Cooker Not Heating? Common Causes and How to Fix It

When your cooker not heating, a gas or electric appliance used for cooking food, often combining an oven and hob. Also known as a range, it’s one of the most used appliances in the home. If the oven won’t heat up but the hob still works, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common gas appliance faults we see in Bedford — and it’s usually fixable without replacing the whole unit.

The problem often comes down to three things: a broken heating element, the part inside the oven that glows red and generates heat, a faulty thermostat, the sensor that tells the cooker when to turn heat on or off, or a gas supply issue. If you’ve got a gas cooker, check if the pilot light is still on or if the gas valve is fully open. For electric models, a burnt-out element is the usual suspect — it’s cheap to replace and easy to spot if the element doesn’t glow at all. A failed thermostat, though, is trickier. It won’t always show visible damage, but if the oven runs too hot or doesn’t reach the set temperature, it’s likely the culprit.

Don’t assume a cooker that won’t heat means it’s time for a new one. Many repairs cost less than £100 and take under an hour. We’ve fixed cookers where the issue was just a loose wire, a blocked gas jet, or a simple reset needed on the control board. Even if your cooker is 10 years old, it’s often worth repairing — especially if the rest of the unit works fine. Safety matters too. Gas leaks or electrical faults can be dangerous, so if you smell gas, hear a hissing sound, or see sparks, turn off the appliance and call a certified engineer right away.

Below, you’ll find real fixes from actual repairs we’ve done in Bedford homes. Whether you’re trying to diagnose the problem yourself or just want to know what to expect when a pro comes out, these posts cover the most common issues, cost breakdowns, and safety tips you need to make the right call.