Fan Oven Not Heating Up but Grill Is – Quick Fixes (Solved)

Our customers frequently face a problem when their oven stops working, but the grill still works. If left unrepaired, it can damage other parts of your oven and become costly!

Join our experts here at Homeforce to learn some quick fixes for when your fan oven stops heating up, but the grill is still working.

Let’s get the short answer first before we explore each possibility in a little more detail.

• A frayed or damaged power cord
• Check the oven is switched on
• Clock or timer problems
• A faulty gas burner or oven element
• Oven thermostat
• Broken fan oven motor
• Tripped circuit breaker
• Blown fuse

The oven is not plugged in

This seems like a pretty obvious one, but it’s easy to check and rule out. Just make sure the oven is plugged into an outlet and that the outlet is receiving power.

Sometimes it may have been switched off by accident or tripped by a power surge.

Check the power cord

If the fuse is not the problem, the next thing to check is the power cord. Over time, the cord can become frayed or worn, which can cause problems with the flow of electricity.

Visually inspect the cord for any signs of damage. If you see any, unplug the cord and take it to a qualified appliance repair person or electrician to have it replaced.

If the cord looks in good condition, make sure it’s plugged into a working outlet. You can test the outlet by plugging in something else, like a lamp.

Clock or timer problems

One of the most common reasons for the grill still making the best bacon sandwich but you aren’t able to bake that cake you had set your heart on, is that the clock or timer isn’t set correctly.

The reason why your grill might still be working but the oven isn’t getting hot is that the clock or timer must be set correctly for the oven to come on.

Setting the clock is a simple process and can be done by following these instructions:

1. Check that the clock is set to the correct time. If it isn’t, then adjust it so that it is.
2. Set the timer for the required cooking time.
3. Start the oven by pressing the button or turning the knob to the correct setting.

Once you have checked or set the time, try preheating the oven again.

A faulty gas burner or oven element

If your oven still isn’t heating up, there could be a problem with the heating element or because the heating element is burnt out. This is most common in older ovens.

The heating element is what produces the heat in the oven, so if it’s not working, the oven won’t get hot.

To see if the heating element is working, you’ll need a multimeter device. 

The first thing you; need to do is locate the heating element. It looks like a big coil of metal and it’s inside the oven.

A multimeter is used to test for continuity, which means it will beep if there is a complete circuit. To test the heating element, set the multimeter to the continuity setting and touch one of the probes to each end of the heating element. If the multimeter beeps, that means there is continuity and the heating element is working.

Faulty Gas burner

If you have a gas oven, make sure that the burner igniter is working. To test if the igniter is working, turn on the oven to the grill setting and watch the burner. If the igniter is working, you should see a small spark as the igniter tries to light the gas.

If you don’t see a spark, or if the igniter is clicking but the burner doesn’t light, you’ll need to replace the igniter.

As with any gas appliance, you should never attempt repairs yourself. Always make sure you contact a Gas Safe registered engineer to carry out any repair work.

An issue with the oven thermostat

If your oven is still not heating up after replacing the igniter or oven element, then there could be an issue with the thermostat.

The thermostat is responsible for regulating the oven temperature, and if it’s not working properly then the oven may not heat up correctly.

To test the thermostat, you’ll need to use an oven thermometer. You can get an oven thermometer from most hardware stores.

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, place the oven thermometer in the centre of the oven and wait 10-15 minutes to see what temperature it registers.

If the oven thermometer reads the correct temperature (350 degrees), then the thermostat is probably working properly. If it’s not reading the correct temperature, you’ll need to replace the thermostat.

Fan oven motor

If your oven is not heating up and the light is on, then the problem could be with the fan oven motor. The fan oven motor circulates hot air around the oven, so if it’s not working, the oven won’t heat up properly.

When a fan oven motor is working properly, you should be able to hear it running.

If the fan oven motor is not working, you’ll need to replace it. It’s important to consult your owner’s manual to find out how to remove and replace the fan oven motor, as it’s usually a bit more complex than replacing the light bulb.

Just make sure to unplug the oven before you start taking it apart. Only attempt this if you are skilled in oven repair or feel confident to tackle this job yourself.

If not it might be time to call specialist oven repair technicians or maybe think about getting appliance cover to save you from any costs you hadn’t budgeted for!

Tripped circuit breaker

If your oven is not heating up and the light is off, check to see if the circuit breaker has been tripped.

The circuit breaker supplies power to the oven, so if it’s tripped, the oven won’t work, although your grill will.

The breaker box for the oven is usually located fairly near. 

A breaker box is just a big switch that controls the power to your appliances.

You can usually reset the breaker by flipping it off, and then on again. Just make sure you know which breaker corresponds to your oven before you start flipping switches.

Check the fuse

If your oven is plugged in and the outlet is working but the oven still won’t turn on, there may be a blown fuse. Replacing a blown fuse is usually a pretty easy fix.

First, locate the fuse box. It’s usually in the basement, garage, or utility room. Once you’ve found it, open the panel and look for a blown fuse. If you see one, replace it with a new fuse of the same amperage.

If you’re not sure which fuse corresponds to your oven, flip them all off, then one by one, turn them back on until the oven starts working again.

For more advice on problems with your electric oven, head over to another of our useful guides – Electric Oven is Not Heating Up: Here Why and What to Do

Fan oven not heating up but grill is – Wrapping up

These are the most common reasons an oven won’t heat up, but your grill is still working. By troubleshooting the problem and following the steps above, you should be able to get your oven working again in no time.

However, please never attempt any repairs on a gas oven as this can be extremely dangerous. If you have a gas oven and it’s not working, always call a professional to take a look.

From your oven to your boiler and even the plumbing and drainage, we provide repairs and maintenance for all of the essential household appliances that keep your home running smoothly.

Our experts in oven repair here at Homeforce will be able to help with gas or electric oven repair, so give us a call today!