When it comes to kitchen disasters, nothing throws a culinary spanner in the works quite like a temperamental oven.

If your cooker is tripping out more than The Beatles in their ‘60s heyday, the results can be more than a little frustrating.

Keep your oven from blowing hot and cold with this handy guide, guaranteed to help you bring your oven back down to Earth and your cooking back to reality.

Reasons My Cooker Keeps Tripping

If your oven is on the blink worse than the three-eyed fish from The Simpsons, getting to the bottom of the issue can be akin to looking under the car bonnet at a steaming engine. To the untrained eye, knowing what to look for can be virtually impossible.

That being said, for most electric ovens that trip when turned on, the issue is usually related to either the circuit or the wiring. Unfortunately, neither is remedied with a sharp love tap to the side or a simple reset at the mains and, chances are, you’re going to need expert help to resolve it.

Nevertheless, when it comes to fixing a tripping oven, knowledge is most certainly power. To help you get on the right track to ovenary nirvana, here’s a rundown of the most likely causes of your cooker’s triptastic tendencies.

The Circuit

If your oven is causing the electric to trip faster than a drunk on ice, the most likely culprit is the circuit. Sadly, the intricacies of the oven circuitry will almost certainly require a pro in its restoration.

If multiple devices have been linked to the same circuit as the cooker, a professional technician will simply unplug the other devices to identify the issue. This should stop the oven from tripping the RCD (residential current device) and an upgrade may be necessary.

The Wiring

When the oven is off, the power current of the oven should be zero. However, if the current is greater than 0.3A, then there could be a problem with the oven wiring.

Additionally, there may be an issue with the terminal blocks, which are present in most European installations. If these are misplaced or positioned incorrectly, this could also be what’s causing your oven to trip.

Meanwhile, terminal blocks are also prone to deterioration, so it could simply be a case of the blocks needing replacement. A qualified technician will be able to identify this and assist you, if this is indeed the case.

The Components

If the circuit and the wiring are perfectly fine, the components may be the problem and are the next logical feature to investigate.

Once it’s been confirmed that no additional devices are connected, turning on the oven to a low temperature will allow you to identify whether or not it’s the components that are the issue.

If it trips immediately, the issue likely resides in the fuse; however, if it doesn’t instantly trip, it confirms that the fuse is in working order.

From there, if the electric trips when you raise the temperature, the problem is most likely the heating elements and you will require a replacement element. Once again, a qualified tech will be able to arrange this for you easily.

Out of the components, the four most likely elements to break are:

• Thermostats
• Switches
• Fan Motor
• Lamp

Expert Assistance

The world of oven repairs can be a minefield for anyone not well-versed in the art of electrics and any attempts at a DIY solution can leave you cluelessly staring at hardware and exposed wires like Riggs and Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon 3…hopefully with less fireworks.

If your oven does keep tripping the mains, it’s strongly recommended that you consult a professional for their assistance and expertise. While it can be tempting to tackle the problem yourself, attempting to take on any electrical task without the know-how can be extremely reckless and cost you more than just the price of an oven.

For more information on oven repairs or if your technician recommends a specific oven part you need to find, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 02920 452 510 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.

Contact Us

Those that spend a lot of time in the kitchen will know all too well that cooking appliances are far from perfect.

When it comes to ovens, they are by no means an exception to the rule and this fact also extends to the oven knobs attached to the cooker.

Many oven knobs have the temperature markers printed onto the dial itself. As such, the likelihood you may rub out some of the markings over time is pretty high.

That being said, just because your cooker knob is missing its markers doesn’t mean you have to lose your marbles. There are a couple of handy hacks that can help you get dialled up again.

Replacing the Numbers

Most ovens and cookers will have either a chrome, black or white front, with knobs of the same colour at the top of said oven.

A quick and easy albeit temporary workaround to this issue is to simply Google the make and model of your oven for an image of the cooker front. Assuming you can get a visible look at the dials, you can then proceed to mark on the key temperatures.

If you can’t locate a legible image, you may be able to find a usable depiction of the dial in the oven’s manual. While the images can vary from the real thing at times, it should give a decent idea of what temperature is marked where.

Replacing Numbers on Black Oven

For a white or chrome coloured oven front/knob, a black Sharpie is ideal; however, this can be a little more difficult if you have a black cooker. Try using a Tippex pen or a silver Sharpie.

If heat is a concern and you suspect that may be the reason behind your missing markings to begin with, it may be worth using heat-resistant paint – such as paint for ceramic tiles – or even nail polish.

