Samsung devices and appliances have established a well-known reputation in the market for their top performance and efficiency; however, all appliances and electronic devices are subjected to faults and errors over time.
Preparing your dinner and finding out that the oven doesn’t heat up is a frustrating experience, especially if you don’t understand the reason for the issue.
No need to worry, though, because this article will cover all the possible reasons why your Samsung oven is not heating and guide you through several ways to solve each cause.
Why Is Your Samsung Oven Not Heating?
There are several reasons your Samsung oven may not be heating; for example, the igniter is faulty, the spark electrode is broken, the power supplied to the oven is insufficient, the safety valve is malfunctioning, or the thermal fuse is defective.
In addition, some usage errors can cause the problem of the oven not heating, such as the door not closing fully or you activated the oven Demo mode accidentally. Below, we will examine each cause in detail.
1. Insufficient Power Supply
The first thing to suspect when the oven cannot heat up is the amount of power supplied; if the power is insufficient, the oven won’t be able to heat up properly.
The amount of power required by gas ovens differs from that required by electric ovens. A gas oven requires 140V to operate properly; meanwhile, an electric oven requires 240V.
2. Demo Mode is Activated
If you have a modern oven, you will notice that your oven has a mode called “Demo Mode.” When this mode is activated, the oven displays a code to alert you; the code differs from one model to another; for example, it can be tESt (tE5t), DEMO, or a ‘d’.
The demo mode is used in the oven for display purposes; when the mode is activated, only the cooktop ignites, but the heating elements don’t operate.
If you have just purchased your Samsung oven, it might still be in demo mode, and you need to deactivate it. However, if you had your oven for a while, the demo mode might be activated accidentally, and you will need to disable it manually.
3. Igniter is Faulty
If you have a gas oven, a faulty igniter might be why your oven is not heating up. The igniter is a small component used to light the oven so it can heat up, but if the igniter is faulty, the oven will not heat up because it doesn’t light in the first place.
The oven igniter can become faulty due to grime or grease buildup over time; however, the igniter doesn’t have to be only defective to cause this issue. A weak igniter can also affect the heating of the oven.
The standard time an igniter takes to flame the burners is around three minutes; if the igniter is weak, it will not be able to light the burners, and consequently, the safety gas valve will stay turned off. So when you think you have turned on the oven, you didn’t actually because the igniter has not flamed the burners, so the oven will not heat up.
4. Malfunctioning Spark Electrode
The spark electrode is another element of the ignition process; the spark electrode flames the broiler burner gas by generating a spark. Consequently, the gas heats the oven to reach the desired temperature.
If the spark electrode is malfunctioning, it doesn’t produce the spark to ignite the gas, so the oven will not heat up.
5. Oven Door is Open
Samsung ovens have a safety feature that prevents the oven from heating if the door stays open for more than 1 minute. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure you have closed the door completely.
So, if the door doesn’t close all the way, start by inspecting the door gasket, and check for any signs of wear, like breaks or cracks, as this can be why the door doesn’t close properly.
6. Gas Pressure is Too High
The oven has a gas range; if your oven doesn’t heat when the cooktop is turned off, you have set the gas range too high, making the pressure too high for the oven.
It’s recommended that you call a qualified technician or a gas company to fix any gas issues for your and your household’s safety. Another solution is to seek assistance through Samsung support.
7. Broken Bake Element
Another essential element of the heating element is the bake element; however, it’s only found in electric ovens, so you can ignore this point if you have a gas oven.
The bake element produces the required heating through the flow of electricity through it. Therefore, if the bake element is damaged, it will not heat the oven.
8. Defective Thermal Fuse (Sensor)
The thermal fuse or sensor is located at the back of the oven; it’s a temperature-sensitive device that detects the oven temperature and prevents it from overheating by cutting off the power supply to the oven.
However, if the temperature sensor is defective, it can interfere with the oven’s performance by cutting off the power so the oven won’t start at all or preventing the oven from heating up.
9. Malfunctioning Safety Valve
The safety valve is only found in gas ovens, so you can skip this point if you have an electric oven. The safety valve regulates gas flow to the burners inside the oven.
The valve cuts off the flow of gas when the burners are not lit, yet if the safety valve is malfunctioning, it can cut off the gas flow even when it’s required. As a result, it will prevent the burner from getting flamed, and the oven will not heat up.
How To Fix A Samsung Oven That’s Not Heating
After discussing the possible reasons your Samsung oven isn’t heating, whether it was an electric or a gas oven, I will now explain the exact solution to each of the causes.
1. Fix Insufficient Power Supply
Check that the oven power cable is plugged into a working 240V wall outlet; if the cable is connected, you must test the outlet to ensure it works.
Bring a multimeter and set it to AC function; insert the blacked-colored multimeter into the socket’s neutral slot; it’s the slot on the right side. Then, insert the multimeter red-colored into the socket’s hot slot, the slot on the left side of the electrical socket.
