Oven Stops Heating: Common Causes and How to Fix It

When your oven stops heating, a malfunction in the heating system that prevents the oven from reaching or maintaining temperature. Also known as oven not heating, it’s one of the most common appliance failures in UK homes. It’s not always a sign your oven is dead—more often, it’s just one part giving out. You don’t need to replace the whole thing right away. Most times, it’s a broken oven element, the coil inside the oven that glows red when it’s working. Also known as heating element, it’s the part that actually makes the heat. Or maybe your oven thermostat, the control that tells the oven when to turn the heat on and off. Also known as temperature sensor, it’s the brain behind the temperature. is out of whack. These aren’t expensive parts, and you can test them with a basic multimeter if you’re comfortable doing a little DIY.

Here’s what usually goes wrong: the element burns out from age or a power surge. You might see it cracked, blistered, or not glowing at all. The thermostat can drift over time and think the oven is hotter than it really is, so it shuts off early. Sometimes the thermal fuse—a safety device—blows if things get too hot. Or the wiring gets loose from repeated heating and cooling cycles. These aren’t mysterious problems. They happen. And they’re fixable. You don’t need a degree in engineering to spot the signs. Just look for the obvious: no glow, no heat, odd error codes, or the oven turning off before it’s done. If you’ve tried resetting the breaker and the oven still won’t heat, it’s not a power issue—it’s internal.

What you’ll find below are real, tested fixes from people who’ve been there. No fluff. No theory. Just what actually works. We’ve pulled together guides on how to test your element, check the thermostat, spot a blown fuse, and decide when it’s time to call a technician. Some of these fixes take 15 minutes. Others might save you hundreds by avoiding a full replacement. Whether you’re a weekend tinkerer or just want to know if your oven is worth saving, you’ll find clear steps that match what’s likely broken in your unit. Let’s get your oven working again.