If all else fails and you know you plan on replacing it, you may want to simply score in line markers over key temperatures with a sharp instrument as a means of keeping track.

While none of these solutions are ideal, they do provide a decent quick-fix that will see you covered for the interim until a replacement arrives.

Gauging Temperature

If you don’t have any imagery available and you really are stuck when it comes to what temperature marking goes where, all hope is not lost just yet – it’s time to go old school!

If your oven comes equipped with an oven thermometer, trial and error can get you where you need to be. Simply, turn the dial to where you roughly believe your most commonly used temperature is (e.g. 180), wait for the oven to heat up and check the thermometer.

After a handful of tweaks and retests, you should have a good idea what’s where and can mark accordingly using one of the methods above.

Replacing an Oven Knob Missing Markers

While the above techniques can be handy as a short-term stop-gap to keep your kitchen running, your oven cooking and your food the right side of cremation, your best bet is to order a replacement oven dial if your cooker knob is missing its numbers.

Luckily, you can replace a cooker knob with ease at Cooker Spare Parts. Simply head over to our Cooker Knob section, type in the make, locate the model you need and click the product you want to order – job done!

For more information on cooker knobs and replacement oven parts, drop us a line today on 02920 452 510 or click the button below to get in touch online.

Get in Touch

Have you lost that oven feeling? You’re not alone.

A dodgy cooking appliance can quickly turn a simple meal into a vengeful voyage of four-letter words.

Don’t fall foul to a faulty thermostat. Turn up the heat and save your kitchen compadre from a premature pilgrimage to the scrapyard with these tips on how to fix an oven knob.

Oven knob problems

When it comes to oven knob issues, two of the most common problems are either that the knob won’t turn at all or that the oven knob turns but won’t register when it does.

If this is sounds like your dilemma, you’ve come to the right place!

So, don’t reach for the nearest hammer and slip into “Hulk Smash” mode just yet – there are still plenty of options available.

How to fix an oven knob

While it might seem like a minor issue, a stiff oven knob can cause a number of problems in the kitchen, particularly when it comes to food preparation. Nobody wants to rely on toast and microwave meals for the foreseeable future, so fixing the oven is paramount.

To get to the root of the problem before you begin, your first port of call should be removing the knob handle. The problem is likely to lie in either the peg shaft or the knob cap itself and this should settle the argument immediately.

However, while getting to the crux of the matter can be as easy as removing the cap, it can also lead to additional issues, if done incorrectly. Careless fiddling can result in a whole host of other knob-related problems, so be sure to take time and care.

How to remove an oven knob

Gently prise off the cap of your oven knob, placing your thumb on the front. If the cap is putting up a fight, try to ease it off with a butter knife on either side.

Once you’ve successfully removed the knob from your appliance, you can now inspect the shaft for damage. Without the casing, this should resemble a small peg protruding from the cooker front.

Using a pair of pliers, you can now attempt to turn the peg manually to change the temperature. If the peg now turns and works successfully, your problem lies in the knob itself (which can simply be replaced).

However, if it turns and still doesn’t register the temperature change, your problem likely lies within the thermostat or the oven wiring and will need professional attention.

How to fix a broken oven knob shaft

If you’ve followed the above steps and the peg still remains motionless, it could be a sign that the shaft has seized up. Should this be the case, WD40 is a handy weapon to have at your disposal.

Apply the WD40 to the peg and leave to soak in, ensuring the peg is well lubricated. Next, gently turn the peg, without applying too much force to avoid snapping. If the dial still won’t budge, it may be time to admit defeat and call in a pro.

What to do if your oven won’t turn off

If the oven knob is stuck in the “on” position, the number one priority on your mind before anything else will probably be turning the oven off safely.

A faulty oven knob can prove dangerous if it means you can no longer turn your oven off. As such, it’s important to know how to manually disconnect your oven, should the situation arise.

Disconnecting an electric oven

Some electric ovens will have a wall fitting that can allow you to simply shut off the power at the flick of a switch. However, this isn’t always the case, especially if you have a built-in wall oven.

If you don’t have a wall switch, you may need to check the cabinet under the oven and cut the power via the oven’s fuse box.

Disconnecting a gas oven

For gas ovens, you will have to manually turn off the gas. While this may seem like a precursor to an explosive scene from EastEnders, it’s actually a lot easier and less daunting than it sounds – luckily, with far less fireworks attached.

Gas supply valves are typically located behind or beneath the oven. All you need to do is gently pull the stove away from the wall enough to see the shut-off valve (usually painted red or yellow for easy identification). Simply turn the valve 90 degrees to the off position, stopping the flow of gas instantly.

