Electric Oven Repair Cost

An electric oven breakdown can throw your household into chaos and leave your cooking routine in disarray. Unfortunately, there are some common problems that UK homeowners can face with electric ovens, including unresponsive controls, oven not heating, broken fans or uneven cooking.

Not only does this disrupt family mealtimes, but it can also cause worry about electrical faults with the inherent dangers they pose. So, timely repairs are needed to restore the function of your oven, but also to avoid related problems and possible replacement costs.

Luckily, many issues are repairable, such as a faulty thermostat or broken fan and a replacement oven is not necessarily needed - saving you money and stress.

How Much is Electric Oven Repair?

The average cost of an electric oven repair is between £70 and £200. Exact costs depend on the particular fault, the oven’s age, the brand and whether it’s an integrated or freestanding model.

Local labour rates vary too, so this will affect how much you pay. London and the southeast are more expensive, while northern parts of England and rural locations are cheaper.

On occasion, a DIY repair is possible. For example, replacing the door seal or bulb is relatively straightforward. However, if you’re not comfortable dealing with electrics, it’s better to call a qualified professional for anything more complicated.

More complex repairs should always be done by a registered electrician for safety reasons and to ensure the oven’s continued functionality.

Electric Oven Repair Prices

Prices will vary depending on several factors such as your location and the corresponding local labour rates, the type of oven and the availability of parts.

Electric Oven Repair Supply Costs

The price of materials to repair an electric oven makes up around 30- 50% of the final bill. So, it’s important to get an idea of how much the parts will cost so that you can budget effectively.

Heating Elements

An average cost for an electric oven heating element is between £15 and £30. The make and model of the particular oven will influence pricing. To make sure you buy the right one, check the model number of your particular oven, which will usually be on the oven door frame or on the back of the appliance.

Thermostats

The price of an electric oven thermostat is approximately £15-£70, depending on the brand and specific model. Budget or universal thermostats are at the lower end of the range at £15-£25, while brand-specific units cost more at £20-£40, and specialised thermostats are the most expensive at £40-£70 plus.

Fans and Motors

Electric oven fans ensure that food is cooked evenly by circulating the heat inside the compartment. Unevenly cooked food is a sign that the fan is not working. A new fan and motor will cost between £20 and £45, although some expensive brands will cost more to replace.

Control Boards

The control board manages the essential functions of an electric oven, including the heating controls. If it has to be replaced, prices are on average between £120 and £200 for common models. However, some high-end brands can cost over £700.

Door Seals

Faulty door seals allow heat to escape from the oven, meaning food won’t cook evenly. The average price for a new door seal for an electric oven is between £10 and £30. Higher-end brands may cost slightly more at around £50.

In each case, generic parts rather than branded ones will cost less. However, you should use those which are recommended by the manufacturer. While they may cost more, they are specifically made for your oven, compatible and likely to last longer. Genuine parts can be sourced from manufacturers’ websites, appliance part suppliers or other online sources.

Additional Electric Oven Repair Costs

In addition to the parts and labour that make up the price of an electric oven repair, there are other costs to consider. Among them are call-out and diagnostic fees, safety checks, rewiring or the need to replace more than one part. Access to built-in ovens is another often overlooked extra expense.

Emergency Call-Out Fees

Fees range from around £80 to £150 for Monday to Friday callouts and £150 to £200 for weekends. This price typically covers the first hour of labour, including any preliminary assessment or fault-finding for your oven.

Diagnostic Inspections

The initial assessment may not uncover the problem with your oven when there’s an intermittent fault. In these cases, a more detailed diagnostic inspection is needed, and this adds to the final cost depending on how long it takes and the extent of the problem. Prices range from £80 to over £150.

Replacing Multiple Parts

It’s possible that when an electric oven develops a fault, more than one component may need to be replaced or repaired. The cost to fit or fix additional parts will depend on how many are needed, their function and how complex the repair or installation is.

Access Difficulties for Built-in Ovens

Gaining access to the oven is more difficult when it’s built into the cabinetry of the kitchen rather than free-standing. The need to remove the oven will add to the labour costs and the time it takes to carry out the repair.

