Oven Thermostat Problems and How to Fix Them

When your oven won’t heat properly, the culprit is often the oven thermostat, a device that controls the temperature inside your oven by turning the heating element on and off. Also known as an temperature sensor, it’s the brain behind consistent baking and roasting. If it fails, your oven might run too hot, too cold, or not heat at all—even if the burner lights up. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it ruins meals, wastes energy, and can even be a safety risk.

Most oven thermostat issues happen in older units, especially those over 10 years old. You’ll notice it when your cookies burn on one side and stay raw on the other, or when the oven takes forever to reach 350°F. In gas ovens, a faulty thermostat often means the pilot light stays on but the main burner doesn’t ignite properly. In electric ovens, it can cause the heating elements to stay on nonstop or not turn on at all. These aren’t random glitches—they’re classic signs of thermostat failure. Many people assume they need a full oven replacement, but in most cases, replacing just the thermostat fixes the problem for less than $100.

It’s not always the thermostat, though. Sometimes it’s a broken heating element, a blown fuse, or even a misaligned temperature probe. But if your oven’s display shows the right temperature and it still doesn’t cook right, the thermostat is the first thing to check. You can test it with a multimeter if you’re comfortable, or just call a technician who knows how to diagnose it quickly. Most repair shops can swap it out in under an hour.

What you’ll find in the posts below are real fixes from people who’ve been there—how to tell if your oven’s thermostat is bad, why gas ovens fail differently than electric ones, what tools you really need, and when it’s smarter to replace the whole unit instead. No fluff. Just clear, practical advice that helps you save money and get your oven working again.