What is actually happening
A fan oven exists to even out the heat, so uneven cooking usually means either the fan is not moving air properly or one of the heat sources has failed and the oven is limping along on the other. A thermostat that has drifted produces the same complaint from a different direction — the oven is even, just not at the temperature you asked for.
The usual causes
- A failing fan motor, so heat is no longer circulated
- One element failed on an oven with more than one
- A thermostat that has drifted out of calibration
- A door seal leaking heat from one corner
- Shelves or trays blocking the airflow at the back
What you can safely check yourself
Work through these in order. Anything past this point — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the appliance plugged in.
- Put an oven thermometer on the middle shelf and compare against the dial after twenty minutes
- Check the fan is turning and audible during cooking
- Try cooking with a single tray in the centre, well clear of the back, to rule out blocked airflow
Still cooking unevenly?
If the checks above have not sorted it, it needs looking at properly. £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
Local engineers covering Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — same and next-day appointments, and the person who comes out is one of ours, not a subcontractor.
Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need
Common questions
Why is my oven cooking unevenly?
Food burns on one side and stays pale on the other, or the temperature is nothing like the dial says. A fan oven exists to even out the heat, so uneven cooking usually means either the fan is not moving air properly or one of the heat sources has failed and the oven is limping along on the other. A thermostat that has drifted produces the same complaint from a different direction — the oven is even, just not at the temperature you asked for.
Can I fix a oven cooking unevenly myself?
Put an oven thermometer on the middle shelf and compare against the dial after twenty minutes. Check the fan is turning and audible during cooking. Try cooking with a single tray in the centre, well clear of the back, to rule out blocked airflow. Those checks fix it more often than not. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly.
How much does it cost to repair a oven cooking unevenly?
£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
Other oven faults
- oven not heating up
- oven fan not working
- oven not getting hot enough
- oven grill not working
- oven tripping the electrics
- oven burning smell
- oven light not working
- oven door will not close