It’s the holiday season and your kitchen will be full of preparation activities. While your head might be full of holiday ideas and menu ideas, have you ever thought about whether your oven is up for the task? We have! These oven maintenance tips will help you avoid making last-minute repairs during the holiday season.
These Oven Maintenance Tips can help you avoid expensive repairs
Tip 1: Clean the Exterior and Interior
While it may seem straightforward, cleaning the oven’s interior and exterior is an important maintenance tip. This will prevent oven repairs. Cleaning improves oven performance, and it reveals potential problems before they get too severe.
- Control Panel: Use a non-abrasive cleaning agent, such as a simple vinegar spray and a soft cloth to clean the knobs. You should not scrub the control panel too hard. Vinegar is an effective cleaner and natural degreaser.
- Door: Spray vinegar on the exterior and interior sides of the door panel. You can also combine baking soda and vinegar to create a soft paste. Make sure you rinse the area with clean water and a clean towel. A heavy-duty degreaser may also be required to clean the inside of the door panel.
- Stovetop: Use a razor blade or plastic scraper to clean up any bits of debris. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to clean and protect your cooktop. Remove and clean burner grates and bowls/covers for gas cooktops. Simply use soap and water to clean the sink.
- Oven Interior: If your oven is self-cleaning, please refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the oven cleaner recommended by your model’s manual if you don’t have one. Alternately, mix baking soda, vinegar, salt, and (if necessary) water to create a safe paste to clean the oven. When you’re done cleaning the oven, be sure to thoroughly rinse it. This is an important step for oven maintenance tips. Food debris built up in the oven could cause a fire hazard.
Tip #2 – Keep the Blower
The oven’s blower motor is an important component. Your oven’s performance and longevity will be improved by maintaining its blower motor. Oil cups in your oven should be lubricated once every six months. Pre-lubricated ball-bearing motors should not require additional lubrication. Check that the blower, and any surrounding parts, are clean. For oiling your oven’s engine, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions.
Tip #3 – Use the correct power
An oven that is operating at the wrong voltage will cause it to perform poorly. Check the voltage requirements of your oven if you experience unsatisfactory operation power. You can correct the problem by installing a buck-boost converter if your oven is operating at reduced power.
Tip #4: Check Heating Elements
You should check the heating element if the oven is taking a very long time to heat. The performance of your oven will be affected by heating elements that are too hot.
Turn the power off to your control system. Next, set the multimeter to the ohms setting. Finally, test each heating element in detail. A high reading is indicative of a damaged element. A low reading (below 100ohms) means the element is functional and satisfactory. You should replace any heating element that is defective.
Tip #5: Inspect Door Gaskets
Last, check the gaskets of the oven door as well as the port inserts. You should inspect for cracks, dryness, and worn areas. These types of damage could cause heat to leak from the oven’s door when it is closed. This will make the oven ineffective at maintaining the temperature.
Replace the gaskets if heat is escaping from the oven door when it is closed.
Tip #6. Hire a professional
The following tips will help you maintain your oven in order to increase its performance and make sure it works properly. Unexpected oven repairs can ruin a holiday that you planned full of delicious food and tasty treats.
You should call a technician if your oven needs to be serviced or repaired.
