How to Troubleshoot a Propane Oven That Is Too High

Gas ovens require a conversion kit to operate on propane.

Troubleshooting a propane oven that cooks at a higher temperature than displayed on the dial may seem hard, but there is a simple way to test the oven. Because most ovens come preset at the factory for a specific flame height set to the temperature dial, don't adjust the flame when troubleshooting a propane oven that cooks at higher than normal temperatures.

Things You'll Need

• Oven thermometer

Instructions

1. Set the temperature dial for the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Open the oven door, and place an oven thermometer onto a rack in the oven that is visible through the glass part of the oven door.

3. Wait until the flame goes out, which indicates the oven reached the set temperature.

4. Turn on the light and look through the oven glass at the thermometer. Note the temperature. If the temperature is equal to or within 50 degrees above the temperature set on the dial, there is no problem, as ovens when heating up generally run 50 degrees hotter at preheat. However, if the temperature is higher than 50 degrees on the dial or stays at 50 degrees above temp, readjust the dial to the oven's temperature. Most ovens come with adjustable dials to account for variances in temperatures. The dial pops off the oven and has a setscrew that allows you to reposition the dial to the temperature of the oven.

5. Verify the oven has the correct conversion kit to use propane properly. Propane ovens are just gas ovens with a conversion kit to use the propane efficiently. Without the proper conversion kit, the flames produced will be erratic.

Tips & Warnings

• Electronically controlled ovens require a different method for resetting the temperature. Review your owner's manual for details. If you don't have your owner's manual, find your oven's manufacturer online and request or download the user manual.

• Don't adjust the flame setting unless you know what you are doing. Usually turning the small setscrew on the oven control module clockwise lowers the temperature, while turning it counterclockwise raises the temperature, but it may vary with your oven. Review your user manual for specifics. Call an appliance repairman if you don't have the experience to make these adjustments.

References

• HyperText Book: Temperature of a Home Oven; Maya Nathan; 2005
• Appliance 411 Information: Frequently Asked Questions