How to Fix a Gas Oven That Heats Poorly

A gas oven that heats unevenly or won't get up to temperature may have a faulty thermostat or clogged burner ports. To adjust the thermostat, see How to Fix an Electric Oven That Heats Poorly.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Oven Cleaner
• Oven Cleaner
• Scrub Brush
• Soap
• Soap
• Old Newspaper
• Old Newspaper
• Paper Clip
• Screwdriver, or nut driver and socket

1. Remove the oven door. It may just lift up and off the hinge arms, or you may have to unscrew it from the hinges.

2. Spread several sheets of newspaper on the bottom pan to absorb soap and water that may spill during cleaning.

3. Locate the upper burner, attached to the roof of the oven. Remove the burner cover, if there is one. Use a screwdriver or a nut driver and socket, as required.

4. 

   Clean the burner flame openings, using a scrub brush and warm, soapy water to remove the surface grime, and the end of a paper clip to poke out dirt that has collected in the openings (see illustration). If the surface grime is particularly stubborn, spray with oven cleaner and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then rewash the burner with warm, soapy water, and again clear the flame openings with your paper clip.

5. Remove the newspaper and lift out the bottom pan. The lower burner will be underneath. Clean the lower burner, following the same procedure described in step 4.

6. Wipe up any water or dirt that collects under the burner. Let all the parts dry thoroughly, then reassemble the oven.

Tips & Warnings

• The flames from your oven burner should be blue. If yours are yellow, the air-gas mixture may be out of adjustment. Ask a professional to correct it.
• Never cover the bottom pan with aluminum foil to collect drips. You might cover air openings and hinder the oven's ability to heat evenly.

[chhb]

on 7/17/2009 Have a Frigidaire gas free standing self clean, convection oven. Having problems with the bake mode.You can set to temp. The preheat automatically comes on. The pre heat works, but won't cycle to bake. The oven stays on preheat. What would be the problem ?

on 11/22/2005 Place a pizza stone on the bottom of the oven and leave it in there... it will retain heat and increase your ovens efficiency (alos let the oven "preheat" 10 more minutes...)