When your Kenmore Oven is not heating, it is not just a minor inconvenience. It is a threat to your ideal dinner plans. You won’t be able to roast your favorite casserole or bake a mouth-watering dessert.
Despite Kenmore oven’s reputation for top-tier performance, this issue is more common than you’d think. But don’t worry, this unpleasant surprise isn’t an automatic oven replacement situation.
In many cases, a Kenmore oven not heating can be a relatively simple fix, and this guide will equip you with the knowledge to ensure your cooking and baking plans continue without interruption.
This troubleshooting guide helps in fixing various models of Kenmore ovens with not heating issues, including the following models:
- Kenmore Elite 73355
- Kenmore Elite: 73332
- Kenmore Elite: 73552
- Kenmore Elite 790.92603100
- Kenmore 790.74333314
- Kenmore 790.73433314
- Kenmore Oven Model 970-678431
- Kenmore Gas Range 720.6952300
- Kenmore Gas Range 740.0932210
- Kenmore 790.95032503
- Kenmore 911.95582992
- Kenmore 790.46709610
- Kenmore 665.95014102
Why Is Your Kenmore Oven Not Heating
Encountering a cold Kenmore oven makes you frustrated and forces you to settle for alternative (and maybe not very satisfying) dinner options. Things become even more confusing when you try to determine the real culprit.
Take a deep breath and let’s explore the several common (and sometimes unique) problems, leading to your Kenmore oven not heating.
1. Malfunctioning Oven Igniter
If you have a gas oven, you should put the igniter at the top of the culprit list. As the name suggests, the igniter generates the spark required for igniting the gas burners in your Kenmore oven.
When malfunctioning, there won’t be any produced spark. This means the gas won’t light and your oven remains cold. You can identify a faulty igniter from the following symptoms:
- Weak, flickering, or no spark
- Slow, uneven, or no heating.
- Clicking sounds without a flame
2. Faulty Heating Element
This is another major contributor to the lack of heating in your Kenmore oven. Whether you have a gas or electric oven, this element consists of two contenders; the broil element and the bake element. You can find the former at the top of the oven, while the latter is at its bottom. The bake element is responsible for the oven bake function.
Also, the broil element provides intense heat from the above direction. This makes it ideal for broiling and roasting foods, whereas the bake element provides heat from below for even cooking and baking.
You can identify faulty elements from these signs:
- The elements won’t glow their usual red-hot flame.
- The presence of blisters or similar physical damage signs on the oven element.
- Undercooked food items
- uneven or nonexistent heat
3. Faltered Oven Temperature Sensor
This sensor exists in both gas and electric ovens. It keeps an eye on the oven’s temperature. Then, it sends the reading data to the electronic control board.
When defective, this sensor won’t read accurately and may send erratic signals to the oven’s control board. This may confuse the oven’s brain and can cause the oven to overheat or not heat at all.
4. Defective Thermal Fuse
This component acts as a built-in safety feature for both types of ovens. You can think of it as an automatic trip switch. It cuts power to prevent overheating. But a malfunctioning fuse itself can stop your oven from heating at all.
In rare cases, a user error, like leaving something flammable inside, can create a hotspot and trip the fuse even without an overall high temperature.
5. Problematic Relay Board
This problem is exclusive to electric ovens. The relay board helps distribute voltage to different parts of the oven, including the heating elements. A malfunction in this board can disrupt communication and lead to heating issues. It also means the heating elements won’t get any power.
A failed relay board affects the oven’s heating functions and settings, even if the control board appears to function normally.
6. Electrical Issues
A loose or burnt wire connection inside the oven can disrupt power flow, causing uneven or no heat. A burning smell or scorching near these connections are clues. But faulty connections aren’t limited to the oven itself. A burnt connection at the wall socket, powering both gas and electric ovens, can also disrupt power and prevent proper heating.
Inconsistent voltage from the wall socket can be another culprit. Voltage fluctuations might not cut power entirely, but they can leave your oven struggling to generate enough heat. Flickering lights or appliances in your home could indicate these voltage issues that need investigating.
How To Reset Your Kenmore Oven
Before reaching for your toolkit and repair manual, consider a simple reset. This process might resolve some common Kenmore oven issues. This step can be particularly helpful after a power outage or a malfunction during the self-cleaning cycle.
A successful reset can sometimes clear up minor glitches within your Kenmore oven’s incoming power or electronic controls.
