the National Appliance Service Technician Certification Exam and has the expertise to diagnose and repair any appliance. He is well-versed in the latest technologies and techniques and is always up-to-date on the latest industry standards.
