Gas vs Electric Oven: Maintenance Tips

Your home oven is not the most complex appliance around, but it will certainly give you headaches should it stop running before dinnertime. Routine maintenance and repairs are typical as an oven ages, but the best way to prolong the useful lifespan of your gas or electric oven is to keep it clean and well-maintained yourself. Here are some tips for maintaining your gas or electric oven.

Keep it Clean

The first and simplest step to keeping your oven well-maintained is to keep it clean and free of grease and clutter. Frequent cooking with oil will inevitably lead to specks and splashes on the range hood, stovetop, and on the hobs themselves. Not only does oil splatter look unsightly, but it can really get caked in if not removed promptly.

Avoid abrasive steel wool and other such brushes and choose a softer brush mixed with an appropriate cleaning product instead.

Range Hood Fans & Filters

The range hood above your oven can accumulate an awful lot of dirt and grease as well, sometimes visible on the exterior surface but quite often inside. That’s why fans direct steam and smoke away from the stovetop but it’s also why the filters need to be inspected, cleaned, and/or replaced as necessary.

Gas Ranges

Gas-powered ovens require a significantly different approach to care and maintenance simply due to how they’re powered and where the components are often found. Many gas ovens have stovetops that can be lifted up; some sealed burner units have no such option and instead often have burner nubs or ignitor switches directly attached behind each hob.

First and foremost, ensure that the gas connection is switched off when attempting repairs and even for cleaning, if at least just for safety and peace of mind. As with electric ovens, gas ovens are prone to breaking down for one predominant reason: a lack of sufficient cleaning!

The key parts you’re looking to identify and clean on a gas range are the pilot/igniter system and the ceramic burners. The pilot can be identified as the long gas tube connecting to a tip which runs to the burners themselves. The igniter and burner are often (except for sealed burner units) ceramic nubs located underneath the stovetop.

The hobs can be cleaned individually and the parts can be easily removed and put back together again in most cases, but do avoid using scouring powders and instead opt for a thin, small-diameter brush or tube cleaning tool.

Electric Ranges

Although electric ovens are enormously popular in Australia, newer models are increasingly becoming complex electronically with all sorts of fancy digital displays and functionality. The downside is that the more complex the model, the more likely it’ll be difficult or impossible to repair on your own.

For most older electric ranges, you’ll need to remove the front cover in order to inspect the ignition switches. Always ensure that the appliance is powered off and unplugged for safety as you’re directly dealing with electrical current. The wires can be detached and reattached securely to the switch terminals, but there are often clamps in place to keep them secured anyway.

Ignition failure is not overly common on electric ovens, but it does happen from time to time. If you’re unsure of the source of a problem with an electric or gas oven, contact a professional domestic appliance repairman immediately.

Domestic Appliance Repair

Get in touch with the friendly appliance repair experts at Domestic Appliance Repair today for top service and maintenance on all models of ovens, electric or gas.

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