Resetting your Kenmore oven is a simple DIY fix and is applicable to other oven brands, such as Whirlpool, GE, and Maytag.
- Turn off all control knobs on your Kenmore oven.
- Unplug the oven from the wall socket or turn off the circuit breaker for a few minutes.
- Plug the oven back in or turn the breaker back on.
- Wait a full minute before turning the knobs back to their usual settings.
How To Fix Your Kenmore Oven Not Heating
When troubleshooting a Kenmore oven not heating, the first thing to come to your mind is calling service technicians. But what if you try some fixes before reaching for your phone? Let’s explore potential fixes for the top 6 causes
1. How To Fix Malfunctioning Oven Igniter
The igniter or the spark maker sits near the burner bottom of the oven. To correctly troubleshoot this component, do the following:
- Observe the spark while trying to ignite. If it appears weak or not present at all, it points to a faulty igniter.
- Turn off the oven and shut off the gas supply.
- Remove the oven racks for better access.
- In some Kenmore oven models, you might need to remove a lower access panel at the bottom front of the oven. You can use a screwdriver for this purpose.
- Look for a small metal rod with a wire connection.
- Check it for cracks or corrosion.
- Use a multimeter to check for proper voltage reaching the igniter (consult your user manual for specific steps).
- Replace if you get the wrong readings. However, for safety reasons, you should seek professional help for this step.
2. How To Fix Faulty Heating Elements
A broken bake element and a faulty broil element play a major role in uneven cooking. To address their issues, do the following:
- Find the bake element by removing the lower access panel at the bottom front of the oven cavity.
- Access the broil element by removing the upper oven rack and reaching in from the top of the oven cavity. However, in some models, you might need to remove a rear panel.
- Now, with both elements accessible and exposed, you should perform a visual inspection to identify visible damage.
- For further inspection, you can use a multimeter. Set it to the lowest scale, which is the ohm scale.
- Locate the terminals of each element. These are metal connectors where the wires attach to the element itself.
- Connect one probe of the multimeter to each terminal of the element.
- You should expect a reading between one and zero if the element is functional. If not, the reading should be higher, infinite, or none existent. Depending on the result
3. How To Fix Faltered Oven Temperature Sensor
The oven temperature sensor is located near the cavity. It is often embedded in a metal sheath. Don’t try to remove this sheath, while checking the sensor.
Similar to what you did with the elements, you can test the sensor’s functionality with a multimeter. If the multimeter reading exceeds 1100 ohms, the sensor is likely faulty and needs replacing.
4. How To Fix Defective Thermal Fuse
- Look for this component at the back of the oven. You may find it nestled up on the oven’s back wall or near the bottom. The exact location may change from one Kenmore oven model to another.
- Check for a small, cylindrical component with two wire terminals.
- Inspect the fuse for burning signs, such as discoloration, cracks, or melted plastic around the terminal. Also, you might try to smell a smoking odor around the back of the oven.
- Bring a multimeter to test the fuse for continuity.
5. How To Fix Problematic Relay Board
- Look for this internal component behind the control panel.
- To access this board, you should unscrew the back panel.
- The board is usually mounted on the back wall of the oven cavity.
- Look for a flat, rectangular circuit board. It has many electrical relays attached to it. Relays appear like small boxes with electrical terminals.
- Check it for loose connections or damage signs.
- You can test a failing board it with a multimeter, but any repairs or replacements should be done by a certified technician.
6. How To Fix Electrical Issues
Investigating electrical issues of your Kenmore oven not heating includes various components. But here are a few things to tackle:
- Check your wall socket for loose connections or a tripped breaker. If you find signs of looseness, tighten the outlet screws.
- You can identify a tripped breaker, if it is stuck between the on and off position. So, bring it all the way to the off position, then switch it back to the on position.
More complex electrical issues call for a qualified service technician for both diagnosis and repairs.
Conclusion
Armed with knowledge of common culprits like faulty igniters, or temperature sensors, you can diagnose why your Kenmore oven isn’t heating.
Remember, a simple reset might do the trick! But it won’t work for all problematic components. Don’t compromise your safety. Always cut power and wait for the oven to cool before any DIY fixes. Don’t hesitate to call a pro for complex repairs.
Experiencing other issues with your oven? Take a look at these blogs if your oven igniter is not working or if it is making a clicking noise.