Bottom Oven Not Working but Top Is? How to Fix It

Having two ovens is extremely useful, especially if you have a large family or are hosting a dinner party. They allow you to cook different dishes at different temperatures or use one of the ovens as a warmer to ensure your meal comes out hot at the same time. But, unfortunately, sometimes the bottom oven can become defective while the top one works correctly. When this occurs, the bottom oven is faulty and will need to be repaired.

This guide is divided into two sections. The first covers a bottom oven that doesn’t work or turn on at all, and the second deals with bottom ovens that turn on but aren’t working correctly. Hopefully, our advice helps you discover and fix the underlying problem so you can start using your bottom oven again.

The Bottom Oven Doesn’t Work at All

If your bottom oven doesn’t work at all, follow these steps to attempt to get it working again.

1. Check the Power Supply to Your Oven

The first step is to ensure the oven is correctly plugged in and the socket and circuit breaker are turned on. If not, rectify the problem and check if your bottom oven can now operate correctly. If the power supply is correctly set up or fixing it doesn’t work, you can move on to the next step. If your oven was recently installed and the top oven works, but the bottom one doesn’t, you should get an electrician to come and inspect your oven to double-check the electrical wiring.

2. Check for Error Codes

If you can see any error codes on the oven display screen, check your user manual to determine the meaning of the code. Attempting to fix the underlying cause of the code is possible. If you can remove the code, check if your bottom oven works. If not, proceed to the next step. If you cannot fix the error code yourself, you will need to get an appliance repair technician to fix your oven.

3. Reset Your Oven

Sometimes, a simple reset can fix any problems that your oven is experiencing. The easiest way to do a reset is to turn your oven off for a couple of minutes before turning it back on again. Once your oven turns back on, check it can now turn on correctly. If not, proceed to the next step.

4. Check the Heating Element

Your bottom oven will have a bake or broil element. The bake element is usually located at the bottom, while the broil element is at the top. To access the heating element, remove the oven racks and then inspect the element for any obvious signs of damage. If you can see obvious damage, it will need to be replaced. If you don’t see any damage, turn your oven on every possible setting to see if any setting works. If no settings work, proceed to the next step. If only some of the settings work but not others, you will need to get an appliance repair technician to come and repair your oven.

5. Check the Oven Fan

The oven fan helps to regulate the temperature in your oven. If it fails to work, your bottom oven might not be able to operate correctly. You can check the oven fan for any obvious signs of damage, and after removing the cover, try to rotate it around. If damaged, it will need to be repaired or replaced. If it isn’t damaged, proceed to the next step.

6. Check the Oven Light

The next step is to check the oven light. If the oven light doesn’t turn on when you open the oven door, there might be an issue with the power supply or a blown light bulb. Replace the light bulb and see if that resolves the issue. If the light turns on, proceed to the next step.

7. Seek Professional Help

If you’ve gone through these steps above and haven’t managed to fix your bottom oven, you will need to call an appliance repair technician. They have the expertise and tools to diagnose and fix complex issues and will hopefully be able to get your bottom oven working again quickly.

Bottom Oven Is Working, But Not Correctly

If your bottom oven works incorrectly, it could be due to a settings problem or a faulty internal component. When this occurs, you won’t be able to use your oven properly, or not at all. Before calling for professional help, you can take a few simple actions.

Here’s what to do if your bottom oven is working but not correctly:

1. Reset Your Oven

Start by doing a simple reset. Sometimes, this can fix any problems that your oven is experiencing. To reset your oven, unplug it or turn the circuit breaker off for a few minutes before turning it back on again. Once your oven turns back on, check if it can now operate correctly. If not, proceed to the next step.

2. Check the Oven Door

If the oven door isn’t closing properly, heat will escape, and the oven temperature will be uneven or unable to get high enough. Check the oven door by inspecting the door seal and hinges, then ensuring it can close properly. If the door or any associated component is damaged, it must be repaired. If the door is fine, proceed to the next step.

3. Check the Temperature Sensors

Another potential cause of a bottom oven not heating correctly is faulty temperature sensors. When you set your oven to a specific temperature, the sensors ensure your oven reaches that temperature and stops it from going higher. If the sensors are faulty, they may record the incorrect temperature. The easiest way to check if the sensors are working correctly is to turn your oven on, wait till it reaches the temperature you set, and then use an external thermometer to check if the oven temperature is correct. If not, the temperature sensors are probably faulty and must be replaced or recalibrated. If the temperature is correct, proceed to the next step.

4. Check the Oven Fan

The oven fan helps to regulate the temperature in your oven. If it fails to work correctly, your bottom oven might experience an uneven heat level. You can check the oven fan for any obvious signs of damage yourself. Make sure the oven is cold, and then locate the fan. Once located, remove the cover and check if it can freely rotate. If not, the fan is defective and will need to be replaced. If you don’t find any damage to the fan, proceed to the next step.