Stove, Range and Oven Fault Finding

Stove, Range and Oven Fault Finding

HowTo Repair  a Stove or Oven.

For the most part basic ovens are usually quite simple appliances until you introduce advanced features. However price sensitivity in this area, especially on contract ranges normally supplied to builders and kitchen contractors, means that a lot of the lower end products are not the best build quality by far.

The faults and information here will relate to built in ovens as well as stoves and double ovens as all operate on the same principles with the exception of ovens that also combine microwave technologies, however these are rare and not within the scope of this article.

Safety First When Working On An Oven Or Cooker

To get the best possible service we recommend to call Mr Rogers before doing anything by yourself. Sometimes you can get more faults by trying to fix one. Get a certified technician check your faulty stove, range or oven.

CommonOven And Stove Problems

Stove / Oven Problem #1 - The stove or oven does not heat up

This does not apply if the stove / oven is totally dead. If the fan is running and the thermostat light comes on but you get no heat (or just the thermostat light on in non-fan ovens and cookers) then the probability is that the fan element or heating elements have failed. These are usually fairly straightforward to test for continuity and to replace, however safety must be observed.

The other suspect with this sort of fault can be the main oven changeover switch. The normal arrangement is to have a changeover switch, sometimes called a "commutator", to select the various oven functions with the thermostat mounted on the back on cheaper models and a separate thermostat, often also regulating the grill temperature, on more expensive models or those with more features.

The safety thermostats or, on some models, a thermal fuse can also cause this failure although if they have failed there is normally a reason such as a faulty thermostat or poor ventilation.

It is also possible that a thermostat failure can cause this fault although this is rare.

·         Fan oven element

·         Oven element/s

·         Oven thermostat

·         Oven changeover switch

·         Thermal fuse/s or safety thermostats

If you need a stove technician you can call Mr Rogers and get your range fixed at an affordable price and every repair with warranty.

Stove / Oven Problem #2 - The stove / oven overheats and burns everything

Normally this is a simple thermostat failure which would manifest itself as this symptom.

When replacing thermostats be careful with the "“phial", this is the long "sensor" that has the temperature probe on it which is inserted into the oven cavity. You must not kink or break that phial as if you do you will have broken the part and it is rendered useless. The phial is filled with a gas which expands and contracts thereby operating the on/off action of the thermostat.

Call Mr Rogers and have you oven be check by an oven certified technician.

Stove / Oven Problem #3 - The oven door isn't closing properly

Normally this will be faulty hinges or the hinge runners.

For the most part what will happen is that the hinge runners, NOT the hinges, will go faulty usually the little rollers will fail, causing the door hinges to run off true. This in turn places strain on the hinges that they were not designed to cope with and they will then fail, often snapping.

Most technicians will advise strongly that both hinges are replaced, both rollers or runners replaced, or a set of each at the same time. Replacing one is a false economy as 99.99% of the time if one has gone the other is sure to follow very soon.

·         Door hinges

·         Door hinge rollers/runners

Stove / Oven Problem #4 - The oven door fell off!

See previous, there is really no other reason or cause.

Or simply call Mr Rogers. We have appliance factory trained technicians.

Stove / Oven Problem #5 - The units are burning at either side of the oven or cooker

Under normal circumstance this will be caused by a faulty door seal where the oven or cooker is a few years old or possibly by the door not sealing correctly due to faulty hinges or runners/rollers, see above.

On newer appliances that have not been installed too long (months, not years) it will almost certainly be either poor installation with inadequate ventilation, not enough space allowed between the oven front and the adjacent cupboard doors or poor quality kitchen cabinetry in general. It is virtually unheard of for this to be caused by a fault with the appliance, other than physical damage causing the door to not seal correctly, where there is no fault with the thermostat.

