Oven Not Heating Up? Common Causes and Fixes

You know the feeling: you turn your oven on, set your dish inside, and an hour later, everything inside is as cold as when you started. You’re not alone. Ovens quit heating for a handful of reasons, and most times, the issue isn’t as mysterious as it seems.

The first thing to check is your power supply. Sounds boring, but so many people forget about the basics. Is your oven plugged in all the way? If you have an electric oven, is the circuit breaker tripped? For gas models, confirm the gas supply valve hasn’t been shut off by accident—sometimes a curious cat or an overzealous cleaner can bump into things behind the oven.

If the power checks out, the problem might be one of the main heating elements (usually you’ll have separate ones for baking and broiling). These elements are what glow red-hot when working properly. If one looks broken, warped, or isn’t lighting up at all, that’s probably your culprit. Swapping one out isn’t that hard with the right instructions—it’s a lot like changing a lightbulb, just with a screwdriver and, ideally, the oven turned off.

• Power Supply Problems
• Heating Elements Gone Bad
• Thermostat and Sensor Issues
• When to Repair or Replace

Power Supply Problems

If your oven isn’t heating up at all, don’t skip the obvious: power problems are a top cause. Even a fancy new oven is just a big paperweight if it’s not getting electricity or gas.

• Oven repair starts with checking your wall outlet. Try plugging in something else, like a lamp, to make sure the outlet works. If you’re dealing with an electric oven, you’ll need a 240-volt outlet—standard 120-volt outlets are not enough.
• Next, look at your breaker box. Electric ovens can trip breakers if they’re overloaded. Even if the breaker doesn’t fully flip, it might have only partially tripped. Flip it off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
• For gas ovens, make sure the gas shutoff valve is open. Sometimes, it gets closed when people move the oven to clean behind it. Check to see if the burners on the stove light; if they do, your gas line is probably fine. If nothing fires up, you may have a gas supply issue (and if you smell gas, leave the house and call for help).
• Some ovens have a thermal fuse for safety. If the oven gets too hot, this fuse can blow and cut power to the heating elements. It needs to be replaced before the oven will work again. You’ll probably need a multimeter to test it, but don’t mess with any wiring unless you know what you’re doing.

Here’s a quick comparison of how electric and gas ovens can act up due to power supply problems:

One more thing—a lot of ovens have a child lock or sabbath mode that can lock out some functions. Check your manual if pressing buttons gets you nowhere. Tackling the basics first can save you time and money, and you’d be surprised how often the fix is this simple.

Heating Elements Gone Bad

If your oven’s just blowing cold air, the oven not heating clue often leads right to a busted heating element. For electric ovens, these are those thick metal loops you see at the top and bottom inside. When they're fired up, they glow bright red. If one stays black, looks cracked, or has visible blisters, it’s probably shot.

Manufacturers say most heating elements last between 5 to 10 years, but if you’re a heavy baker or your oven’s already on the older side, it can happen sooner. Sometimes it’s not obvious—a failing element might still warm up a little, but never get hot enough to cook anything right.

• How to Test: With the oven off and totally cool, give the element a gentle look for any rough patches or breaks. If you’re comfortable, you can remove it and use a multimeter to check for continuity. No beep? It’s toast.
• Swapping It Out: Most ovens make this pretty easy. Unplug the oven, unscrew the dead element from inside, disconnect a couple of wires (easy clip connectors), and reverse those steps with a new one.
• Parts Cost: Replacements usually run between $20–$50, depending on the brand and style. Not bad for fixing dinner plans.

If both the bake and broil elements are out at the same time, it could be a wiring or control board issue. But most of the time, one bad piece is easy to spot and swap.

Thermostat and Sensor Issues

When your oven refuses to get hot, a busted thermostat or faulty temperature sensor could be the troublemaker. These parts pretty much call the shots for how your oven heats up. If they’re off, your oven just can’t get the job done right. About 30% of oven repair visits, according to appliance repair shops, come down to these exact problems.

The thermostat controls when your oven turns its heating elements on or off. If it’s misreading the temperature, your food might sit in a cold box, no matter how high you crank the dial. Temperature sensors tell your oven's brain what’s going on inside. Sensors can wear out, get coated in grease, or lose accuracy over time. Either one failing means your oven might think it's up to temp—even if you could ice-skate inside.

• If your oven seems to preheat forever, or if baked cookies are always underdone, this is a red flag for thermostat or sensor trouble.
• You can do a quick check at home with a decent oven thermometer. Place it inside, set your oven to 350°F, and see if the numbers line up after 15-20 minutes. If your oven’s display says 350°F but the thermometer is stuck at 250°F, you probably found your issue.

For electric and gas ovens, thermostats and sensors usually look like thin metal rods poking out along the back or side wall. They’re not hard to spot once you’re looking for them.

If you’re handy, swapping out a temperature sensor or thermostat isn’t rocket science—just unplug your oven before doing anything, and double-check the part matches your model. Replacement sensors usually run between $20 and $60. If you’re not feeling brave, or you’re not sure you’ve pinpointed the real culprit, this is a good time to call for oven repair help. An experienced tech has tools to test the sensor output and get things working again without any costly guesswork.

When to Repair or Replace

If your oven just stopped heating, the biggest question is whether to fix it or just get a new one. You don’t want to shell out cash on a repair if it makes more sense to upgrade.

Start by thinking about your oven’s age. Most ovens hang in there for about 13 to 15 years. If yours is less than 8 years old, a repair often does the trick. But if it’s creaking past the decade mark and issues keep popping up, replacing it may save money and hassle in the long run.

Breakdown costs are next. Here’s a simple trick: if the repair is more than half what a new oven costs, replacement is usually smarter. Check out this table for a quick breakdown of average repair versus replacement costs in 2025:

Repairs for smaller stuff, like a heating element or thermostat, are usually worth it, especially if the rest of your oven is running fine. That big price tag comes with control board problems. Sometimes, the part costs almost as much as a new oven—that’s usually your cue to move on.

• If you have a hard time finding replacement parts for your oven’s brand or model, getting a new oven may be your only real option.
• Frequent issues—like unreliable temperature, electrical glitches, or noisy operation—typically mean bigger problems are brewing.
• Newer ovens are often more energy efficient, so your power bill could go down with a replacement (especially if your current oven is pre-2010).

If you’re someone who rarely uses the oven, it might make sense to squeeze a few more years out of it with basic repairs. But for a big family or anyone who cooks a lot (like my wife Lydia, who loves baking sourdough every weekend), a reliable oven is more than just a kitchen gadget—it’s essential.

Before dropping hundreds on a repair or buying a new one, always check your warranty or if your credit card offers extended coverage on appliances. You’d be surprised how often you can get a fix for free if you ask.

No matter which way you go, don’t rush. A quick check of repair costs, oven age, and your cooking habits will help you make the right call—and keep your kitchen running smoothly without blowing your budget.

Remember, the main thing is getting your oven repair done in a way that fits your needs and wallet. I promise, even Gizmo could tell you that it’s better to weigh your options than just trust your luck with cold pizza.