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GE Ovens & Ranges Oven Not Heating: How to Fix It Yourself

When your GE oven does not heat up at all, the most common cause in electric ovens is a burned-out bake element (the coil at the bottom of the oven). In gas ovens, it is usually a weak or failed igniter. Both parts are replaceable by most people — the hardest part is being careful with the power.

⚡ Difficulty: Medium⏱ 30-60 minutes💰 Parts cost: $15–$50🔧 Tools: Multimeter, Phillips screwdriver, 1/4-inch nut driver

⚠️ Safety First

  • Turn off the oven at the circuit breaker before working on an electric oven.
  • For gas ovens, turn off the gas supply valve before starting.
  • Electric ovens run on 240 volts — this is lethal. Always verify power is off with a multimeter before touching wiring.
  • For gas ovens, if you smell gas at any point, leave the house and call your gas company.

Parts You May Need

Bake Element

~$15–$30

AmazoneBay

Oven Igniter (gas models)

~$20–$50

AmazoneBay

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Step-by-Step Repair

  1. 1

    Identify if you have electric or gas

    This matters because the fix is different. If you see a glowing coil at the bottom of your oven when it is on, you have electric. If you see a flame, you have gas. Check what you have before proceeding.

  2. 2

    Electric oven: Inspect the bake element

    Turn off the breaker. Open the oven and look at the bake element (the coil at the bottom). If you see any visible breaks, blistering, or burn spots on the element, it is bad. Sometimes you can see a hole where it burned through. Even if it looks okay, it may still be faulty.

  3. 3

    Electric oven: Replace the bake element

    With the breaker off, remove the 2 screws holding the element to the back wall of the oven. Gently pull the element forward — there will be about 4 inches of wire behind it. Disconnect the two wires from the element terminals (pull the connectors straight off). Connect the wires to the new element and screw it back in.

  4. 4

    Gas oven: Check the igniter

    Turn off the gas and the breaker. Open the oven and look at the bottom. Remove the oven floor panel (lift it up and out). The igniter is the small device near the gas burner tube. Turn the gas and power back on briefly and set the oven to bake. Watch the igniter — it should glow bright orange within 60 seconds. If it glows dimly or not at all, it is too weak to open the gas valve and needs replacing.

  5. 5

    Gas oven: Replace the igniter

    Turn off the gas and breaker again. Disconnect the igniter wire harness (follow the wires to the connector). Remove the 2 screws holding the igniter to the burner bracket. Install the new one — do not touch the igniter element with your fingers (oils from skin can cause premature failure). Use the packaging or a cloth to handle it.

  6. 6

    Test the repair

    Turn the gas back on (gas models), flip the breaker on, and set the oven to 350°F. An oven thermometer inside will help you verify it is heating properly. It should reach 350°F within 10–15 minutes.

If That Didn't Work

  • Faulty oven temperature sensor (thermistor)
  • Bad oven control board
  • Tripped thermal fuse
  • Faulty gas safety valve (gas models)

When to Call a Professional

Replacing a bake element or igniter is a straightforward DIY job. If you are uncomfortable working near 240-volt wiring (electric) or gas lines, call a pro. A tech will charge $120–$250 depending on the part. If the element and igniter are fine but the oven still does not heat, the control board or temperature sensor may be the issue — those are trickier to diagnose.

Related Repairs

Samsung — F-3 Error Code (Temperature Sensor)

Medium · 20-40 minutes · $10–$25

Whirlpool — Oven Not Reaching Set Temperature

Medium · 20-45 minutes · $10–$50

LG — Gas Oven Igniter Not Working

Medium · 30-45 minutes · $20–$50

Frigidaire — F10 Error Code (Runaway Temperature)

Medium · 20-45 minutes · $10–$50

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional repair advice. All repairs are performed at your own risk. RepairItFree.com is not liable for any personal injury, property damage, device damage, voided warranties, or other losses resulting from the use of this information.

If you are unsure about any step — especially anything involving electricity, gas, water, or refrigerant — stop and consult a qualified professional. Your safety is more important than saving money.

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