So for older appliances:

·         Oven or cooker door seal faulty

·         Oven or cooker door hinges faulty

·         Oven door hinge rollers/runners

·         Possible oven thermostat fault 

For new machines:

·         Physical damage to oven (transit damage)

·         Inadequate ventilation

·         Inadequate spacing between oven and cupboard doors

·         Poor kitchen doors that cannot withstand temperatures of 100?C Possible thermostat fault

It doesn’t matter if your stove is new or old, Mr Rogers can help you fix your faulty range. We offer Same Day Service and Emergency Service Call.

Stove / Oven Problem #6 - The oven door or knobs are too hot

This is a common complaint with new appliances.
In essence, when installed correctly, the chances of the oven not meeting BS Standard is almost impossible so much so that we have only come across such an instance once or twice in tens of thousands tested over the years. The accepted solution is that replacing with a superior model fitted with better cooling ability or with a cooling fan (many cheaper models, especially contract ranges) as many do not have these fitted as standard to reduce costs. 

CallMr Rogers and have a technician check your stove today.

Stove / Oven Problem #7 - The oven or stove cuts out after it's been on for a while. Stove burner suddenly turns off.

This is an overheating problem which can be caused by the main oven thermostat or a faulty safety thermostat that will be causing the problem. It can also be caused by a failure of the cooling fan, where fitted, but usually these go noisy before failing, only rarely do they go open circuit.

Safety thermostats are used to prevent the oven or cooker overheating and causing physical damage and are usually mounted on the outside of the actual oven cavity. They can be hard to find as all too often they are buried in the insulation surrounding the oven cavity if the wires are not evident and easily seen.

·         Main oven thermostat 

·         Faulty oven safety thermostat

·         Faulty oven cooling fan motor

·         Poor installation, ventilation issue

No matter what your problem is you have an expert to call. Call Mr Rogers and ask a certified stove technician to  help you fix your stove burners or oven heating element.

Stove / Oven Problem #8 - The oven or stove is noisy

Noisefrom the stove is rare but noise in the oven is limited to being produced by the moving parts so the fan motor and cooling fan motor are the most obvious causes where fitted. When new it is not uncommon for a cooling fan motor especially to be misaligned or damaged giving off a screeching sound as the blades catch the casing.

On older ovens and stove a bearing failure in either motor will cause this issue and, in the case of fan motors, if the fault is not rectified reasonably quickly the fan element may fail as well as the motor turns slower than it should allow the fan element to overheat. In some cases the fan blades may even "clip" the element, again leading to its premature failure.

It is worth noting that some rattling type noises can be caused by loose screws, faulty hinges etc.

·         Fan oven motor failure

·         Oven cooling fan motor failure

·         Physical damage

No one likes a noisy oven. If you have this problem you can call Mr Rogers and ask for an oven specialist to  repair your oven.

Stove / Oven Problem #9 - Why does a fan run after I switch the oven off?

This is a cool down period and can vary massively from appliance to appliance and even from kitchen to kitchen as it is dependent on the temperature that the machine was running at, the insulation (how good it is) and the ventilation of the cabinets in which the oven or cooker is housed. It is not uncommon for a cooling fan to run on for half an hour or more after the oven is switched off and this is perfectly normal.

You can call Mr Rogers and ask a technician for tips on energy saving or giving your stove maintenance.

Stove / Oven Problem #10 - The oven door seal is faulty where can I get a new one?

Door seals are easy to spot on failure as they tend to break up and they are normally easy to replace, most being simply clipped into place. We can send a technician to your home to check your stove and see what type of seal we need to ordered. Once we have the oven seal we will call you and schedule and appointment. We have Same Day Service, Next Day Service and Emergency Service available for your convenience.

Stove / Oven Problem #11 - How do I clean the oven?