Rewiring or Safety Checks

Electricians will carry out technical checks, including earth continuity tests, insulation resistance tests, polarity checks and Residual Current Device (RCD) checks, on an oven that is faulty. All are key to ensuring the safety of the appliance. Rewiring may be necessary, particularly if the existing cabling is dated. These checks and tests add to the repair cost.

Labour Costs and Timescales for Electric Oven Repairs

The hourly rate for electricians in the UK ranges from around £45 to £75, while day rates go from £150 to £400. Location is a major influencing factor, with London being the most expensive, followed by other large cities like Glasgow. Rates for electricians are around 30% higher in the capital than in the northeast of the UK.

An appliance repair engineer charges around £40-£80# per hour, depending on location. Fixed prices or per-job rates are more common than a daily rate, as most appliance repairs don’t take a full day.

Simple jobs may be done in an hour or less. However, complex diagnostics or part replacements can take 2-3 hours or even require a return visit. Emergency call-outs or those in the evenings or at weekends are more expensive than a pre-booked or daytime visit.

Cost Factors for Electric Oven Repair

There are multiple factors which impact the cost of an electric oven repair, from the location to the oven’s brand and age, the severity of the fault, and the availability of spare parts. All these elements will influence your final bill.

Type and Severity of the Fault

The fault in your oven may be a straightforward one that is easy to fix, like a broken door seal. On the other hand, it may be a complex issue requiring the replacement of the control board. A simple or moderate repair will be done quickly and with less cost than a major fault, which takes longer to rectify and adds to the labour costs

Age and Brand of the Oven

An older oven can be hard to source parts for, and the repair may take longer to complete. Similarly, there is the possibility that a replacement oven is more economically practical than repairing an older model. Typically, when the repair is more than 50% of the cost of a new oven, replacement is a better option.

The parts for high-end brands are frequently more expensive than most mid-range makes.

Availability of Spare Parts

The availability of replacement components for your electric oven is another factor in the cost of repair. Readily sourced parts result in a fast repair with no delay and lower costs.

Conversely, parts for older models of ovens can be hard to find as they may no longer be manufactured. This has the effect of extending the time that the oven is out of action, potentially costing you more.

Integrated or Freestanding Oven

An integrated oven has been designed to fit seamlessly into the kitchen cabinetry, giving a sleek, uncluttered look. But when it needs repair, this can be a problem.

To access most parts of the oven, an electrician will need to remove the appliance from its position, which increases labour costs. A freestanding oven is much easier to access for repairs, reducing the labour time and associated fees.

Location

Your location has a direct bearing on the cost of repairing an electric oven. In particular, London is between 20% and 30% more in terms of repair costs than Wales, Scotland or the north of England. The reasons are elevated labour rates reflecting increased overheads, as well as expenses such as ULEZ and parking charges.

Living in a rural area does not automatically guarantee a lower cost of electric oven repair. An electrician or appliance repair engineer may have to travel further to reach you, and this adds to travel expenses. You will also have fewer options than someone living in a large city, meaning you end up paying more, as your choices are limited.

Urgency of the Repair

A faulty oven is a major inconvenience at any time. But when it’s at a busy time, such as Christmas or if you have a large family, it becomes a pressing matter.

Therefore, the urgency of a repair will affect how much you pay. Emergency, weekend or evening call-out charges are higher than standard rates as you are requesting an immediate or out-of-hours response. An urgent repair can similarly push up the material costs if your electrician needs to prioritise the delivery of a replacement part.

Building Regulations Related to Electric Oven Repairs

Part P of the Building Regulations covers almost all electrical work in the home, including ‘special locations’ such as bathrooms and kitchens. And even though an electric oven repair is not considered notifiable work under Building Regs, a qualified electrician is recommended for all work other than a minor part swap or to install a plug-in appliance.

If you plan to install a new circuit, consumer unit, or carry out any electrical work in a kitchen or bathroom, a Part P-certified electrician is required to ensure legal compliance and safety.

