Gas ovens are a popular choice amongst professionals who work on delicious meals in commercial kitchens every day. Although there are electrical ovens available in the market as well, gas ovens allow professionals to experiment, maintain, and offer new tastes and varieties. But the problem is that if your commercial gas oven is not working properly, it could disrupt your day-to-day business. The good news is that many of the reasons a gas oven stops working are easy to fix. However, for some, you have to call in commercial appliances repair services. Below are the most common causes and how to fix them.
Common Reasons Why Your Commercial Gas Oven Is Not Working
The Gas Is Off
If you try to turn on your commercial gas oven and none of the burners work, it could be that the gas is turned off. It’s unlikely that the gas supply will cut off by itself, but it could be that someone shut off the valve while performing cleaning or inspection.
To make sure the gas valve is shut off, you will need to look at the supply valve behind the oven. The valve should be turned to the ‘ON’ position. If the oven still does not turn on, you will need to look at other possible causes. Just to be on the safe side, check the gas pipe for cracks or leakages as well as blockages. Sometimes, the reasons we least expect become the primary factor in causing problems.
The Oven Is Unplugged
Similar to the gas supply valve being turned off, it might be that the oven itself is unplugged. Although commercial gas ovens run primarily on gas, some variants come with electronic features that run on electricity. So, if there is any issue, the stove may not turn on due to safety reasons as well.
You need to keep in mind that commercial kitchen appliances need to follow industrial safety regulations. This is why, the majority of the appliances you come across are designed to shut down as soon as they detect something wrong. Since commercial kitchens can be extremely busy places, it does not even take a second for something bad to happen.
So, make sure that you check the power source and try plugging the oven into another socket. At the same time, check the circuit breaker along with the fuses as well.
The Breaker Is Tripped
The circuit breaker is a crucial safety device that ensures everyone’s safety inside a commercial kitchen. If you have ever been inside a commercial kitchen, you will come across a wide variety of electronic appliances. All these appliances are connected to the circuit breaker.
If there is a power fluctuation, the circuit breaker cuts off the power supply to these appliances to prevent malfunctions. In other words, it protects your expensive investments and business from disruptions. But if the circuit breaker tends to trip frequently, it could be due to a short circuit or some malfunctioning appliance.
Instead of taking your chances, you should consult an expert. It could also be that a fuse has gone bad inside the circuit breaker. However, it is still important to properly diagnose the issue.
Malfunctioning Heating Elements
Heating elements play an important role in reaching and maintaining the desired temperature. Ovens are designed to equally prepare meals, and if the heating elements are not working normally, you will come across half-cooked meals.
Plus, if your commercial oven is not heating up or taking longer than usual to heat, it might be that the heating elements are faulty. In most ovens, there are two heating elements, but there could be more depending on the variant and type.
To assess the issue, you will need to shut off the oven by removing its power cord. Make sure the heating elements are cool. Upon inspection, if you find any cracks or unusual signs, it means the heating elements need replacement. Contact a commercial gas oven repair Fairfax technician who can perform the replacement.
Faulty Temperature Sensor
The temperature sensor inside the commercial gas oven keeps track of the temperature and maintains it. If the temperature sensor is malfunctioning, it won’t be able to signal and communicate with the oven properly, which will most probably lead to under or overcooked food.
The only way to check the temperature sensor is by using a multimeter. If the readings on the multimeter are abnormal, you will need to consider changing the sensor. Make sure to contact the manufacturer or an expert for the exact replacement part.
Defective Igniter
A defective igniter is another reason your commercial gas oven might not be working the way it should be. It won’t ignite the gas to create a flame. If your commercial gas oven is not heating up, the igniter may be defective. Replacing the oven igniter might solve the issue, but then again, you will need to opt for the exact replacement.
Broken Door Seal
The door seal or gasket keeps the door and the oven’s interior tightly sealed for effective cooking. If the door seal happens to be worn or damaged, it won’t be able to keep the heat inside, which will result in temperature fluctuations. This usually happens due to the constant opening and closing of the doors.
Furthermore, if the gas oven was recently maintained or serviced, the expert may not have installed the seal properly. Simply check for cracks or any deformities. If there are, consider replacing the door seal.
Issues With Control Panel
Although issues with the control panel are not common among new units, if the unit happens to be old, you can expect some wear and tear to affect it. The control panel is home to all the settings and features that allow users to cook meals properly.
If the control panel is not responding or displaying an error, it could be due to bad circuitry or the control board itself. If possible, check for any loose connections or wires. It might also be that some wires connected to the control panel are damaged.
But, if you find nothing wrong, you will need to consult an expert, as such problems can be tricky to solve.
Lack Of Maintenance
Sometimes, the problem does not lie with the unit but with laziness and ignorance. Like other commercial appliances, you also need to maintain your oven. With time, dirt, grease, oil, and other accumulations tend to take place that affect the quality of the food and the performance of the unit.
This is why it is important to schedule expert maintenance that not only cleans the unit inside and out but also inspects it for any potential issues. This helps them identify issues and fix them before they hurt the business. So, depending on the usage, you should hire an expert to perform maintenance to keep the oven running smoothly.
Conclusion
The only way to ensure your gas oven runs without any issues is by keeping an eye out for unusual signs and hiring a commercial oven repair Arlington expert for thorough inspection and maintenance. Such an investment goes a long way in terms of keeping future troubles at bay.
