A Viking oven is a pretty high-end piece of kitchen equipment, and it’s often the pride and joy of its owners. While it usually helps you achieve great results in the kitchen, it is not without faults, so you may still run into some problems. One of the most common problems you can face with your Viking oven is that it’s not heating up the way it should.
If your Viking oven won’t heat up properly, there can be a few reasons:
- It’s not getting enough power.
- An igniter failure.
- A faulty heating element.
- A problem with the oven door.
- A faulty thermostat.
In this article, I’ll go over some common problems that can cause your Viking oven to malfunction. I’ll go over why these problems happen and what you can do to solve those problems, so you can go back to performing magic in your kitchen.
It’s Not Getting Enough Power
Even if you’ve got a gas oven, it still needs some electricity to turn on. If the power supply is insufficient, your oven will not be able to heat up as much as it should. This may happen for a few reasons:
- The outlet voltage is incorrect.
- There is a tripped circuit breaker.
- The oven is not plugged in correctly.
Let’s examine how you can solve these problems.
How To Fix
The problems listed here can be fixed quite easily in a couple of steps most of the time. If you think there’s a more serious problem, it might be best to find a reputable repair company to help you, but there are some things you can do on your own.
- Make sure the outlet voltage is correct: While a gas oven can function with a 120V outlet, you’ll need 220V or 240V for an electric oven to function correctly. Otherwise, there won’t be enough power for it to heat up.
- Check your circuit box: Tripped breakers are a very common problem that doesn’t often pop into our minds when there’s something wrong with our appliances. Check your circuit box for tripped breakers. If there are some, reset them and try to turn your oven back on.
- Check if your oven is plugged in correctly: It is also possible that it is not plugged in properly. Try plugging it back in to see if it helps. You should also check the cable for damage and fraying. If that’s the case, you’ll have to get it replaced.
An Igniter Failure
The igniter performs two important tasks without which your oven cannot heat up. First, it gathers enough electrical current to open the valve so the gas can flow. After that, it has to create a spark and ignite the gas. If this task is not performed well enough, there won’t be enough heat.
Let’s see how you can troubleshoot and solve this problem.
How To Fix
Checking if your igniter has stopped working is quite simple.
- Turn the oven on and listen to or observe the igniter.
- Wait for it to light.
- If this doesn’t happen in under two minutes, it is broken.
When it comes to fixing the issue, there isn’t much you can do unless you’re confident in your electrical skills. You will have to replace the igniter, and the safest bet is to have it done by a professional. Doing this incorrectly may void your warranty or cause further problems with the oven.
A Faulty Heating Element
You will typically find two heating elements in your oven: one on the top and the other one on the bottom. They don’t have an unlimited life span, and they will get weaker and stop working over time. This might cause the oven to become warm but not hot, which is not enough for baking. In some cases, this can also be caused by bad contacts.
There are a few things to check to troubleshoot the problem.
How To Fix
If one of the heating elements is faulty, you can find blisters and bubbles on it, and sometimes, you may even find it broken in two. This is a sure sign that the element has to be replaced quickly.
If the contacts are causing the problem, the heating elements can be pockmarked or discolored. Since problems with the contacts can damage the heating elements, you’ll have to replace both components.
The best way to replace them is to have this done by a professional. This is typically not something that an inexperienced person can do.
A Problem with the Oven Door
In some cases, there might be nothing wrong with the oven itself, but you might have problems with the oven door. This will lead to hot air escaping, which makes the oven insufficiently hot, and prevents your food from being cooked evenly.
This may happen due to:
- Defective hinges
- Defective seals
Let’s see what you can do to solve this.
How to Fix
With the right tools, you can easily remove the oven door, closely inspect the hinges, and replace them if necessary. The problems may be caused by:
- Grease and bits of food.
- Broken springs in the hinge.
- The hinge not being tight enough.
- The hinge coming off.
Replace the hinges if necessary and ensure they’re tight enough to close properly. Clean and polish everything, removing the grease, crumbs, or any other bit of food.
When it comes to the seal on the door, it can be easily removed by gently pulling it. After that, you should clean the area thoroughly and install a new seal by firmly pressing it.
A Faulty Thermostat
The thermostat has a simple but important role. It powers the igniter so it can turn on the gas. There may be a problem in communication here, which will cause your oven not to heat up correctly.
Let’s check what you can do in this case.
How To Fix
It is often enough to simply recalibrate the thermostat, and it will start working great again. In other cases, you may need to replace it. Replacing it is not an easy task; it is certainly another problem that is best solved by an experienced electrician.