When an oven in San Leandro will not heat, bakes unevenly or runs at the wrong temperature, the cause is usually a single part: a gas igniter, a bake or broil element, the temperature sensor, a convection fan or a relay on the control board. The display tells you what the oven thinks is happening. The repair starts by measuring what is actually happening.
Gas or electric: two different no-heat problems
Gas ovens. Most use a glow-bar igniter wired in line with the gas valve. The igniter heats up, and only when it draws enough current does the valve open. As igniters age they glow but never quite get there, so the oven sits cold or lights only after a long delay. It is one of the most common gas oven repairs. If you smell gas and the oven has not lit, turn it off and air out the kitchen; if the smell is strong or lingers, leave the house and call the gas utility’s emergency line or 911 from outside.
Electric ovens. The bake element at the bottom (often hidden under the oven floor) and the broil element at the top can fail open. Sometimes you can see a blister or a break; often you cannot. If neither element heats while the display works, the problem is more likely the power supply — one half of the 240-volt circuit — a thermal fuse or a relay on the control board.
Symptoms and what they usually mean
| What you notice | Likely cause | What it usually takes |
|---|---|---|
| Gas oven never lights, igniter glows | Weak igniter | Igniter replacement |
| Electric oven heats only from the top | Failed bake element | Element replacement |
| Burnt bottoms, pale tops | Bake element, sensor or rack position | Testing, then element or sensor |
| Slow to preheat, runs cool | Temperature sensor, igniter or element | Sensor or ignition part |
| Convection no better than regular bake | Convection fan motor or element | Fan or element |
| Door locked after self-clean | Door lock motor or switch, control | Lock assembly or control |
| Error code, buttons not responding | Control board, touchpad or sensor | Board or keypad, after testing |
| Heat escaping, door front very hot | Door gasket or hinges | Gasket or hinge replacement |
Test your oven’s temperature at home
An oven does not hold one exact temperature — the burner or element cycles on and off, so the air rises and falls around the setting. To check yours:
- Put an oven thermometer in the center of the middle rack.
- Set 350°F and wait about 20 minutes after the preheat signal.
- Read the thermometer every few minutes for another 20 minutes, through the window if you can, and average the readings.
A small, steady offset can often be corrected with the oven’s own calibration setting, which many digital ovens have (the manual shows how). A large offset, or one that changes from day to day, points to a sensor, igniter or control problem.
Self-clean: use it wisely
Self-clean runs the oven far hotter than any baking setting, for hours. That is when weak parts — thermal fuses, door locks, control boards, elements — tend to give out. Two habits help: wipe out heavy spills first so there is less to burn off, and do not run self-clean the day before a holiday meal. If the door stays locked after the cycle, let the oven cool fully and switch it off at the breaker for a minute. If it is still locked, call rather than forcing it.
Wall ovens, double ovens and premium models
Single and double wall ovens often have to slide out of the cabinet for repair, which takes two people and care for the cabinet face. We work on wall, double, convection and steam ovens from Wolf, Thermador, Miele and Gaggenau, along with mainstream brands. Steam ovens add a water system that needs regular descaling; scale tends to show up as reminders, error messages and weak steam before a part actually fails. If your oven is part of a range, our range repair page covers the burners and cooktop.
What affects the price
Most oven repairs fall between $99 and $500. Igniters, elements and temperature sensors are at the low end. Door locks, convection motors and hinges are in the middle. Control boards and premium wall-oven parts sit at the top, and pulling a built-in wall oven out of its cabinet adds labor. The diagnostic fee is waived when you go ahead with the repair, the price is set before work starts, and the repair carries a 90-day warranty.
Local notes
Many kitchens in San Leandro, San Lorenzo and Castro Valley still cook on gas, and we repair gas furnaces as well as ovens, so igniters, gas valves and flame safety are familiar ground. If your oven quits the week before a big family dinner, call early: same-day service is usually possible when you call before noon.