The most common reasons your oven won't heat — and what a technician will do about it.
By We Fix It Appliances | July 14, 2026 | Oven Repair
You preheat the oven, wait 20 minutes, and it's still cold. Or the oven turns on but never actually reaches temperature. Either way — dinner is on hold and you need to know what's wrong.
Oven heating problems are one of the most common appliance calls we get across Toronto and the GTA. Here's a breakdown of what's likely wrong and what the fix involves.
In most electric ovens, the bake element is the large coil at the bottom of the oven cavity. When it fails, the oven won't heat at all — or only heats partially if the broil element still works.
You can often see the problem visually: a broken or burned element will have a visible crack, blister, or hole. Sometimes you'll see arcing or a burn mark on the element itself.
Fix: The bake element is one of the most straightforward oven repairs. Parts are widely available for most brands and the repair typically costs $150–$220 all-in. If you catch it before the element shorts completely, it's an easy same-visit fix.
The broil element at the top of the oven assists with even heating even when you're not using broil mode. If it fails, the oven may heat slowly or not reach target temperature, especially at higher settings.
Fix: Same process as a bake element replacement — affordable and fast.
The temperature sensor monitors how hot the oven actually is and tells the control board when to cycle the elements on and off. A faulty sensor will cause the oven to underheat, overheat, or fail to maintain consistent temperature.
If your oven seems to "work" but food keeps coming out undercooked or burnt even at the right settings — a bad sensor is the most likely culprit.
Fix: Sensors are inexpensive parts, usually $80–$160 all-in to replace.
The electronic control board manages all oven functions. If it fails, the oven may not heat at all, display error codes, or behave erratically — turning on and off randomly or not responding to settings.
Fix: Control boards are more expensive to replace, especially on newer Samsung, LG, or Bosch models. A technician will confirm the board is actually the issue before recommending replacement — sometimes what looks like a board problem is actually a sensor or wiring issue that's much cheaper to fix.
The igniter is the most common failure point in gas ovens. It serves two purposes: it creates the spark to light the gas, and it draws enough current to open the gas valve. When the igniter weakens, it may glow but not get hot enough to open the valve — so no gas, no flame, no heat.
Signs of a weak igniter: you can see it glowing orange but the oven doesn't light, or it takes 3–5 minutes to light instead of 30–60 seconds.
Fix: Igniter replacement is one of the most common gas oven repairs. Usually $150–$220 all-in for most brands.
The gas valve controls gas flow to the burner. If the solenoids inside it fail, gas can't reach the burner even when the igniter is working properly. This is less common than igniter failure but does happen, particularly on older ovens.
Fix: Gas valve replacement requires a licensed technician. This is not a DIY repair — it involves the gas line.
Gas ovens have a safety valve that only opens when it receives a signal from a properly functioning igniter. If the safety valve itself fails, the oven won't light regardless of igniter condition.
Fix: Safety valve replacement, also a licensed-technician repair.
Almost always yes, if the oven is under 12 years old. Ovens are durable appliances — the most common failure points (elements, sensors, igniters) are relatively inexpensive to replace. A new range costs $800–$3,000+. Most oven repairs cost $150–$300 all-in.
If the control board has failed on a newer, high-end model, the repair cost can climb higher — we'll give you an honest assessment of whether the numbers make sense before we recommend anything.
We Fix It Appliances repairs gas and electric ovens across Toronto, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Ajax, Pickering, Mississauga, and the rest of the GTA. We carry common oven parts on the van and fix most problems in a single visit.
$95 diagnostic fee, credited to your repair if you proceed. Call or text us — we can usually be there the same day.
Oven not heating? We repair gas and electric ovens same day across Toronto & the GTA.