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Oven Not Heating: Igniters, Elements, and the $150 Fix

Why gas ovens fail to light and electric ovens fail to heat, what each repair costs, and the safety lines you should not cross.

Gas: it’s almost always the igniter

A gas oven that clicks, glows weakly, or smells faintly of gas before lighting late has a worn igniter — the single most common oven repair, $150–$300 fixed. Igniters weaken gradually, so "takes longer and longer to light" is the classic early symptom.

Electric: elements and sensors

An element that won’t glow is usually visibly blistered or broken — a $150–$300 swap. Uneven or wildly inaccurate temperatures point to the temperature sensor ($125–$250) before the control board. Verify with an oven thermometer: many "broken" ovens are 25°F miscalibrated, which is adjustable.

The control board cliff

Dead displays and unresponsive controls are board territory: $250–$600 depending on brand, which on a budget range fails the 50% rule. On premium ranges (~15-year gas lifespans) the same board is usually worth it.

Safety lines

Element swaps on an unplugged electric oven are reasonable DIY. Anything on the gas path — valves, regulators, lines — is professional work, full stop. A licensed, insured tech (AARA Standard 1) carries the leak-test gear and the liability coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Why won’t my gas oven light? A worn igniter, in the large majority of cases — a $150–$300 repair. Slow lighting that gets gradually worse is the classic warning sign.
  2. How much does it cost to fix an oven that won’t heat? Igniters and elements run $150–$300; temperature sensors $125–$250; control boards $250–$600.

Sources

  1. r/appliancerepair (community of working technicians)
  2. First American — Appliance & Home System Lifespans (NAHB data)

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