Your electric oven is one of the most important kitchen appliances in the house. It is used to prepare and serve fresh meals after a long day at the office or if your friends and family members show up at your place. Although ovens make a slight humming sound when functioning but if they make other noises, then that could raise alarms. If you hear strange noises, you need to immediately shut down the oven and try to diagnose the issue or hire appliance repair services. To help you with this oven problem, below are the potential reasons in detail along with troubleshooting tips to get your oven running back to normal in no time.
Electrical Issues
If you are using your oven to heat and prepare meals and come across weird sounds like popping and cracking, you should be cautious. The popping and cracking sound from the food is normal and does not threaten anything but if it is coming from the oven itself, you should immediately turn off the unit.
If there is a burning smell following the sounds, you should know that the oven is facing serious issues and should not be used as it poses a serious risk. Once you have turned off the unit, disconnect it from the power supply as well.
Then, look for signs & symptoms. Begin by inspecting the plug followed by the power supply etc. Sometimes, cracks and damage to the power cord or the plug can distort the supply of electricity, causing issues. If the troubleshooting process leads to you inside the oven, you will need to use special tools and consult the manual.
Make sure the oven is not connected to the power supply and only then try to access it. Plus, make sure it is not hot as it can burn you. If you can diagnose the issue or the faulty component, you should consult an expert about repairs and replacements.
Dirty Gas Igniter
There is nothing more scary than your oven making a boom noise. It can easily scare your family members too. This happens when you have turned on the preheat function and the gas is building inside until it finally ignites. The boom is normal in such cases but if it is becoming louder and louder and more frequent, it means one of the igniters is dirty.
A gas oven igniter can become clogged or dirty due to oil, grease, and food particles. It means the igniter will not ignite the case at the right time but eventually when enough gas builds up. You may wonder if it is dangerous but, in most cases, it isn’t since the gas buildup is inside the unit.
But, at the same time, it is not something that should be taken lightly. Igniters do not unclog themselves and need to be serviced. With time, igniters become weak too, and need replacement. So, if your oven is old and has been making a booming sound for quite a while, cleaning might not help. Contact an expert to get it either serviced or replaced.
Loose Body Panels
If your oven is making a rattling-like sound, it could most probably point to loose body panels or parts. Although this is not common in new units, if your oven was recently repaired or serviced, it could be that the technician failed to tighten some screws or bolts.
This is not a serious issue to deal with but a slightly complicated one. The reason is that you will need to check for sound when the oven is functioning. Otherwise, the sound will go away as soon as it is turned off and you will not be able to diagnose the issue.
If you find out that the noise is coming from inside the oven, you will need to access it using tools and special gloves that keep your hands secure. Depending on the situation, you may need to call an expert. Accessing the oven while it is running can be a risky situation. You may end up injuring yourself. So, make sure you spend a little more and get the issue resolved by a technician.
Loose body panels is a common reason for noises in many commercial appliances as well. However, you should consult commercial appliance repair Alexandria services for repairing and maintaining your commercial equipment.
Faulty Cooling Fan
The cooling fan is an important component of the oven and is specially designed to cool the oven when you have turned it off. It is usually at the top of the unit to help expel heat. You might have not heard it running before because it will only turn on when the unit turns off.
However, if you observe that it is making a squeaking, rattling, or grinding noise, it could be that it is facing a problem. Fans have bearings inside that wear out with time. These bearings could make squeaking or grinding noises. You can try replacing the bearings to see if it fixes the problem.
But if it doesn’t, then go ahead and replace the fan. If your oven happens to be new, you should claim the warranty.
Loose Convection Impeller Fan
The convection impeller fan is not usually found in every oven out there but the units that come with it are more precise and accurate with heating meals inside. The reason is that convection impeller fans are designed to equally distribute heat so that meals are properly cooked.
This is a great feature if you wish to prepare multiple meals simultaneously. Normally, the fan makes a consistent, low humming sound. But if you come across a clanking or grinding noise, it most likely means the fan blade has come loose and needs some lubrication.
In such a case, contact an expert. The fan blade could be loose or it could be that the fan is faulty and needs replacement.
How Frequently Do Ovens Require Maintenance?
Ovens like other household appliances require regular maintenance depending on the usage frequency. Typically, a normally used oven should be maintained at least once every two months. But if the oven is used daily and is relied upon for everyday meals, then the maintenance frequency will increase as well.
If you have the tools and skills, you can try to clean the unit using a special chemical. But it is recommended to consult an expert who will do it a lot more safely. You should know that expert maintenance is not just limited to cleaning but also inspection.
They can go deep inside the unit and look for potential repairs and replacements. This helps them fix the issues before they turn serious and harm the unit later on. This means expert maintenance is an investment and not an expenditure. You get to keep your oven running smoothly for years to come by paying a small amount.
Conclusion
An oven making unusual noises can be due to a variety of reasons but in most cases, the above-mentioned information and tips will help you overcome them. However, you should make sure your oven is always looked after by an oven repair Springfield technician. There is no harm in looking out for unusual signs and getting the unit fixed by a professional. It helps keep complications at bay.