When your oven won’t heat up, the culprit is often the stove element, the heating coil inside your oven that glows red when working properly. Also known as the bake element, it’s one of the most common parts to fail in electric ovens. If it’s cracked, blistered, or just doesn’t glow, your food won’t cook — no matter how long you wait.
Testing a stove element doesn’t need a pro. All you need is a multimeter and 10 minutes. First, turn off the power at the breaker. Then pull the oven out, remove the back panel, and unplug the element. Touch the multimeter probes to the two terminals. If you get zero or very low resistance, the element is dead. If it reads between 15 and 120 ohms, it’s still good. Many people skip this step and just buy a new oven — but replacing the element costs less than $50 and takes under an hour.
Other signs your stove element is failing? Uneven baking, longer preheat times, or a burning smell with no visible glow. Sometimes the element looks fine but still won’t work — that’s why testing matters. You might also be dealing with a faulty thermostat, control board, or wiring — but always check the element first. It’s the most likely issue, and the easiest to fix.
If you’ve got a gas oven, this doesn’t apply — those use burners and igniters, not electric coils. But if you’re using an electric range, stove, or built-in oven, the stove element is your first stop. Even older ovens from the 90s often have replaceable elements. You don’t need to replace the whole appliance just because one part gave out.
Many people think they need an electrician to fix this, but you don’t. Appliance technicians handle this daily — and so can you, if you’re careful. The real risk isn’t the element itself — it’s working on live wiring. Always turn off the breaker. Never guess. And if you’re unsure, call someone who’s done it before.
Below, you’ll find real guides from people who’ve been there: how to test the element, what to look for, when to replace it, and why some repairs cost less than a new microwave. Whether you’re in Warwick or anywhere else in the UK, knowing how to test your oven element saves you time, money, and a lot of frustration.
Learn how to tell if your electric stove element is bad with simple visual checks and a multimeter test. Discover common signs, how to replace it yourself, and when to call a pro.
