5 Oven Maintenance Tips

1. Clean the Oven Regularly

Cleaning your oven may not be the most enjoyable task, but it's a must for maintaining a safe and efficient cooking environment.

Use the Self-Cleaning Feature

Many modern ovens come with a self-cleaning feature. This convenient function turns spills and residue inside the oven cavity into ash through extremely high heat, simplifying the cleaning process.

• When to Use: Initiate a self-clean cycle after spills or when significant stains and residue are visible.
• Steps to Follow:
  • Refer to the owner’s manual for specific instructions.
  • Remove any large food debris before starting the cycle.
  • Wipe out the ash residue post-cycle for a clean oven interior.

Manually Cleaning Your Oven

For ovens without a self-cleaning feature, regular manual cleaning is necessary to keep the oven in top condition.

• Routine Cleaning: Regularly wipe down interior surfaces, including walls, racks, and the oven door, using mild detergent or a baking soda and water mixture.
• Deep Cleaning:
  • Apply oven cleaner for stubborn stains and built-up residue.
  • Ensure proper kitchen ventilation when using chemical cleaners to maintain a safe environment.

2. Inspect and Replace Oven Door Seals

Keeping an eye on your oven's door seals, also known as gaskets, is a bit like checking the weatherstripping on your front door. It might not be the first thing on your mind, but it plays a huge role in keeping the heat where it's supposed to be. Just like a well-sealed home keeps the cold out and the warmth in, a tight oven seal is vital for ensuring energy efficiency and even cooking.

Over time, these seals can wear out or get damaged, leading to heat escaping every time you bake or roast. This not only makes your oven work harder (hello, higher energy bills) but can also affect your cooking results. Nobody wants a half-baked cake or unevenly roasted veggies, right?

• What to look for: Regularly examine the door seals for cracks, tears, or any signs of wear. A good rule of thumb is to feel around the door; if you notice heat escaping while the oven is on, it's a telltale sign your seals might not be doing their job.

• Taking action: If you spot any damage, it's time for a replacement. Most oven door seals can be replaced fairly easily, often without the need for tools. However, make sure to consult your oven’s manual for the correct part number and replacement instructions. If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, calling in a professional is a smart move to ensure it's done correctly.

Remember, keeping those seals in check is key to a well-functioning oven. It’s a simple step that can save energy, improve cooking results, and maybe even prevent a future kitchen mishap. So, give your oven door a quick inspection today; your future self (and your energy bill) will thank you.

3. Clean Oven Burner Elements

If you have a gas oven, clean the oven burner tubes regularly using this procedure:

1. Allow the oven and burner tubes to cool completely.
2. Shut off the gas supply and disconnect electrical power from the oven or range. (You can unplug the power cord or shut off the house circuit breaker to disconnect electrical power).
3. Use a moist cleaning cloth to remove any debris or residue that may have accumulated on the broiler burner (if your oven has a broil burner in the top of the oven cavity).
4. Remove the thumb screws from the bottom oven cavity panel and pull the bottom panel up and out of the oven to access the bake burner.
5. Wipe off debris and residue from the bake burner and the pan under the burner.
6. Reinstall the bottom oven panel and restore the electrical power supply and gas supply to the oven.

Note: *If you’re not completely confident that you can safely complete this procedure on your own, schedule Clean & Maintain Service and have a Sears Home Services Technician complete this task and professionally maintain your oven.

For electric ovens, disconnect electrical power to the oven or range and allow the oven elements to cool completely. Wipe debris and deposits off the elements using a damp cloth and restore electrical power to the range or oven.

4. Manage Oven Temperature

Periodically check your oven's temperature accuracy using an oven thermometer. Over time, ovens can drift off course, their internal thermostats no longer reflecting the true temperature inside. This can lead to meals that are overcooked, undercooked, or just plain disappointing. The good news? Checking and adjusting your oven's temperature is easier than you might think.

• How to Check: Grab an oven thermometer (they're relatively inexpensive and widely available) and place it in the center of your oven. Set your oven to a specific temperature, let it preheat, then compare the oven's setting to the thermometer's reading. It's best to test at a few different temperatures to get an accurate picture.

• Finding Discrepancies: Notice a significant difference? It might be time for a recalibration. This sounds technical, but it's essentially just telling your oven to match its temperature display to what's actually happening inside.

• Recalibrating: Dive into your oven's user manual for specific instructions on recalibration. The process can vary between models and manufacturers, but it often involves pressing a series of buttons on the oven's control panel. If recalibration seems daunting or doesn't fix the issue, it might be time to consult a professional. An accurate oven temperature is key to successful baking, roasting, and broiling, ensuring your culinary efforts yield delicious results every time.

By periodically checking your oven's temperature, you're taking an important step in kitchen maintenance. It's a simple task that can make a big difference in your cooking, helping you avoid those perplexing moments when recipes don't turn out as expected. Keep your oven's temperature in check, and you'll be well on your way to consistently perfect pies, pastries, and more.

5. Have Your Oven Professionally Cleaned and Maintained Yearly

To keep your oven operating efficiently and safely, schedule a Sears Technician to perform a Clean & Maintain yearly. Yearly professional maintenance will also help your oven last longer.

During Oven Cleaning & Maintenance Service by Sears Home Services, the technician will complete these tasks:

• Check oven control operation. Controls are checked for accurate temperature control of the oven. Faulty controls can cause the oven to waste energy when overheating occurs.
• Examine oven door sealing and clean the oven door gasket. A loose oven door gasket or bent door hinges can prevent the oven door from sealing shut — allowing heat to escape during baking. You’ll wind up paying higher energy bills if heat constantly escapes the oven during baking because the burner will need to ignite more often and stay burning longer to heat the oven. The technician adjusts and cleans the oven door gasket to make sure it seals the oven door properly.
• Test oven self-cleaning operation. Some ranges have self-cleaning ovens. During the self-cleaning operation, the oven burners heat the oven to extremely high temperatures to burn spills and residue inside the oven to ash. To prevent fires, the oven door must remain shut and locked during self-cleaning. If you were to open the door during self-cleaning, a sudden rush of air into the extremely hot oven can cause a serious fire. The service technician checks the control and oven door lock to make sure it stays shut during the self-cleaning cycle.
• Check oven burners or elements. The tech examines and adjusts oven burners in a gas range or electric elements in an electric range. Gas oven burners that aren’t adjusted properly can fail to heat the oven properly and may emit excessive carbon monoxide. Electric elements that aren’t heating properly will fail to heat the oven properly. A shorted electric element can pose a serious electrocution risk.
• Inspect readily accessible electrical wiring. Whether you have a gas or an electric range, wiring needs to be periodically checked for insulation damage, proper grounding and secure connections. Damaged wiring can short to the metal in the range – causing an electrocution risk. Risk of electrocution is elevated if the ground connection of the range isn’t secure. The ground connection dissipates an electrical short to prevent you from getting an electric shock if a loose wire touches metal in the range. Having your range wiring checked by a technician helps ensure your safety.

Having your oven professionally serviced every year will help prevent unexpected breakdowns.

By following these oven maintenance tips, you can keep your appliance in good condition, improve energy efficiency, and ensure that it continues to cook food evenly.