How to Fix Thermal Fuses in Ovens
You’re going to give that new recipe you found a shot, but when you turn on your Whirlpool oven, you find it’s not heating up.
There could be several reasons why it’s not working, but many homeowners find out after the fact (and the repair invoice!) that they’d blown a fuse. If you have a blown fuse, we can help you replace it with some simple DIY tips.
If you are unsure what to do or have no experience repairing your own appliances, call for professional help instead. Trying to be your own handyman when you’re not sure what you’re doing can lead to injury. For a repair service who has years of experience repairing all major brands of ovens, Whirlpool included, call Ottawa Pro Appliance Repair. We service the Ottawa area and can replace your thermal fuse quickly and efficiently.
Signs You Have a Blown Fuse
Sometimes there could be multiple reasons why your oven is not working, and it’s not always clear what the problem is. If you think your thermal fuse has blown, but aren’t sure, here are a few signs:
- Oven won’t heat up but stove does
- Oven heats up but doesn’t bake evenly
- No visible problems with heating elements
- Replaced elements but oven still won’t heat up
Steps for Replacing the Thermal Fuse
Disconnect Power: The first thing you need to do, before anything else, is to disconnect the oven’s electrical power. To do this, shut the breakers off and unplug the oven from its outlet. You need to do this to prevent injury.
Remove Oven: The next thing that you need to do is to remove the oven from the wall. You might need help with this. Pull it out and place it on the floor or on a table if it’s not too heavy. You can place a sturdy platform or lay towels on the floor to prevent scratches and other damage.
Remove Back Panel: The fuses should be located in the back of the oven. Take a screwdriver and remove the screws in the back panel, starting with the bottom screws. Have someone hold the back panel in place to prevent it from falling while you are removing the screws. Once it is off, place the back panel to the side where it won’t be in the way.
Remove Fuse: Now that the back panel is off, find the broken fuse and remove it. To do this you will need to disconnect the wires and remove the mounting screws that are holding the thermal fuse in place. Take note of where the wires connect so you remember for when you reconnect them. Once you have removed the fuse, place it to the side. Make sure you set it away from the new fuse so you don’t accidently put the broken one back in.
Install New Fuse: Once the burnt out fuse has been removed, take the new one and position it in the back of the oven where the old fuse was. Start by replacing the mounting screws back in to hold the thermal fuse in place. Then reconnect the wires into the new fuse.
Replace Back Panel and Reinstall: When your new thermal fuse is in place and you have reconnected the wires, you can put the back panel back on. Have someone hold it in place while you put the screws back in. Then push the oven back into its place. Once it is in place, plug it in and reset the breakers to restore the oven’s electrical power.