The Importance of Electrical Safety

If your kitchen is fitted with an electric oven, it is important that you can recognise when the heating element needs to be replaced. The heating element is a key component as it is this part of the oven which generates the heat needed to cook food. A modern electric oven will typically feature several elements. These are typically found in the bottom and top side of the oven space. With use, electrical heating elements can suffer from wear and tear which causes them to fail. If this occurs, they will need to be replaced.

While this is a relatively straightforward task, if a heating element fails just as you are about to prepare dinner, it is highly likely you will be calling the local pizza delivery company instead. Below is a guide to 3 warning signs that you need appliance repairs for your oven.

Uneven Colouring

When an electrical heating element is operating as it should be, it will appear to be a bar of unbroken orange. One way of testing if the element is reaching the end of its lifespan is to switch on the oven and wait for the element to warm up. Once the oven has warmed up, you should open the oven door and look at the exposed parts of the element. If you notice that some parts of the element are a duller orange than the others, this is a warning sign that the element needs to be replaced.

Misshapen Surface

When electricity flows through the element, it will begin to expand as it warms up. Once you have finished cooking and the oven cools down, the element will begin to contract. This constant expansion and contraction place the metal element under a great deal of stress. Eventually, this stress may cause the metal to become fatigued. This metal fatigue results in the element becoming misshapen. You may see strange bulges on the surface of the metal which can result in improper heat distribution and unevenly cooked food. If you notice that the element has become misshapen, you should have it replaced immediately.

Surface Cracks

The constant expansion and contraction can also cause the element to crack. When you carry out a visual inspection of the element, you should make note of any cracks in the surface of the metal. A crack may impede the flow of electricity to the rest of the element which could cause serious problems when you try to heat your oven.

For more advice, contact an electrical appliance repair company.