Don’t Make These 5 Oven Mistakes

Most people rely on their oven and stove top when looking to make a meal for their family. These appliances serve many important functions, but without proper care they can easily break down. Luckily, with just a little bit of knowledge, oven owners can maintain the health of this essential home appliance.

At Diamond Factory Appliance, we offer expert oven repair and cooktop repair in St. Louis, Kansas City, and surrounding communities. Read on for our tips on how to prolong the lifespan of your stove by avoiding some common mistakes.

Don’t Overload the Oven

Since it is rare for a home kitchen to contain more than one oven, it can be tempting for home cooks to attempt to bake multiple dishes at once, especially around the holidays when timing is critical to get everything hot at once. However, overloading an oven can lead to the need for appliance repair and even poses a possible fire hazard.

When an oven’s racks are stuffed full of food items, it prohibits air from circulating freely through the appliance, decreasing efficiency while also posing a risk of fire. The only proven solution to this issue is to stagger cooking times and use lids or foil to keep cooked food warm on the stovetop.

Don’t Directly Spray Oven Knobs

Engaging in routine cleaning of your stove top is a great habit to get into. However, if part of your oven cleaning routine is spraying kitchen cleaner directly on your oven’s knobs, it is important to change your approach. An oven’s knobs are connected to an electric circuit and control panel that adjusts the heat intensity of the burners. If liquid kitchen cleaner gets behind these knobs, there is a risk of causing an electrical short within the appliance.

The appliance repair costs associated with replacing a shorted circuit can be significant, depending on the make and model of the oven as well as the availability of parts and the complexity of the installation. To mitigate this risk, homeowners should get into the habit of spraying a rag with their cleaner of choice and rub this on the control knobs instead.

Don’t Line Your Oven Floor with Foil

Many home cooks have thought to place a few pieces of aluminum foil under their oven’s cooking racks in an attempt to catch pieces of food and make future cleaning easier. However, this practice can lead to disastrous results as the foil can block proper airflow and impede the operation of the heating element at the base of the appliance.

Over time, this method can lead to oven failure and/or the need for professional oven repair to recalibrate the heating element. Instead of using foil, homeowners should just plan to clean their oven regularly. A weekly bypass with a damp cloth should go a long way in prolonging the usable life of the oven.

Don’t Put Off Cleaning Your Oven

When ranking the least desirable household chores, cleaning the oven ranks right up there with scrubbing the toilet or changing the diaper bin. However, it’s important to clean your oven at least once a month.

As dirt and pieces of burnt food accumulate within the oven’s compartment, the heat sources of the appliance become less efficient. An oven that has to work harder than necessary can lead to undercooked food and, eventually, a full failure of the heating element.

Don’t Ignore Rust on Oven Racks

Exposed rusted coating on an oven’s cooking racks can cause damage on baking dishes, regardless of how impenetrable they are advertised to be. In addition, any rust that chips off the racks can increase the risk of your racks igniting.

At the first sign of rust, use a nonabrasive scouring pad and a simple solution of soapy water and vinegar. This approach will help soften the rusted pieces and prolong the useful life of your oven racks.

Diamond Factory Appliance is the go-to range repair and cooktop repair service in the greater St. Louis area. We service many stove brands, including GE, Amana, Maytag, KitchenAid, Frigidaire, and more. For questions about your oven or to schedule a service call, contact us today.