WiremanWireman · Range or oven element not heating: troubleshooting for electricians · 2023 NEC ·
Range or oven element not heating
Power to the range, then the element, its switch or relay, and the burner receptacle.
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How it works
Range and oven elements are resistance heaters, usually across 240 V (or 208 V). Each has a fixed resistance from R = V² ÷ W: a 2,500 W element rated at 240 V reads about 23 Ω. Coil surface elements are controlled by infinite switches that cycle them on and off; oven elements are switched by relays on the control board. One dead element usually means the element, its switch or its connection. Everything dead means power.
Every question and answer in this guide. Tap “Step by step” to walk through it.
- What isn’t heating?
- Nothing heats, surface or ovenTest: Check both legs at the rangeExpect: About 240 V hot to hot (or 208 V), and about 120 V each hot to neutral.
- No voltage at allNo power to the range
- One hot missingOne leg of the supply is missing
- Both legs presentRange control, door lock or main relay
- One surface elementIf it’s a plug-in coil element, swap it with a same-size element that works. Does the problem follow the element?
- Follows the elementFailed element
- Stays at the same burnerWith power off, look at the burner receptacle the element plugs into. Is it burned, loose or pitted?
- Burned or looseBurned burner receptacle
- Looks fineInfinite switch or control relay
- Glass top or can’t swapTest: Measure the elementExpect: Near R = V² ÷ W: about 23 Ω for 2,500 W at 240 V, about 38 Ω for 1,500 W. OL to the frame.
- OL across the elementFailed element
- Reads to the frameElement shorted to the frame
- NormalInfinite switch or control relay
- Oven bake or broil elementLook at the oven element. Is there a blister, a split or a burned spot?
- Visible damageFailed element
- Looks fineTest: Measure the elementExpect: Near R = V² ÷ W: about 23 Ω for 2,500 W at 240 V, about 38 Ω for 1,500 W. OL to the frame.
- OL across the elementFailed element
- Reads to the frameElement shorted to the frame
- NormalInfinite switch or control relay
- Surface element stays on highInfinite switch or control relay
- Nothing heats, surface or ovenTest: Check both legs at the rangeExpect: About 240 V hot to hot (or 208 V), and about 120 V each hot to neutral.