What do you do if you think the temperature guage on your oven is wrong?

[eclipse]

All of a sudden, it's taking way longer than it should to bake things. For example, I'm making a quick bread that was supposed to bake for 20 minutes. It's now 30 minutes later, and it's still pretty raw in the center. I turned the oven up a bit, but I have no idea how much it's off by, so I'm just checking frequently. Are there people you can call to come check and adjust it? I have a gas oven, by the way.

[Flor]

You can buy an oven thermometer for about 3 dollars. My oven is 50 degrees off, so I just adjust.

[eclipse]

Originally Posted by Flor

You can buy an oven thermometer for about 3 dollars. My oven is 50 degrees off, so I just adjust.

Yeah, well, that would be the cheap and easy way. Apparently my brain only works towards expensive and complicated solutions . Thanks

[Flor]

Originally Posted by eclipse

Yeah, well, that would be the cheap and easy way. Apparently my brain only works towards expensive and complicated solutions . Thanks

No prob. My mom had to give this helpful suggestion to me. I was ready to buy a new oven. I had no idea they sold such things!

[sunnysandiegan]

In our area, we can call the gas & electric company and they will send someone out (free service) to check all your gas appliances and adjust as needed. Our oven has been diagnosed (free) accurately several times through this service and saved us hundreds of dollars. The first time, the guy did a test and 'calibrated' the oven and it has been exactly the right temperature since. The second time, our oven had stopped working on Thanksgiving (we ended up grilling the turkey, so yummy!) and the guy told me exactly which part needed to be replaced and where I could buy it inexpensively. It suddenly started working again after he left. It finally stopped working again months and months later and I remembered what he told me, so I got the part and DH installed it. Then, I called them again and the guy double-checked everything. BTW, I originally called for an "energy check" since we were new to the house. Whenever they've come out, I've always asked them to check the other gas appliances, too, in order to ensure everything is running smoothly.

[eclipse]

Originally Posted by sunnysandiegan

In our area, we can call the gas & electric company and they will send someone out (free service) to check all your gas appliances and adjust as needed. Our oven has been diagnosed (free) accurately several times through this service and saved us hundreds of dollars. The first time, the guy did a test and 'calibrated' the oven and it has been exactly the right temperature since. The second time, our oven had stopped working on Thanksgiving (we ended up grilling the turkey, so yummy!) and the guy told me exactly which part needed to be replaced and where I could buy it inexpensively. It suddenly started working again after he left. It finally stopped working again months and months later and I remembered what he told me, so I got the part and DH installed it. Then, I called them again and the guy double-checked everything. BTW, I originally called for an "energy check" since we were new to the house. Whenever they've come out, I've always asked them to check the other gas appliances, too, in order to ensure everything is running smoothly.

I'm in San Diego, too - so that's good to hear! If there's something wrong with the oven, I'd like to know.

[sunnysandiegan]

I haven't called in a few years and have been meaning to lately myself. Call SDG&E and listen to the telephone prompts. I forget the exact terminology they use, but it is something to do with checking your gas appliances and energy check... I believe they give you an appointment with a four-hour window.

[jocelyndale]

There may be a way to recalibrate your oven. Call customer service or read the manual. Oven thermometers are cheap.

[Angi]

Originally Posted by jocelyndale

There may be a way to recalibrate your oven. Call customer service or read the manual. Oven thermometers are cheap.

To calibrate my electric oven, just pull the oven knob off. On the back of the knob, there are usually a couple of screws you can loosen. You can usually move the little thingy in the middle either clockwise (cooler) or counterclockwise (warmer), depending on which way you need to adjust.

My mothers gas oven had the adjuster on the peg the knob sits on itself. But it's the same principle. What you are actually adjusting is where the indicators line up.

It seems to work. Good luck.