How to Replace an Oven Heating Coil

If your electric oven is not heating properly, you may need to replace one of the heating coils. Most electric ovens come equipped with two heating coils, one for the broiler element, which is located on the top of the oven, and one for the baking element, which is located on the bottom. The broiling element will last for years and years, but the baking element is good for only about eight years, so the odds are good that you will have to replace it at least once.

Things You'll Need

• New heating coil

Instructions

1. Disconnect the electric stove from its power source.

2. Take out the oven racks and put them aside so you can gain access to the back wall of your oven.

3. Locate the coil's mounting plate, located on the back wall of the oven. Use a nut driver to remove the hex-heads, which are six-sided screws holding the coil's mounting plate in place.

4. Unscrew any support brackets holding the coil in place.

5. Gently pull out the coil as far as it will go. The wires connecting it to the electrical terminal may be quite short, requiring you to lean your upper body into the oven.

6. Inspect the wire terminals for burns or any other visible damage that may require them to be replaced.

7. Remove the electrical supply wires from the wire terminals and remove the coil from the oven completely.

8. Bring the old coil to the hardware store and find its correct replacement.

9. Reattach the new coil and reconnect the two wires to the terminal leads. The wires are not side-specific, so either wire can be connected to either terminal. Tuck any excess wire behind the insulation.

10. Line up the holes in the mounting plate and put it back in place, using the same screws. Be careful not to cross thread the screws.

Tips & Warnings

• While removing the wires from the terminals in step 6, you may notice a nut at the bottom of the terminal. Mag Ruffman recommends holding the nut in place with pliers while you turn the head with a screwdriver.

References

• Homeenvy.com: Replacing an Ailing Oven Element
• Bobvila.com: Fixing Electric Ovens
• Applianceaid.com: Changing a Basic Bake Element