Ahead of the holiday season, our appliance repair team wants to turn your attention to the hardest-working appliance in the kitchen: your oven. Nobody wants to have the whole family gathered for Thanksgiving, Christmas or a holiday dinner and discover halfway through cooking that the stove needs repair. Every year we get calls for oven repair at the last minute, when it’s too late to save the holiday meal.
The good news is that ovens, like most appliances, usually show warning signs well before they fail. A few simple checks a couple of weeks before the holidays can save you a lot of stress.
Why Check Your Oven Before the Holidays?
- It works harder than usual. Long roasting times, multiple dishes and back-to-back baking push the elements, igniters and thermostat to their limits.
- Parts can take time. If a part has to be ordered, finding the problem early gives you time to get it fixed before the big day.
- Safety. A faulty element, damaged wiring or heavy grease buildup can be a fire hazard. Spotting problems early keeps your kitchen safe.
Is Your Oven Calibrated Properly?
If baking results seem off, the problem might not be your recipe. Ovens can drift from the temperature you set. Here’s a simple test:
- Place an independent oven thermometer in the centre of the middle rack. Ideally, choose one you can read through the oven window.
- Set the oven to 350°F (about 175°C) and let it fully preheat.
- Take several readings about 15 minutes apart without opening the door.
- Average the readings. Ovens naturally cycle a little above and below the set point, but if the average is consistently off by more than about 15–25°F, the oven likely needs calibration or a new temperature sensor.
Other Common Oven Problems to Watch For
Oven heats unevenly
If one side of a dish burns while the other stays undercooked, the bake or broil element may be failing, or a convection fan may not be working. Try the bread test: lay slices of bread across a baking sheet, bake briefly, then look at the browning pattern. Take a photo. It helps our technician confirm the problem. Rotating your pans can hide the issue for a while, but a failing element will eventually burn out.
A cooktop burner or element isn’t working
If one element on the cooktop doesn’t heat or works on and off, book a service appointment. On electric coil stoves, the cause may be a loose connection, a worn element or receptacle, or a faulty infinite switch. On smooth-top ranges, it may be the element or the control. Avoiding that burner is only a temporary fix.
Oven takes too long to preheat
Slow preheating often points to a weak bake element in an electric oven or a weak igniter in a gas oven.
Gas burners won’t light, or you smell gas
If a gas burner clicks but won’t light, the igniter or burner cap may be dirty or misaligned. If you smell gas, turn off the appliance, don’t use any switches or flames, leave your home and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
Door doesn’t close tightly
A worn door gasket or a damaged hinge lets heat escape, so food cooks unevenly and the oven works harder.
Holiday Oven Prep Checklist
- Clean spills and grease from the oven cavity and cooktop. Greasy parts don’t perform well and are at higher risk of damage.
- If you use the self-clean cycle, run it a week or more before the holidays, not the day before. Never leave the oven unattended during self-clean.
- Test every burner and the oven light.
- Check the door seal for tears or gaps.
- Test the temperature with an oven thermometer.
- Book any repairs early.
Thinking about upgrading instead? Read our article on smart oven ranges.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead of the holidays should I check my oven?
Two to three weeks ahead is ideal. That leaves time to book a repair and, if needed, order parts.
Can I calibrate my oven myself?
Many ovens let you adjust the temperature offset through the control panel or a knob. Check your owner’s manual. If the readings swing widely or the oven won’t hold temperature, a sensor or thermostat may need replacing.
Is it safe to use the self-cleaning cycle?
Generally yes, but it puts a lot of heat on the oven’s parts. Run it well before a big cooking day, keep the kitchen ventilated, and never leave it unattended.
Book Oven Repair Before the Holidays
If your oven isn’t working properly, give us a call at 647-642-1212 or book an appointment with I-Fix Appliance Repair. Our technicians handle oven repair for all makes of stoves, ranges, wall ovens and cooktops in Toronto, 7am to 10pm, seven days a week.