How to Safely Replace a Gas Oven Ignitor

How often do you slide your roast, pizza, or casserole in the oven, set the temperature, and turn it on to bake? Baking is a cinch...that is, as long as the oven heats up. What happens when the oven doesn't get hot?

If your oven isn't heating up, the problem may be with the electric oven ignitor. Those very words sound a little daunting and dangerous, but not to worry: With a few tools from the electrical toolbox and a little patience, you can change it yourself and save a little money. 

Safety Considerations

If you smell gas inside the oven when you open it, turn off both the oven's control dial and the its main gas valve and open the windows to ventilate the area. Call a plumber or appliance technician to look at the oven if there is a noticeable gas odor; do not attempt to fix it yourself.

If there is a strong smell of gas in the kitchen or anywhere else in the house, get everyone out of the house immediately. Call 911 from outside the house.

Before You Begin

This fix is an easy one but work carefully. Hiring a certified appliance repair person is always recommended when replacing mechanical parts on an appliance, especially if you feel out of your depth. It's also important to check your warranty information first. If your oven is still under warranty, attempting a DIY repair may invalidate it. In that case, it pays to call the pros. To buy a replacement ignitor, visit a local appliance store, or check with the manufacturer's web site. Either way, you will need the precise model number of your oven in order to buy the correct replacement part.

As with any electrical project, always disconnect the power to the appliance that you will be working on. To do this, either unplug the appliance's cord from the wall or turn off the circuit breaker or fuse that supplies the power to the circuit. Use a circuit tester to double-check that the circuit is off.