Electric or Gas Changes the Answer
The first question is how the oven heats. An electric oven, including the oven half of a dual-fuel range, makes heat with bake and broil elements, so no heat usually means a failed element or a relay on the control board that will not energize it. A gas oven makes heat by using a glow-bar igniter to open the safety valve; when the igniter weakens with age, it still glows but no longer draws enough current to open the valve, so you get no flame. In both cases a bad oven temperature sensor can also stop the oven from calling for heat correctly.
Most Common Causes
- Bake or broil element burned through on an electric oven
- Weak gas igniter that glows but will not open the valve
- Oven temperature sensor reading wrong and cutting heat
- Control board relay that will not close to the element
- Tripped thermal fuse or safety after an overheat
- Fault code halting the heat cycle
- Door not closing flush, letting heat escape
Notes by Brand
On Wolf dual-fuel ovens the heat is electric, so weak preheat points to the bake element or sensor; on all-gas models the igniter is the classic cause. Thermador and Monogram ovens in the BSH and GE families show F-series codes that localize a sensor or relay fault. Miele and Gaggenau ovens report faults electronically and lean toward sensor and control causes. Viking gas ovens frequently need an igniter, while Jenn-Air and KitchenAid ovens in the Whirlpool family use F#-E# codes we can read at the panel.
Symptom-To-Cause Reference
| Pattern | Likely Cause | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| No heat, electric oven | Bake element or relay | Test and replace element or board |
| No flame, gas oven | Weak glow-bar igniter | Measure current, replace igniter |
| Stops below setpoint | Oven sensor reading high | Test and replace sensor |
| F code shown | Sensor or stuck relay | Read code, repair root cause |
| Slow, uneven heat | Partial element or door seal | Replace element, check gasket |
Do Not Run a Gas Oven That Will Not Ignite
If a gas oven fails to light but you can smell gas, turn it off and ventilate before retrying. Repeated no-ignition cycles allow gas to build in the cavity. Book service rather than leaving it to keep trying.
Book an Oven Diagnosis
Diagnostic and travel fees, if applicable, are confirmed before the appointment and before repair approval.