Ge Oven: not heating properly

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

If your GE oven turns on but fails to heat properly, it can lead to undercooked meals and frustration. Common issues include a burned-out bake element, a faulty temperature sensor, or a weak gas igniter. Understanding these problems can help you troubleshoot effectively.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Ge Models

  • GE ovens may display specific error codes (e.g., F2, F3, F4) indicating sensor or control issues, aiding diagnosis.

Possible Causes

Burned out or damaged bake heating element (electric models)

How to Identify: Element doesn’t glow red during operation or shows visible cracks/blisters; oven never heats or warms very slowly despite correct settings.

Part: Bake heating element

Faulty temperature sensor

How to Identify: Food cooks unevenly or oven fails to reach set temperature; an oven thermometer shows large deviation from set temp; sensor resistance out of expected range.

Part: Oven temperature sensor

Weak or failing gas igniter (gas models)

How to Identify: Igniter glows faintly or takes longer than ~90 seconds to ignite gas, with no flame forming; oven stays cold. (Allsafe Appliance Repair

Part: Gas oven igniter

Control board malfunction

How to Identify: Oven powers on but heating components don’t receive power; error codes or random behavior; other components test fine.

Part: Electronic control board

Thermal fuse blown or safety trip

How to Identify: Oven receives power but does not heat at all; no continuity through thermal fuse with multimeter.

Part: Thermal fuse

DIY Solutions

Inspect and Replace Bake Element (Electric Models)

Moderate 30–60 minutes
Tools Needed: Multimeter, Screwdriver, Protective gloves
  1. Disconnect power at circuit breaker.
  2. Open oven and visually inspect the bake element for cracks or blistering.
  3. Test for continuity with a multimeter; no continuity indicates failure.
  4. Remove mounting screws, disconnect wires, and install a replacement element.
  5. Restore power and test oven heating.
⚠️ Safety First: Always cut power before opening oven components

Check and Replace Oven Temperature Sensor

Moderate 30–60 minutes
Tools Needed: Multimeter, Screwdriver
  1. Turn off power to the oven.
  2. Locate the temperature sensor inside the oven and disconnect it.
  3. Measure resistance with a multimeter; compare with expected values from service manual.
  4. If sensor reads outside expected range, install a new sensor.
  5. Restore power and verify temperature accuracy with oven thermometer.
⚠️ Safety First: Ensure secure wire reconnections

Professional Repairs

Igniter or Gas System Component Replacement (Gas Models)

Estimated Cost: $150 - $350

Control Board Diagnostic and Replacement

Estimated Cost: $200 - $500

When to Call a Professional

Oven still doesn’t heat after replacing bake element or sensor
Gas igniter fails to ignite despite correct power and gas supply
Suspected gas flow or valve issue
Control board suspected or visible wiring damage

Preventive Maintenance

  • Regularly inspect heating elements and sensor for visible damage: Unexpected bake element or sensor failures
    Frequency: every 6 months
  • Keep oven interior clean to avoid buildup on components: Sensor errors and uneven heating
    Frequency: monthly

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my GE Oven not heating properly?
Common causes include a burned-out bake element, faulty temperature sensor, or weak gas igniter.
How do I fix GE Oven not heating properly myself?
You can inspect and replace the bake element or check the temperature sensor with a multimeter.
How much does it cost to fix not heating properly?
Professional repairs range from $150 to $500, depending on the issue.
When should I call a technician for not heating properly?
If DIY fixes don't work or if you suspect a control board issue, it's time to call a technician.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

100%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: Either

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Thermostat issues (2 mentions)
  • Burner switch malfunction (1 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Adjusted the thermostat probe and uncoiled the copper line

    Success rate: 17.0%

  2. Replaced the burner switch with WB24T10058

    Success rate: 17.0%
Analysis based on 3 community discussions
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

  1. GE 1955 J245 Deluxe Spacemaker Over thermostat fix / replace
  2. Maybe buy an oven that "beeps" after it preheats. [vent]
  3. GE Oven replacement burner switch

Community Discussions

leftmost range burner is malfunctioning, burns extra hot, continues to fire after being turned off

Replaced the burner switch with WB24T10058 as suggested by a local repair shop.

DIY View on Reddit →

Burner switches are toast on all four—so they just heat and heat after about 10 mins

Replace the burner switches for $300 CAD.

DIY View on Reddit →

oven takes a long time to preheat and does not maintain temperature

Let the oven preheat for 25-30 minutes before baking and adjust temperature settings accordingly.

Pro needed View on Reddit →

temperature is about 50+ degrees off, too low/cold

Adjusted the thermostat probe and uncoiled the copper line to improve temperature sensing.

DIY View on Reddit →

Two burners on one side of the stove output well on high but turn off at lower settings.

Adjust the low flame setting on the burners, possibly due to conversion from Natural Gas to Propane.

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

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