Why Your Oven Takes Forever to Preheat (Fixed) -

Preheating an oven is something everyone does.

You will want to prep the oven to ensure it’s set to a specific temperature. However, what if your oven takes forever to preheat?

If an oven takes forever to preheat, the most common reason is a damaged or malfunctioning oven igniter. This part is responsible for sending resistance to the gas valve, which then allows the main valve to open. To fix this issue, remove the bottom plate, pull off the oven igniter, and replace it with a new one.

Once the new oven igniter is installed, the oven should preheat perfectly.

It’s important to change the oven igniter as soon as it becomes weak. Most igniters will fade away slowly rather than coming to a grinding halt.

This is why you will notice the oven preheating slowly and getting worse with time.

This guide will showcase how to replace an oven igniter and what to do if an oven takes forever to preheat.

Table of Contents

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How To Fix Oven That Takes Forever To Preheat

1. Remove Bottom Plate

The first step is to remove the bottom plate.

This plate runs along the bottom of the oven and is designed to hold the igniter. To access the igniter, you have to get under the bottom plate, which will then release the oven igniter.

It’s essential to do this carefully and make sure to keep the screws in your pocket while doing so. You will need those screws later on!

Don’t rush this process as you don’t want to damage the connectors underneath.

If your oven takes an hour to preheat, this is the plate you are going to want to remove right away. It will allow you to take a look at the hot surface igniter to see whether or not it is the troublemaker.

2. Pull Out The Oven Igniter

If an oven takes forever to heat and smells like gas, you will need to take out the oven igniter right away.

This is a sign the oven igniter is significantly damaged and is the root cause of the issues you’re dealing with.

When you take off the bottom plate, you will notice the oven igniter running along the bottom. Take it out and remove the connectors.

It should not take a lot of effort to get the oven igniter out.

3. Install Replacement Oven Igniter

You are now going to find the replacement oven igniter and put it where the old one was.

When you buy the oven igniter, make sure to find one that is compatible with your oven. What works for a Kenmore oven is not going to do as well for a Whirlpool oven.

Keep this in mind, so you don’t have to go back and forth when looking to find the right replacement part for your oven.

When an oven takes long to preheat, don’t panic.

Just replace this part and you will be well on your way to the results you want.

How Long Should An Oven Take To Preheat?

An oven should take no longer than 15-20 minutes to preheat. If it extends past this number, it’s a sign the oven igniter is either fading or about to die. To fix this issue, replace the oven igniter with a compatible replacement part.

You should never have a situation where it takes hours for an oven to preheat.

This is not normal and it is something you should not be tolerating or ignoring. Take action as soon as you can by replacing the oven igniter.

How Can I Make My Oven Heat Up Faster?

If you want to make an oven heat up faster, set the broiler to high for at least 3-4 minutes. This will warm the oven and make it easier to reach your desired temperature when adjusting the settings later.

It’s a common strategy that is used by experts because it works quickly and efficiently.

Final Thoughts

This is why your oven takes forever to preheat and how to fix it.

If an oven takes forever to preheat, this is a sign of a damaged or malfunctioning oven igniter. This part is located along the bottom of the oven floor and activates the gas valve. To fix this issue, find and replace the oven igniter.

The right replacement will fix the issue and make sure it doesn’t happen again for a long time.

It’s a simple solution that will work to a tee.

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