We hope to have a more detailed article on this in the near future however as a start some tips are detailed here:

·         Refer to the user guide for instructions on removing the door and door glasses

·         Do not use abrasive cleaners where there is stenciled lettering or legends

·         For oven interiors, but not self-cleaning panels, Fairy Power Spray is excellent

·         To clean inside the door, between the glass, disassembly of the door is usually required

·         Knobs usually "pull off" for cleaning, gently prise if required

·         Do not clean panels with wire wool or "Brillo" pads as you will damage the surfaces

·         Do not use any chemical cleaners on self-cleaning panels, you will ruin them

If you need a certified technician to clean the oven for you, call Mr Rogers.

Stove / Oven Problem #12 - How do I clean the oven door?

See above, but most oven doors can be removed for cleaning and, if possible, this is normally detailed in the instruction manual. If you need help or advised on how to clean your oven door you can call Mr Rogers and scheduled an appointment for a technician to visit you.

Stove / Oven Problem #13 - The door glass has shattered, why?

We have had much debate on this subject and the short answer is that there is no definitive answer to the question, we can only tell you what we do know to be fact or has been advised by the manufacturers.

The problem can be caused by minor defects in the glass and these can be caused in many way including:

·         Hotpots from resting hot dishes on the glass

·         Slamming the door which can weaken the glass

·         Leaving wet dishtowels either on the glass or in contact hanging on the door causing a temperature differential

·         Impact damage

·         Temperature regulation problem

·         Improper installation, ventilation

·         Large casserole dishes (or similar) touching the inner glass whilst cooking

·         Oven thermostat problem (overheating)

·         Oven door seal faulty

·         Oven door hinges faulty

As you can see there has been a number of reasons put forward but, unfortunately, the evidence often lies in a thousand pieces making determining the reason for the glass to explode (as it is often reported) virtually impossible.

The upshot of it is that this does happen on occasion and can happen to any brand, no one brand has escaped this phenomena and there is no definitive time scale in which it will happen nor any definitive reason other than a thermostat failure or, possibly, the hinges and door seal as they can be ascertained.

With either the inner or outer door glass not properly in place do not use the oven for safety reason, it can be dangerous to do so.

If you need to replace you oven door or door handle you can visit Mr Rogers or call us and ask a technician to assist you.

Stove / Oven Problem #14 - The light inside the oven is faulty

Normally this is simply a case of replacing the bulb. However is the bulb cover is stuck, it often happens due to the build up of cooking grease, then you may have to smash the cover (carefully) to access the bulb. Occasionally a full light assembly is required.

If you do have to smash the bulb get an old towel and place it over the lamp cover and smash. The towel should catch most of the glass, stop you getting cut or shards of glass flying at your face as well as protecting the oven liner.

Most common bulbs used for ovens and cookers are available from this link, make sure that you use a correctly rated bulb for the temperature or the new one could explode!

A Technician help you identify the main problem. Call Mr Rogers now and ask for the stove repair service. We offer Same Day Service Call, and Emergency Service Call.

Stove / Oven Problem #15 - The oven is totally dead

First things first, check the electricity supply and make sure it is okay.

Next check that the oven is not on automatic, if you are not sure check the manual.

Next, it has become increasingly popular for builders to cut costs by not installing a proper 30 Amp cooker supply, instead placing ovens on a 13A socket and plug. The problem is that invariably the socket will be behind the oven and you have to take the oven out from its housing to check the fuse.

After that check the mains cable with a meter (DO NOT LIVE TEST)

If you can’t find the problem call Mr Rogers and let a technician check your range for you.

Stove / Oven Problem #16 - The oven door handle is broken, is it easy to change and can I get a new one?

Depends on the oven. Some are really simply, being only two screws to release and change and others require a total stripdown of the door.

Just call Mr Rogers to have an advise on how to do it.

Stove / Oven Problem #17 - What's the black glue that holds the door glass or hinges on? 

It is this special heat glue that is used for these types of jobs. Bear in mind that you must allow this glue to set completely before refitting any components glued with it.

If you think that black glue is not doing his function correctly you can call Mr Rogers and ask for advise.

