My oven has not been keeping temp well.?

Question

Then this morning the heating coil started on fire when I turned on the oven. Whats wrong?

Answer 1

I had a self cleaning oven that I purchased in 1990 that had a fire in it. Self cleaning ovens heat to 900 degrees or at least way hotter than oven heating temp for cooking, to flake off the filth in the oven. This is dangerous to improperly designed and placed wiring and switches etc and can cause problems. I tore mine apart to find switching mechanisms melted below the burner areas on the stove top. Also, there is a solid state controller that is quite expensive to replace in the control panel that can get gummed up and can malfunction from the fires that occur from the self cleaning mechanism. The controllers cost as much as a new oven and are quickly outdated as they are custom designed for a particular oven.

Bottom line, I got rid of our self cleaning oven and bought one without the fancy controller in it. Now everything works great!

Technology mixes that tempt limits and do not use common sense can cost a bundle. Oh sure, they look great in your kitchen, but I value my life more than that!

Answer 2

You don't mention whether this is a gas or electric range, but from the statement about the heating coil I'd have to go with electric. Sometimes when these elements go bad, they sort of melt in one spot or another, frequently, the spot turns out to be where food being baked or cooked in the oven has dripped on the element and wasn't cleaned off. Sounds like you need to start with a new element and then check the thermostat with an oven thermometer. The element you should be able to get from any decent appliance parts distributor, (just have the make and model # of your range ready when you call). And the oven thermometer you can find at any decent hardware or maybe even some large dept. stores, Meijer, Walmart, etc. The temp shouldn't fluctuate more than 5-7 degrees off what you set on the oven control knob. If it does, then you need a new oven control assy.