Types of Electric Oven Repairs

There are a few potential issues that may stop your oven from working properly. Knowing what to look out for can help you narrow down the cause and get your oven fixed promptly.

Heating Element Replacement

An oven that’s not heating up may have one of a number of potential causes, but starting with the heating element makes sense. If your oven is not heating up, is slow to heat, or food is being unevenly cooked, it can indicate a problem with the element.

You might notice a strange burning while the oven is on, or the oven may cause tripping in the circuit breaker when you try to use it. If your oven has a visible heating element, other signs to look for are damage to the element, including warping, breaks or burn marks. Alternatively, the element may fail to glow red or orange when the oven is switched on.

Replacing the heating element is the usual repair approach for this problem.

Thermostat Repair

An oven that burns your food or fails to cook it at all is likely to have a faulty thermostat. Other indicators are the oven’s failure to change the temperature when it’s adjusted or needing very long pre-heating times.

You may also notice that the indicator light remains on or doesn’t come on at all. The characteristic clicking sound may also be missing when you adjust the temperature control knob. Odd smells or smoke can also be a sign that the oven is overheating.

The solution to a faulty thermostat is to have it replaced.

Fan Motor Replacement

There are some clear signs when your electric oven fan motor is not working correctly, such as a lack of movement or very slow spinning. It may make some unusual noises, like grinding or buzzing, when in use and take a long time to heat up.

Food is often unevenly cooked when the fan is broken, with dishes typically being burnt at the back. This is because there is an uneven distribution of heat. If you get access to the fan, it can be stiff and difficult to move manually.

The fan blades are moved by the motor, and these experience wear and tear over time. The impeller and motor are a single unit which can be replaced to restore the oven’s functionality.

Control Panel or Timer Fix

A control panel or timer issue may manifest in a variety of ways. The display may go blank, dim or show a garbled array of numbers and letters. It can become unresponsive or work only intermittently.

Symptoms with the oven itself include a lack of heat or fluctuating temperatures, the timer failing to work properly or emitting beeping sounds at random times. You may see error codes depending on the brand and model of oven. Check your user manual for what these indicate.

Any issue with the control panel should be dealt with by a qualified electrician or appliance repair engineer. They may install a new control board or repair failed capacitors and damaged relays.

Door Hinge or Seal Replacement

An electric oven door’s hinge or seal issues are usually easy to spot. Signs that a seal needs replacing include visible damage such as cracking, burn marks or flattening at the corners.

To test the seal, close the oven door on a sheet of paper and try to pull it out. If the paper comes out easily, the seal is not tight enough and needs to be replaced.

Faulty hinges will cause the door to sit unevenly, not close properly or make grinding noises during opening and closing. You may find it hard to keep the door slightly open, such as when using a top grill or notice that it feels loose.

Replacing the affected parts will fix the problem and extend the life of your oven.

Alternative Types of Cooking Appliance Repairs

If there’s no viable electric oven repair solution for your particular fault, you’ll have to consider the alternatives.

Replacing the Oven

Installing a new oven is a common option in these situations. Often, an electric oven has just worn out due to years of use and needs to be replaced, especially if the cost to repair the existing oven is high.

Switching to Gas or Induction Appliances

Making a change to a gas oven is possible as long as you are connected to the gas grid, as 80-85% of households are. A dedicated gas line to the kitchen is needed and may already be present. The oven should be installed by a Gas Safe-registered engineer.

Running costs of a gas oven are cheaper than those of an electric one, although the purchase price for both is similar.

Replacing an electric oven gives you the chance to upgrade. You could choose to install an induction hob with its instant responsiveness, rapid boiling times and surfaces that are cool to the touch. Most induction ranges feature a traditional, electric oven.

The price of an induction hob will vary depending on the brand and model you buy, but they are generally more expensive than standard electric or gas hobs. You may also have to purchase new pans as they need a magnetic base to work. Induction hobs are highly efficient and may save you money on your electricity bill, depending on levels of use.

