Ge Oven: not heating

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

Is your GE oven not heating properly? This issue can occur in both electric and gas models, where the oven powers on but fails to reach the set temperature. Common causes include a faulty heating element in electric ovens, a weak igniter in gas models, or a malfunctioning temperature sensor. Identifying the root cause is essential for effective repair.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Ge Models

  • GE gas models commonly fail to heat due to weak igniter not reaching temperature to open gas valve.
  • Electric GE ovens often fail due to broken bake element visible as cracks or blistering.

Possible Causes

Faulty bake or broil heating element (electric)

How to Identify: Visual cracks/burns on element or element not glowing red during operation; continuity test shows open circuit. For electric ovens only.

Part: Bake element, Broil element

Weak or failed igniter (gas models)

How to Identify: Igniter glows dimly or fails to ignite gas within ~90s; long preheat times or no flame. Gas oven stays cold even though controls appear active.

Part: Oven igniter

Temperature sensor failure

How to Identify: Oven warms but stalls below set temperature; sensor is loose, bent, or reads out-of-range on multimeter.

Part: Oven temperature sensor

DIY Solutions

Inspect and test heating element (electric)

Moderate 30–60 minutes
Tools Needed: multimeter, screwdriver set, gloves
  1. Turn off power at circuit breaker.
  2. Visually inspect bake and broil elements for breaks or burns.
  3. Use multimeter to test continuity; no continuity means replacement needed.
  4. Order correct GE element and replace by disconnecting wires and securing new element.
  5. Restore power and test if oven now heats.
⚠️ Safety First: Always cut power at breaker before working inside oven.

Check and observe igniter behavior (gas models)

Easy To Moderate 15–30 minutes
Tools Needed: none (observation)
  1. Turn oven to bake and observe igniter glow.
  2. If igniter does not glow brightly within ~90 seconds or never lights flame, it’s likely weak.
  3. Do not attempt internal igniter replacement unless experienced; consider professional.
⚠️ Safety First: Gas appliances involve safety risks; ensure gas supply is off before inspection beyond observation.

Professional Repairs

Replace igniter (gas)

Estimated Cost: $80 - $200+

Replace control board

Estimated Cost: $150 - $400+

Replace temperature sensor

Estimated Cost: $30 - $120

Fix internal wiring issues

Estimated Cost: $100 - $300+

When to Call a Professional

Gas smell present when attempting ignition
Igniter doesn’t glow at all on gas model
After replacing heating element and oven still not heating
Error codes on display persist after basic checks

Preventive Maintenance

  • Regularly inspect heating elements: Unexpected element failure leading to no heat
    Frequency: annually
  • Clean oven interior and vents: Heat distribution issues and sensor blockage
    Frequency: monthly

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my GE Oven not heating?
Common causes include a faulty bake or broil heating element (electric), a weak igniter (gas), or a failed temperature sensor.
How do I fix GE Oven not heating myself?
For electric ovens, inspect the heating element for damage and test continuity. For gas ovens, check the igniter's glow and performance.
How much does it cost to fix not heating?
Professional repairs can range from $30 for a temperature sensor to $200+ for igniter replacement.
When should I call a technician for not heating?
If basic troubleshooting doesn't resolve the issue or if internal repairs are needed, it's best to call a professional.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

65%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: DIY

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Igniter failure (8 mentions)
  • Bake element failure (5 mentions)
  • Control board issues (4 mentions)
  • Relay board malfunction (3 mentions)
  • Thermal fuse issues (2 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Replace the igniter

    Success rate: 7.0%

  2. Replace the bake element

    Success rate: 5.0%

  3. Check and reseat control board connections

    Success rate: 1.0%

  4. Replace the relay board

    Success rate: 1.0%

  5. Replace the thermal fuse

    Success rate: 1.0%
Analysis based on 32 community discussions
View Sources

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

  1. Self cleaning killed my oven
  2. GE oven not heating on Convection mode
  3. Desperately seeking vintage Ge oven heating element part
  4. Oven Spark Module malfunctions
  5. GE Oven won't move past 100, but seems to heat up other ways...
  6. GE dual oven - top stopped heating
  7. GE Oven Malfunctioned While Heating Up
  8. GE Profile oven light flashing on/off, not heating up
  9. Looking for an alternative part to save some $$ - oven ignit...
  10. Baking element not working in oven. Looking for next steps
  11. GE electric oven not heating anywhere
  12. GE Range Will Convection Fan Turn On If Igniter Not Working?
  13. GE oven not working
  14. GE Gas Oven - Not the igniter
  15. GE oven, lower element burns out.
  16. GE Cafe gas dual oven won't run self clean
  17. Xl44 GE oven wont start
  18. GE Profile Oven Turns off when oven door opens
  19. Ge xl44
  20. My GE profile oven wont heat up and stops at 100 degrees
  21. Double Oven (GE) - Top Oven Not Heating but Broil Works
  22. ge c2s985set6ss oven shuts off
  23. Troubleshooting GE oven (IGNITER)
  24. GE Single Gas Oven
  25. Oven reaches desired temperature, but once it clicks off, th...
  26. GE Oven Trips Breaker When Bake Element Screwed To Back of O...
  27. GE Monogram Convention Oven Control Board Replacement Diagra...
  28. Igniter Glowbar Monogram Gas Oven (GE)
  29. GE Monogram oven ZET2SM1SS top oven turns off after 20 minut...
  30. GE Spectra oven Loud pop, and smoke.
  31. 2011 GE oven repair
  32. Oven not heating

Community Discussions

The lower, convection oven does not heat.

Replaced the igniter, which resolved the heating issue.

DIY View on Reddit →

lower convection oven not heating

replaced ignitor

DIY View on Reddit →

oven turns off when door opens, LED time panel goes off

The door was slightly off the tracks and was causing a short.

DIY View on Reddit →

burners won't turn on

Removing power, letting it sit, and replugging it fixed the issue.

DIY View on Reddit →

no heat after self clean

Replaced the high limit thermostat (TCO) which had tripped.

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

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