Oven Not Working? Common Causes and How to Fix It

When your oven not working, a household appliance used for baking and roasting food, often due to electrical or mechanical failure. Also known as electric oven, it’s one of the most relied-on appliances in the kitchen—so when it stops heating, it throws off your whole day. Most of the time, it’s not a total breakdown. It’s usually one simple part failing, and you can fix it without spending hundreds on a technician.

The most common reason? A broken oven element, the heating coil inside the oven that glows red when powered. It’s the part that actually heats the air, and over time, it cracks or burns out from constant use. You can spot it by looking for dark spots, bubbles, or breaks in the coil. If it doesn’t glow when turned on, it’s dead. Replacing it takes less than an hour and costs under £50. Another frequent culprit is the oven thermostat, the temperature control sensor that tells the oven when to turn the heat on or off. If it’s off by even 25 degrees, your food won’t cook right—or worse, the oven won’t turn on at all. A faulty thermostat won’t always show visible damage, but you can test it with a basic multimeter—or just replace it if your oven is older than 10 years.

Don’t forget the basics: check your circuit breaker. A tripped breaker looks normal, but it’s the #1 reason ovens suddenly stop working after a power surge or heavy load. Also, make sure the oven isn’t stuck in self-clean mode—that locks the door and shuts off power until it cools. And if you’ve got an older model, parts might be harder to find, but many common components are still made today.

There’s no need to panic or rush to buy a new oven. Most of these fixes are DIY-friendly, safe, and cost less than a service call. Below, you’ll find real step-by-step guides from people who’ve been there—how to test a heating element, reset a thermostat, diagnose power issues, and decide whether to repair or replace. Whether your oven’s 2 years old or 20, there’s a solution here that fits.