The reading on the multimeter should be around 240V; if it shows a 110V/120V reading, then the power is insufficient for your oven, preventing it from heating up. The solution here is to hire a professional electrician to install a 240V electrical outlet to ensure your oven receives adequate power.
2. Deactivate Demo Mode
There are 2 different approaches to deactivating the Samsung oven demo mode settings because the deactivation process depends on the model you have. The first approach is to press and hold the Timer icon on the oven control panel for 3 seconds.
Then set the value displayed to zero using the arrow Up or Down, and after it, press the Start/Set button. Select OFF or ON using the arrow Down or Up, and lastly, press the Start\Set button to save the changes.
The second approach is to press the Options button and the “9” number pad. Now, press the “1” number pad to choose the OFF option, and lastly, press the Start\Set button to save the changes.
If none of the approaches applies to your oven model, you can use the User Manual for assistance. If it lacks the instructions for deactivating the demo mode, you will then have to contact the Samsung support team.
3. Replace the Faulty Igniter
If the burners are too low or don’t ignite at all after 3 minutes, then you will need to replace the igniter because it’s either faulty or weak. You can simply follow the following steps:
- Cut off the power and the gas supply to the oven.
- Unthread the mounting screws of the lower panel and remove the panel from the oven.
- Unthread the igniter from its mounting bracket located on the burners.
- Disconnect the defective igniter from the wire harness by pressing the connector tabs.
- Connect the new igniter to the wire harness, but when connecting the igniter, ensure it doesn’t touch the carbide electrode because it can cause it to fail.
- Place the igniter on the burners and secure it in place using the mounting bracket.
- Install the lower panel and secure it using the mounting screws.
- Turn on the gas supply and the electricity back to test the new igniter.
4. Replace the Malfunctioning Spark Electrode
If the spark electrode doesn’t generate the spark required for the broiler burner, it must be replaced. To do this, follow the steps below:
- Cut off the power and the gas supply to the oven.
- Use the User Manual to locate the broil spark electrode, usually located around the broil burner.
- Disconnect the broil spark electrode and carefully take it out.
- Clean any grease buildup on the electrode and reconnect it.
- Ensure there are no loose or damaged electrical connections.
- If the element still doesn’t generate a spark, replace it.
5. Replace the Worn-out Door Gasket
If the door gasket is worn-out, it can prevent it from closing completely. Therefore, you will need to replace the gasket using the steps listed below, but if you don’t feel comfortable replacing it yourself, hire a technician to do it for you.
- Cut off the power and the gas supply to the oven.
- Unscrew the metal parts covering the ends of the gasket.
- Use pliers to take out and remove the old gasket.
- Clean any debris or grease in the channels.
- Insert the new gasket into the channels.
- Cover the ends of the gasket using the metal parts (if found).
6. Replace the Broken Bake Element
Wall ovens differ from free-standing ranges when it comes to the process of replacing the bake element, so you should note that the following steps are for the free-standing ranges.
First, power off the oven and unplug it from the power source. Move the range away from the wall to give you access to the back panel.
Unthread the screws of the back panel and remove the panel, now, locate the bake element spade terminals and disconnect them. Next, bring a multimeter and set it to resistance to test the element for continuity.
Connect one of the multimeter probes to one of the bake element terminals and the other probe to the other terminal. If the element is intact, it will show a reading between 10 to 50 Ohms on the multimeter.
If the element shows an out-of-range reading or lack of continuity, then the solution is to replace it. Unthread the mounting screws of the power cord and disconnect the cord from the block assembly.
Unthread the terminal block screws and then remove the block. Next, remove the plate attached to the terminal block. Access the insulation by setting the oven wiring to the side.
Use a penknife to make an opening in the insulation to locate the screws holding the bake element. Unthread the screws and take out the bake element. Install the new bake element and reinstall each part like it was, and then power on the oven to test the new bake element.
7. Replace the Defective Thermal Fuse (Sensor)
A defective fuse can interfere with the oven’s performance as this cuts off the power to the oven. The primary solution here is to replace it using the following steps:
- Cut off the power and the gas supply to the oven.
- Move the oven away from the wall to access the back panel.
- Unthread the screws of the rear panel.
- Disconnect the wires connected to the thermal fuse and take the fuse out.
- Install the new thermal fuse and connect the electrical wires.
- Install the back panel.
- Power on the power and open the gas supply.
8. Replace the Malfunctioning Safety Valve
Safety valves malfunctioning mean that the gas flow is cut off even when it’s required. While this can be frustrating to deal with, it’s quite straightforward to replace the valve.
- Cut off the power and the gas supply to the oven.
- Remove the oven door by lifting the locking tabs on the hinges.
- Unthread the screws of the lower panel to access the lower panel.
- Disconnect the gas line using a wrench.
- Unthread the mounting screws of the safety valve.
- Disconnect the wires connected to the safety valve.
- Install the new safety valve.
- Connect the wires and secure the valve in place.
- Install the lower panel and the oven door.
- Power on the oven and turn on the gas supply.
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.
