Electric oven?

Question

Our electric oven coil caught fire and it didn't go out until we unplugged it. Does this mean we have to get a whole new oven or can we replace the coil?

Answer 1

That depends upon what actually was burning.  Without seeing the oven, I can only make generalizations, so here goes.

Ovens are basically a large metal box.  Every component in the oven is metal.  It's unlikely that the heating element is what was burning, but rather accumulated grease and food.  My guess is that your oven needs a good cleaning.

Answer 2

You should be able to buy a replacement coil but, I have to ask, did the coil catch on fire? or did food stuck to the coil burn? I'm figuring it was food, the coil may still be good. Clean it and try it.

Answer 3

Since the fire didn't go out until you unplugged the oven it's probably the element.  To replace first unplug the oven.  There are usually 2 nuts at the rear of the oven which hold the element in place. Remove them and pull the element out a few inches and you should see the 2 wires that need to be unplugged.  It's easier if you use needle nose pliers.  Take the old one to an appliance store and get a replacement.

Answer 4

I would THINK just the coil.But why did it catch fire? I am guessing it is the lower Bake coil.Remove it , then turn on the Broiler coil(upper) to see if it works.If it DOESN'T,then the whole oven might be blown.

Answer 5

If the coil actually has a "hole"in it, you can just replace the coil.  It's actually a rather easy job.  Usually a couple of screws where the coil plugs into the back of the oven and you slide the old one out and put the new one in.

If it caught fire because it was dirty, then a good cleaning should take care of it.

From your explanation, it sounds like the coil was the culprit because if it was soil/food/junk burning, it would have kept on burning even after you cut the power to it.

I had that happen to me once!  Christmas Eve afternoon, baking pies; scared the caca outta the kids!  Looked like someone light a big sparkler in the oven!  Thank God, I didn't have any pies in there yet!