Stove / Oven Problem #18 - The grill element in my oven or cooker doesn't work

This would usually indicate that the grill element is faulty.

Also check the main oven changeover switch, energy regulator (grill) if fitted and any overheat thermostats.

·         Grill element 

·         Oven changeover switch

·         Overheat thermostat 

·         Main oven thermostat, if used to regulate the grill temperature

If you need to repair your grill element from your oven you can call Mr Rogers and schedule a service call.

Stove / Oven Problem #19 - The outer part of the grill element doesn't glow

They mostly don't. Most, especially continental grills, do not use an infra-red outer zone and therefore they do not "“glow" as such but they are still heating.

The only way to safely check this is to carry out a continuity check on the element itself.

Get a stove technician to check it for you. Call Mr Rogers

Stove / Oven Problem #20 - There's smoke from the oven, what is it?

Invariably spillage except on a new installation or when a new element is fitted. The elements come with a protective coating which must "burn off" before you commence cooking.

There is nothing in the oven that is flammable or that can cause any odours or smoke in normal use and so the cause must be external in origin.

Fault Finding on Washing Machines

Fault Finding On Washing Machines

Common Washing Machine Problems

Almost every home in the US has a washer, inevitably, they will start presenting problems at some period of their life, the only question is on how long they will run before breaking down and how much it will cost to repair. When that time comes, Mr Rogers is ready to offer you a top quality appliance repair service. Our washer repair technicians can help you fix your washing machine at an affordable price with warranty on every appliance repair.

Mr Rogers wrote a list for you so you can identify some common problems with your washer machine.

Washer Problem #1 - Washing machine won'tstart, no power

There is lots of things that can cause this to happen but as with any fault diagnosis, start at the beginning and work through the problem methodically. So begin at the plug, make sure that there is power to the socket and that the fuse is okay before looking any further. Check the following:

·         Mains filter

·         Door lock

·         Mains cable & terminal block

·         Main power switch

·         Control PCB

If you need an expert to fix your washer machine that is not starting just call Mr Rogers Appliances.

Washer Problem #2 - Washing machine won'tdrain or is noisy on drain

Generally this will be some sort of drain pump failure or blockage. So check the following:

·         Drain pump blocked

·         Drain pump faulty

·         Waste outlet hose blocked

·         Sump hose blocked

·         Object in pump

·         Poor flooring or installation

If you need a technician to check your washing machine that’s not draining correctly or is noisy when doing so, call Mr Rogers Appliance RepairService.

Washer Problem #3 - Washing machine noisy

See the above, drain pump faulty, as this can cause horrendous noise from the washer, especially something trapped in the pump.

Objects trapped in between the outer tub and drum can also be a cause of noise, things like bra wires are extremely common to be retrieved and they can cause damage to the washing machine and any clothing in it. If you can, remove the wires before washing.

The use of a wash bag for small items can greatly reduce the chances of items getting between the drum and tub.

If the washer machine is a few years old then it is very possible that the bearings are either faulty, collapsed or just starting to go. With bearings the sooner that they are replaced the better as there is liable to be less damage and, if you know that they are faulty, not using or minimising the use will help to avoid further damage.

Stability can also cause excessive noise, especially where the machine is on a wooden or floating floor. Obviously a fault with the suspension system can also produce the same result. To solve this problem check the following:

·         Noisy pump

·         Object in the drain pump

·         Object trapped in the tub

·         Bearings faulty

·         Washing machine not levelled correctly

·         Faulty dampers or suspension

·         Poor flooring or installation

If you couldn’t fix the your noisy washer you can call Mr Rogers and a certifiedtechnician will be there to help you repair your appliance.

Washer Problem #4 - Washing machine drum not turning

Normally when this happens people often assume that the belt is faulty and, while this can be a cause, on most modern machines the belt will more often than not outlive the actual machine. It is not the common problem that it was many years ago and hasn't been for many years.

