What is actually happening
An oven that is merely weak rather than cold is usually a thermostat drifting out of calibration, or a door seal that has hardened and is letting heat escape. Both develop slowly, which is why people usually notice it as recipes going wrong rather than as a fault. A cheap oven thermometer settles it in one bake.
The usual causes
- A thermostat that has drifted and now runs cool
- A perished or flattened door seal letting heat out
- A door hinge dropped so the door no longer closes square
- One of two elements failed on a dual-element oven, halving the heat
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, set 180°C, and compare after twenty minutes
- Run a hand around the closed door for escaping heat, and check the seal for hard or missing sections
- Check the door closes square and does not drop when opened
Still not getting hot enough?
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 not getting hot enough?
The oven heats, but food takes far longer than it should or cooks unevenly. An oven that is merely weak rather than cold is usually a thermostat drifting out of calibration, or a door seal that has hardened and is letting heat escape. Both develop slowly, which is why people usually notice it as recipes going wrong rather than as a fault. A cheap oven thermometer settles it in one bake.
Can I fix a oven not getting hot enough myself?
Put an oven thermometer on the middle shelf, set 180°C, and compare after twenty minutes. Run a hand around the closed door for escaping heat, and check the seal for hard or missing sections. Check the door closes square and does not drop when opened. 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 not getting hot enough?
£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 grill not working
- oven tripping the electrics
- oven burning smell
- oven light not working
- oven door will not close
- oven cooking unevenly