Quick answer
An oven that will not heat or preheat usually has a failed bake element (electric), a weak igniter (gas) or a bad temperature sensor. Try broil: if broil heats and bake does not, the bake element or bake igniter has failed. A gas igniter that glows dull orange without lighting the burner is too weak and needs replacing. Check the breaker if nothing works at all. Typical oven and stove repairs run $130–$310 (HomeAdvisor). If you smell gas, leave and call the gas utility. Call (888) 217-0236 to reach an appliance repair company taking calls in your ZIP; the line is answered 24/7.
Follow the short menu, then your 5-digit ZIP. The line goes quiet for a few seconds while it connects; stay on. If it does not connect, call once more: companies taking calls change minute to minute.
Written & reviewed by Marcus ReedIICRC WRT
Reviewed October 27, 2026· Next review Apr 2027
An oven that will not heat, will not preheat or never reaches the set temperature is usually one part: the bake element on an electric oven, the igniter on a gas oven, or the temperature sensor that tells either one when to stop. Which one it is shows in the first five minutes.
Check These First
- 1Look at the bake element (electric). With the oven off and cool, look at the element on the oven floor. A blister, a split or a spot that looked like a bright arc when it failed means the element is gone.
- 2Watch the igniter (gas). Set the oven to bake and look through the bottom vent. A healthy igniter glows bright orange and the burner lights within about a minute or so. An igniter that glows dull and never lights the burner is weak, which is one of the common gas oven faults.
- 3Check the breaker or the plug. Electric ranges run on a 240-volt double breaker. If the cooktop works but the oven does not, power is usually fine and the fault is inside the oven.
- 4Try broil. If broil heats and bake does not, the bake element or its igniter has failed and the control is probably fine.
If you smell gas at any point, turn the oven off, do not switch lights on or off, leave the house and call the gas utility from outside.
What Usually Fails
| Symptom | Likely cause | Who fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Electric oven, broil works, bake does not | Bake element | Appliance technician |
| Gas oven, igniter glows but no flame | Weak igniter (the most frequent gas oven fault) | Appliance technician |
| Gas oven, no glow at all | Igniter, control board or no power to the range | Technician |
| Heats, but 25°F or more off the dial | Temperature sensor or calibration | Technician, or recalibrate per the manual |
| Display on, nothing heats, error code | Control board or sensor | Technician |
| Nothing works, no display | Breaker, power cord or plug | Check power, then a technician |
Talk to an appliance repair technician
One call reaches an appliance repair company taking calls in your ZIP, answered 24/7.
What a Repair Costs
HomeAdvisor puts typical oven and stove repairs at $130–$310, about $200, and Fixr's national average for oven repair is $150–$400. An element or igniter usually lands in the lower half; a control board in the upper half. See the oven repair page for the sources.
When to Call
Call once the breaker and the broil test have narrowed it down, and straight away if a gas oven smells of gas or an element arcs. (888) 217-0236 is answered 24/7 and connects you to an appliance repair company taking calls in your ZIP for washers, dryers, ovens, stoves, cooktops and freezers. Follow the short menu, enter your 5-digit ZIP and stay on while it connects; if it does not connect, call once more.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my oven not getting hot but the stove works?
Power or gas is reaching the range, so the fault is inside the oven: usually the bake element on an electric oven or the igniter on a gas oven, sometimes the temperature sensor or the control board.
How do I know if my oven igniter is bad?
On a gas oven, a bad igniter glows but never lights the burner, or takes several minutes to light it. A healthy one lights the burner shortly after it glows bright orange.
How much does it cost to fix an oven that won't heat?
HomeAdvisor puts typical oven and stove repairs at $130–$310, about $200; Fixr's national average for oven repair is $150–$400. Elements and igniters sit in the lower half.
Is it safe to use a gas oven that won't light?
NoTurn it off. If you smell gas, do not switch lights on or off; leave the house and call the gas utility from outside.
Sources
Methodology: How we source and verify data · Report an error
Disclaimer: HearthDry is an independent educational resource. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or insurance advice. Consult licensed professionals before making decisions about your property or insurance claims.
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