The problem these days is more liable to be the likes of a speed control PCB or module or even what is referred to as the "tacho generator" on the washing machine's motor.

Notably on older Hotpoint machines, pre-2003 especially, with a GEC motor fitted the carbon brushes being worn can cause this.

Assuming everything else works these should be checked:

·         Belt

·         Speed control PCB or module

·         Motor capacitor (where fitted)

·         Main control module

·         Motor faulty

·         Faulty carbon brushes

Mr Rogers can help you fix your washer. Call us now and schedule an appointment to repair your appliance in the Tampa Bay Area.

Washer Problem #5 - Washing machine timer not advancing

This is a tricky one and it's not really possible to be entirely polite as so many people make the error of thinking immediately that the timer or controller is not working when, in fact, it's often got nothing whatsoever to do with the timer. So if you're reading this and thinking that the timer is faulty, you're probably wrong.

Normally the timer will advance to a certain stage before stopping and that gives us a huge lead on diagnosis of the actual problems as, what happens is that the machine will almost certainly halt where the actual faulty component is called into use.

What this means is that almost any component can cause this fault and, if you are unsure we would strongly advise that you seek professional help because, if you spend $100 or more on a timer or module and you're wrong then the chances are that it will be non-returnable.

Better call MrRogers and ask for a technician to visit your house and tell you what the real problem with your washer is. Remember we offer a Free Service Call with the repair, so don’t hesitate and call Mr Rogers now and get your appliances fixed.

Washer Problem #6 - Washing machine not heating

Pretty easy one usually, in most cases there will be a faulty heater, thermostat, thermistor or pressure switch but there can be other causes. Check if the following are working fine:

·         Heater

·         Thermostat

·         Thermistor

·         Pressure switch/level sensor

·         Timer or control PCB/module

If you couldn’t identify the problem by yourself you can call a certified washer technician to help you on that, or just ask Mr Rogers to send you a specialist to your home to get your washer working again.

Washer Problem #7 - Washing machine is vibrating badly

If you've just installed the machine then the chances are that you have not removed the transit packing properly, go back and read the manual again to see how it is done as.

Assuming the machine has been in a while then the problem can still be flooring or installation related, but more commonly it will be a suspension problem. Of course there are other faults that can manifest themselves in this manner, but it is rare. So check the following to identify the problem:

·         Suspension

·         Bearing failure (See previous "Washing machine noisy")

If you couldn’t repair your washer you can Call Mr Rogers and ask a certified technician to assist you.

Washer Problem #8 - Washing machine not spinning

Again often blamed on the belt but in 20 years I can almost count on one hand how many washers I've seen a faulty belt causing no spin on, it is very rare.

See the previous "Washer Problem #4 - Washing machine drum won't turn" as many of the problems described there can be mirrored to this problem.

Remember very carefully, if the machine cannot drain or drain correctly then the spin will often abort rather than actually not spin so bear this in mind when looking for a problem.

·         Speed control PCB/module

·         Faulty or worn carbon brushes

·         Faulty contacts on fast cam within the timer

·         Faulty capacitor (where fitted)

·         Faulty motor

·         Faulty motor tacho

·         Blocked pump or drain

·         Overloaded or out of balance, can be made worse by poor installation or flooring

·         Faulty bearings

·         Faulty door lock mechanism

·         Faulty pressure switch

If you feel that is better for a specialist to check your washer you can call Mr Rogers Appliance Repair service anytime. Remember we are part of the Better Business Bureau.

Washer Problem #9 - Washing machine not filling

First, check if the water supply is okay!

Assuming it is then the first port of call will be the water valve. Pressure switch and electronic components can also cause this problem and it is often mistakenly reported as a fill problem when really, it is actually just that the machine won't start in the first place.

·         Water supply

·         Water fill valve

·         Pressure switch

·         Control PCB/module

Call a technician to help you fix your washer.

