Prepare Your Broken Dacor Oven for Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving around the corner and what is hopefully a post-covid Christmas on the horizon, there’s no time of year where it’s more critical to have a fully functional oven. Maybe it’s the fear of letting down your in-laws. Or it could be the pain of missing out on a well-cooked bird. For some, it’s probably just the exorbitant price of having thanksgiving anywhere other than a home.

Either way, I think everyone can agree that ensuring your oven is in tip-top shape for this holiday season is imperative. This need for quality and performance is why Dacor ovens are so popular with cooking enthusiasts and pros alike.

But what if you’re one of the unlucky few who discover a fault with their oven just days away from the busiest cooking seasons of the year? How do you avoid that disappointing look from your mother in law? Fortunately, we’ve prepared a handy guide to get your appliance back up and running just in time for the holiday cooking, including advice on when it’s time to throw in the towel and call in the calvary.

Control Panel Malfunctions

Due to their features and functionality, some of the most common problems with modern ovens stem from the main control panel. This handy component makes controlling and monitoring your oven’s performance as easy as can be, all at the touch of a button.

However, like with any other type of electronics, your oven’s control panel can occasionally be the source of your problem. As it is such an important component, your oven can’t function if the control panel isn’t working properly. Some of the most common issue with the control panel units are:

• Constant beeping
• Unresponsive user interface
• Oven not heating up
• Error code display

While these issues can usually be fixed by troubleshooting the problem yourself, if you’re unsure of how to proceed, or would simply prefer to have a professional take care of the issue, don’t hesitate to contact us today.

Replacing The Control Panel

When all else fails, you may need to consider replacing the control unit entirely.

Although you can often resolve your issue through troubleshooting, a new unit might be required when all else fails. Replacing your oven’s control panel might seem a bit expensive, but of course, the cost still pales in comparison to the cost of a whole new unit. Regardless, whether you’re planning on replacing the control panel, or simply want to access the wiring to run some tests, here’s what you do.

First, ensure that the power supply is shut off. There’s a lethal amount of power being fed into your oven, so it’s imperative that you shut down the power supply before attempting any repairs or analysis.

As a bonus, it’ll also prevent you from causing any accidental damage to your oven’s electrical components.

You can safely do this by shutting off the breaker switch linked to your oven.

Next, you’ll want to loosen any screws that might be holding your unit in place. Then, pull it forward a few feet so that you can access the top panel and rear panel screws.

Depending on your unit, you’ll need to identify and undo the screws that hold the control panel in place. Then gently take it out of the frame and carefully disconnect the wiring.

Get your replacement unit, preferably from the manufacturer, and reconnect the wires as before.

Fit the unit back in place and screw the installation back together. Ensure that everything is as tight and neat as it was before you started taking things apart.

Then, plug your oven back in and test it to see if you’ve resolved the problem.

Test the Wiring and the Control Board

Testing the wiring of the oven is an excellent first step to assessing problems with the unit. However, depending on your model, the wiring may be different. You’ll need to check if the oven is receiving power, and if it is, you’ll need to test the main board with a multimeter.

So the first step is visually assessing that the elements in the oven are, in fact, getting power. Of course, you can test your unit’s wiring and circuits on your own. However, if you don’t have a lot of experience testing these sorts of appliances, we highly recommend that you call in a professional.

Heating Element Failure

If your problem stems from the heating elements not functioning, then the oven likely doesn’t heat up at all. In this case, you may find that you are experiencing one of the following problems:

• No Power Supply: We have already addressed this previously. If the oven doesn’t receive a power supply, then nothing will work on your unit. You’ll need to identify and rectify the fault in your power supply before anything will function.
• Broken Thermostat: If the oven doesn’t heat correctly or to the right temperature, the thermostat may be faulty. The oven needs this component to measure its internal temperature accurately for operation. You’ll need to test the thermostat resistance/continuity to ensure it’s functioning correctly (its resistance should rise with an increase in the oven temperature). If it’s faulty, it needs to be replaced.
• Faulty Heating Element: If the thermostat functions properly, then the issue is almost always with the heating element. If you know your way around your oven, then you can replace this part to get things working again. However, if you don’t, you may need some help from a trained professional.

Pre-Thanksgiving Oven Help!

All in all, there are a number of problems that could be plaguing your oven, ranging from simple faulty elements to entire control panels that need to be replaced.

So with that in mind, your best bet to get your oven in top shape for the holiday season (and to keep it that way) is to hire a certified professional appliance technician.

Need a hand with your oven? Contact us today!