Using an Air Fryer

Air fryers are currently very popular. They are a healthy choice as they cook food without using oil or fat. Obviously, there are some things you can’t cook with an air fryer that you would normally use an oven for, such as pizza, but for the most part, it’s a good substitute.

The cost of an air fryer is dependent on the brand you buy and can be purchased for between £30 and £270. According to Uswitch, using an air fryer is cheaper than running an electric oven as it uses less electricity, cooks at lower temperatures and in a faster time.

Swap to a Toaster Oven

Toaster ovens are very popular in the US and France, offering all the same functions as a full-size oven but in a compact unit that fits on your worktop. It can be used for roasting, baking and grilling.

A toaster oven costs from £20 to over £150, depending on the make you choose and running costs are cut in half compared to a full-size oven. However, they are more suitable for one or two people and not for families or larger households.

Hiring Contractors Checklist for Electric Oven Repair

Hiring a contractor can be a daunting task, particularly if you’ve never had to do it before. Asking the right questions can make the process a lot easier and ensure you hire someone who is qualified to repair electric ovens and do so safely.

Is the Engineer Qualified and Insured?

Working with electrical appliances, for the most part, requires the services of a registered electrician and in many cases, they should also be Part P certified. They should also have Public Liability Insurance.

You can request proof of their cover, as well as check the Registered Competent Person Electrical website to confirm their registration. You can also verify their credentials via NICEIC or NAPIT.

AreThey Familiar with your Oven Brand/Model?

Working with electrical appliances, for the most part, requires the services of a registered electrician and in many cases, they should also be Part P certified. They should also have Public Liability Insurance.

Diagnosing fault codes and rectifying the problem is easier and quicker for electricians who are acquainted with the brand and model.

Do they charge a call-out fee?

A question to ask before you book an appliance repair engineer or electrician is whether they charge a call-out fee. If it’s an emergency, in the evening or at the weekend, chances are they will. A pre-booked daytime appointment doesn’t usually incur this charge.

Do They Offer a Fixed Quote or an Hourly Rate?

When hiring any tradesperson, asking how they charge is very important and helps you budget for the work.

An hourly rate means they are being paid for the amount of time they spend on site, working on your repair. A fixed quote means they give you a price for the whole job, regardless of how long they are at your home.

Are Spare Parts Included in the Quote?

Another essential question to ask is whether any spare parts are included in the electric oven repair cost. Some components may be cheap, like a door seal, but others, such as a control board, can run to hundreds of pounds. Knowing what is included in your quote is therefore crucial so you don’t end up with a nasty surprise.

Do They Offer Any Warranty on the Repair?

A registered electrician will offer a guarantee on their workmanship as they are entering into a contract with you. The warranty is often 6 years and is provided through NICEIC or NAPIT. You should verify with your electrician exactly what guarantee they offer and for how long.

Homeowners need to conduct their own research when looking for an electrician, and this involves reading reviews on websites and other sources such as social media. For their part, a professional tradesperson should offer transparent pricing and explain the conditions attached to guarantees.

Removing an Electric Oven for Repair: Considerations and Costs

A freestanding oven provides easier access for an electrician. The oven can be pulled away from the wall so that all parts can be reached. However, an integrated oven is housed in cabinetry and gaining access is more difficult.

The first step is to isolate the power so that the oven can be safely removed. Turn off the electricity at the dedicated cooker switch or at the circuit breaker. You can use a multimeter to verify that there is no power going to the oven before you proceed.

Once the electricity supply to the oven is off, the screws holding it in place can be undone. Open the oven door to access them. It’s a good idea to completely remove the door before taking the oven out, as this reduces the weight and protects the glass from any damage.

The oven can then be slid out of its housing and put on a table or other solid surface.

If you have a built-in oven, check that any quote you receive includes removing it from its cabinetry housing. You may find that this is charged separately. Either way, it’s not recommended that you attempt to remove the oven yourself, for your own safety and to prevent any damage to the oven or its housing during removal.

Unless you are confident about isolating the oven from the electricity supply and the mechanics of removing it from its location, it’s better to leave this job to the professionals.

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