Washer Problem #10 - Poor washing results from washing machine

On Internet you can find a great amount of manuals to help you learn how to use your washer.

Look for manuals such as:

How to use detergent correctly

Washing machine maintenance wash

Overloading and the problems it causes as well as how it hampers performance.

If you can’t find any useful manual, you can simply call Mr Rogers and a certified technician will show you how to use correctly your washer.

Washer Problem # 11 Bad smell from washing machine

All about smelly washing machines and the from links will lead you to many associated problems, such as mould problems. Also covered here is the likes of mould or black marks (which are really mould) on the door seal and dirty soap drawers.

If you think you problem is affecting your daily living, call Mr Rogers to fix your appliance.

Washer Problem #12 - Washing machine lightsflash and won't work

This is most likely a new electronically controlled machine and the flashing lights will almost certainly be giving you a fault code of some sort. Until you know what that fault code is in some cases you won't be able to go much further.

If you need help with your faulty washer giving a fault code call Mr Rogers and an appliance repair technician will be at your door.

Washer Problem #13 - Washing machine leaksfrom the front

Check that the soap box isn't blocked first of all as that is the prime suspect here. Bear in mind that it is clean water and you may not see the water run down the front to the door surround, where it gathers and drips from the bottom of the door so the fault can often be reported as, "door leaking".

Of course the door can leak and, generally, it will need a new door or the door glass may simply need cleaned. Scum can build up on the glass causing the small part that actually seals to not meet the door glass correctly and so it leaks. Check the following:

·         Soap box

·         Soap box to tub hose

·         Door Seal

·         Door glass

If you couldn’t identify the cause of your washer leaking you can call Mr Rogers and ask for some help.

Washer Problem #14 - Washing machine leakingfrom underneath

Okay this is another one of those "could be anything" ones. Water follows Newton's Law, i.e. it flows downwards with gravity so any component at all leaking can cause this, but the common ones to be looking for are listed here.

·         Drain pump leaking

·         Filter leaking

·         Tub gasket leaking

·         Hose split

·         Hose leaking (any of them)

·         Water pressure too high

·         Heater gasket perished

·         Door seal

·         Pressure switch or sensor fault (overfilling)

·         Physical tub damage

·         Soap drawer damage

If you want to stop your washer leak call Mr Rogers now.

Washer Problem #15 -Washer  Dryer  Problems

Washer dryers are, frankly, a nightmare in a white box. In general the technicians hate them as they are more problematic, harder to work on and have a tendency not to live up to the promises and people's expectations. So, if it's a performance issue that you're having with the dryer there's probably nothing wrong with it, they're pretty much all bad.

Remember that, in addition to the following, washer dryers share every fault listed for washing machines as well!

Actual condenser dryers are okay these days although the cheaper ones do tend to give more trouble than the better built machines. They are more complex though so if you're not sure, just get in a pro to look at it.

Heat pump dryers are specialist only affairs, we would strongly recommend that if you have a fault on one to not touch it yourself.

Washer Problem #16 - Washer dryer not drying

Very common fault and also one that can be caused by many things, it's simply a case of eliminating the suspects.

·         Faulty water valve

·         Blocked condensate chamber

·         Faulty heater

·         Faulty thermostat or thermistor

·         Faulty pressure switch

·         Faulty pump

·         Spin faulty so the clothes are too wet to be dried

Washer Problem #17 - Washer dryer leaks on dry

This can be a tricky one, but normally one of these:

·         Condensate chamber or seal faulty

·         Trickle hose faulty

·         Drain pump leaking

Washer Problem #18 - Washer dryer noisy on dry

This one's usually just a bundle of laughs to put right, especially on some of the more "unusual" dryer designs we see. But look at the dryer fan motor for the usual culprit, quite often this will be caused by the fan breaking up or the motor bearings failing.

 Source: Mr Rogers Appliance Repair Service