If your oven knob needs replacing, head over to our dedicated cooker knobs page for our full range of replacement cooker knobs caps. If you’re still having issues with your oven knob that haven’t been rectified by the suggestions above, feel free to drop us a line on 02920 452 510 or send us an enquiry using the button below.

Get in Touch

Your oven can be a mystery, an appliance most of us use every day but when something goes wrong with it, it can be hard to know what has gone on. If your electric oven is not heating up then you may be at a loss at how to cook your home cooked meals! But there's no need to look for a brand new oven, it most cases it's probably one broken component of your oven that is causing problems. We often get asked how to fix an electric oven that's not heating up, so we've created this blog post to guide you through the most common reasons why this problem happens. 

What prevents an electric oven from heating up?

Faulty Oven Element

The oven element is the part of your oven that is responsible for heating up your oven cavity. When this becomes faulty your oven is pretty much useless, and unfortunately, this is quite a common issue. Luckily, we have a huge range of replacement oven elements that will have it fixed in no time. See our full range of replacement oven elements here. 

Broken Thermostat

If your oven thermostat isn't working your oven won't know how hot it is getting, which means it may not be reaching the temperature you need.  If your food is overheating or being undercooked it's important you change it as soon as possible. Find your replacement oven thermostat here. 

Damaged Door Seal or Hinge

Although you may not consider your door hinge or seal as being an important part of your oven, they actually keep invaluable heat in your oven as it cooks your food. If either become loose your oven may not reach the temperature you are setting it to. Luckily, we have a huge range of door hinges and oven door seals. 

We have a whole range of genuine and alternative replacement parts that will be able to get your cooker back up to working condition. Be sure that the part you order is compatible with your cooker by using our search filters and reading our product descriptions. Find all our replacements here.

If you have any questions about fixing your electric oven that isn't heating up, or about any of the products we offer feel free to get in touch. We are always happy to help and point you in the right direction, so don't hesitate to contact us today.

A common problem that our customers often come across is when their oven has stopped working but the grill still works. Left unfixed, it can cause damage to other parts of your oven which can get expensive!

So if you've discovered the rest of your cooker is working perfectly, but your main oven is no longer working as it should, we can help you find the solution!

Possible Causes

There are multiple problems that can cause your oven to stop working, however here is a list of common problems:

• Clock or timer problems.
• Faulty gas burner or oven element.
• Oven thermostat
• Broken fan oven motor.

Please note: we always suggest you use a qualified electrical or gas-safe registered engineer to diagnose and carry out the repair.

You'll Need

In order to find the correct replacement part, you'll need the following:

• Model and serial number - this will be found on the data badge on the appliance.
• Owner's manual (optional).

Once you have your appliance details, feel free to call our team on 02920 452 510, email us on enquiries@cookerspareparts.com, or use the search bar above with your model and serial number.

What to Do

With any cooker/oven faults, there isn't just one problem that could cause this issue. So before you call out a gas or electrical engineer to take a look, make sure to follow this checklist:

Plugged In

Not to point out the obvious, but just in case, make sure that your cooker is plugged in and switched on.

Clock or Timer

The most common reason why your oven is not working but your grill is, is actually because the clock or timer isn't set correctly. We know, an easy fix right?

This can happen if your oven loses power, because you've turned off the power source or as a result of a power cut. This often stops your oven from coming to life - it's worth resetting your clock and seeing if this fixes the problem before calling someone out to help.

Your oven manual will have a guide on how to reset the clock for your particular make and model of oven or cooker.

Gas Burner or Oven Element

If you are sure it's not your oven clock causing the problems, its likely that there's an oven component that has become defective. If your oven cavity won't heat up at all it is likely to be your electric oven element or gas burner, the part of your oven responsible for heating up your oven.

Oven Thermostat

It is also worth testing your gas or electric thermostat and power source to make sure there isn't any other reason that it isn't getting to the right heat. Oven thermostats are responsible for maintaining temperatures and can affect how well your appliance heats up.

Fan Oven Motor

Sometimes when your fan oven motor breaks down, you'll notice that the your oven is not getting hot enough. If you find that your appliance is no longer blowing air around the cavity, you may have a damaged motor.

Call an Engineer 

If you still can't seem to work out why your oven isn't working it may be worth calling a professional to have a look. If they discover that there is a faulty component causing the issue you can find hundreds of genuine and alternative cooker spare parts on our website.

Once you've got to the root of the problem, don't hesitate to give our team a call on 02920 452 510, email us on enquiries@cookerspareparts.com, or use the search bar above with your model and serial number details.