Convection ovens cook from the outside in rather than from the inside out as microwaves do. Meats, especially, look like they were cooked in a conventional oven, only faster. This Fix-It Guide on convection oven repair tells how a convection oven works, what often goes wrong, how to identify a convection oven problem, and what parts and tools you will need to fix it. It then gives simple instructions for how to disassemble a convection oven. It also refers to Fix-It Guides on electrical cord repair, appliance controls repair, heating element repair, and motor repair.
How Does a Convection Oven Work?
A convection oven is a standard oven with a circulation fan to bake and roast food.
A convection oven is an appliance for baking and roasting food. It works like a conventional oven but includes a fan that circulates hot air around the food allowing it to cook faster than in a conventional oven and more evenly than in a microwave. Hybrid ovens combine the advantages of both a convection oven and a microwave oven in one unit.
Convection ovens use a motor-driven circulating fan that’s mounted between the unit’s inner and outer housings. A timer controls the fan and the heating element. Additional controls are located inside the front control panel. Convection ovens are sometimes combined with conventional or microwave ovens.
What Can Go Wrong with a Convection Oven?
The electrical cord may need replacing. The timer, selector switch, temperature control shaded-pole motor, heating element, fan thermostat, or thermal cutoff may fail.
Caution!
A convection oven uses lots of electrical current, so it should be on a household circuit dedicated to it–just as your refrigerator or stove should be. Otherwise, the convection oven may trip a circuit breaker or blow a fuse.
How Can I Identify a Convection Oven Problem?
Because a convection oven is an electrical appliance, the best way to test its components is with a multimeter.
- If the oven doesn’t heat and the on-off light doesn’t work, make sure the power is on at the outlet, then check the electrical cord . Next, test the appliance controls .
- If the oven doesn’t heat and the on-off light works, test the appliance controls, motor, and heating element .
- If the oven heats but the fan doesn’t work, test the motor . Check the fan for blockage.
- If the oven burns food or overheats, test the thermostat and the thermal cutoff (see the Appliance Controls Fix-It Guide).
- If the oven won’t shut off, test the temperature control (see the Appliance Controls Fix-It Guide).
Each convection oven model is slightly different, so refer to your owner’s manual for specific components, parts numbers, and troubleshooting guides. The instructions here are for typical convection ovens.
Fix-It Tip
Allow an inch of space around food inside the oven so that air can circulate.
What Do I Need for Convection Oven Repair?
If the oven is out of warranty, you can purchase replacement parts from the manufacturer or buy aftermarket parts from a major appliance parts supplier . For basic repairs you’ll need the following tools:
- Screwdrivers
- Adjustable wrench
- Multimeter
What Are the Steps to Convection Oven Repair?
To access any of the components you’ll need to first disassemble the convection oven.
How to disassemble a convection oven:
- Unplug the oven. Remove the door, shelves, and all control knobs. Remove screws behind the timer knob and around the edges of the front housing. Lift off the control-panel housing. Disconnect the light before completely removing the housing.
- To remove the selector switch, loosen any screws and metal tabs holding the switch to the panel base.
- To remove the timer, loosen any screws securing it.
- To remove the temperature control, unscrew the locking ring around the temperature control spindle.
- Slide the unit’s base forward, then lift it over the control panel.
- Remove any outer housing screws, then grasp the housing and remove it.
- Test and replace internal components as needed, referring to the owner’s manual or a parts diagram available from the manufacturer.
Fix-It Tip
Take care of your convection oven. Wash the fan filter often with grease-cutting cleaner. Clean the interior of the oven with nonabrasive spray cleanser and a damp sponge.
