# How easy to replace a burned-out oven element?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 22, 2016, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303 "2016-10-22T00:35:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2016, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/1 "2016-10-22T00:35:55Z")
I’ve got a bog-standard oven in my kitchen, and the lower element has burned out.
Is this something that I can easily and safely replace myself?
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### Author:  [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2016, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/2 "2016-10-22T00:42:40Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#):
>
> I’ve got a bog-standard oven in my kitchen, and the lower element has burned out.
>
> Is this something that I can easily and safely replace myself?
Yes, it’s plug & play. At least it was in the oven that came with my (2000) model trailer. I just had to make sure I had the right kind of screwdriver (the hex head, I think, for ours), turn off the breaker, and from there it was easy. And I am not mechanical.
Very honestly, I’ve found [YouTube videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SY1uhvlBlQ) showing how to do this sort of thing very useful. Being able to see it done just helps for me.
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### Author:  [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2016, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/3 "2016-10-22T00:53:43Z")
Piece of cake!
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### Author:  [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2016, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/4 "2016-10-22T01:20:34Z")
Thanks!
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### Author:  [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2016, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/5 "2016-10-22T11:13:50Z")
Do have to wonder if there’s something else wrong when the “burnout” includes this:
[[Album] imgur.com  ](https://imgur.com/a/5pCfz)
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### Author:  [@ChickenLegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChickenLegs)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2016, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/6 "2016-10-22T12:10:43Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#):
>
> Do have to wonder if there’s something else wrong when the “burnout” includes this:
>
> [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://imgur.com/a/5pCfz)
No. That’s what happens.
Usually, you’ll notice a bright spot in the element before that happens. But if not: that.
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2016, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/7 "2016-10-22T13:45:31Z")
The elements are usually made easy to remove for cleaning. You may not even need a screwdriver… Just lift out of the front brackets and unplug.
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### Author:  [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2016, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/8 "2016-10-22T14:09:53Z")
GE brand oven elements have two 1/4" drive screws holding the element in place, and the two 1/4" drive screws for the two electrical leads … wise to unplug the stove or throw the breaker … but an easy DIY repair.
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### Author:  [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/9 "2016-10-22T15:39:38Z")
It is easy for me, but I am “mechanical”. For some other people, it could be an impossible job…
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### Author:  [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2016, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/10 "2016-10-22T16:15:21Z")
> [@ChickenLegs](#):
>
> No. That’s what happens.
>
> Usually, you’ll notice a bright spot in the element before that happens. But if not: that.
That happened to mine. Not quite a fire, but the thing was glowing and smoking. By the time I turned it off, it snapped right apart like **Mister Rik’s** picture. I still haven’t replaced mine. They don’t have them in stock at Home Depot; I haven’t checked Lowe’s yet.
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### Author:  [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/11 "2016-10-22T16:20:57Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#):
>
> That happened to mine. Not quite a fire, but the thing was glowing and smoking. By the time I turned it off, it snapped right apart like **Mister Rik’s** picture. I still haven’t replaced mine. They don’t have them in stock at Home Depot; I haven’t checked Lowe’s yet.
I’ve used [this site](http://www.appliancepartspros.com/) on a number of occasions. I won’t say they have everything, but if your appliance was made by any of the major brands, chances are they have the part you’re looking for.
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### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/12 "2016-10-22T17:20:53Z")
I’ve replaced the lower oven element twice over the years. Quite an easy job.
For info on part nos. and how-tos, I use [ApplianceAid](http://www.applianceaid.com/appliance-repair-help.php).
Once I have the part no, I look it up on Amazon and eBay to find a (cheaper) seller.
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### Author:  [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/13 "2016-10-22T17:57:34Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#):
>
> Do have to wonder if there’s something else wrong when the “burnout” includes this:
>
> [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://imgur.com/a/5pCfz)
Exactly what happened to mine. Never noticed the aforementioned “bright spot” until I looked in to see how the biscuits were doing and there it was, a bright spot with a little flame starting (could see sparking). Turned off oven, but it just kept on sparking/burning. Couldn’t move the oven the unplug it, so turned off the breaker. I also had to order my element - had a week of crockpot meals while I waited on it to arrive.
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### Author:  [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2016, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/14 "2016-10-23T02:18:56Z")
Yes, quite easy to do. I did it, when in my mid-60’s and walking with a cane.
Hardest parts were:
- moving the stove out from the wall to unplug it. And then having to clean the floor back there.
- finding the screw heads under all the crud baked onto the back of the oven.
- reaching all the way to the back of the oven, while the open oven door is in your way, to unscrew them. In the dark, because the oven light is off.
Still, nothing technical or skilled involved. Just tedious & annoying.
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### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/15 "2016-10-23T21:03:33Z")
Moving the stove isn’t required if you flip the circuit breakers.
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### Author:  [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2016, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/16 "2016-10-23T21:36:58Z")
I always unplug appliances before working on them. That way you guarantee that there’s no problem like you flipped the wrong breaker or someone screwed up the wiring in your house at some point.
Virtually the same thing as the OP happened to my oven. The only difference was that the element burned through in a different location. I found a cheapie replacement on Amazon. It wasn’t as sturdy as the original element but at the price I paid for it I’d have to go through half a dozen of them to equal the cost of one official GE replacement part. So far it’s lasted almost as long as the original and it’s still going strong, so no complaints. I may have just gotten lucky though. Who knows.
The only trick with mine was that after I unscrewed the two screws, there was nothing holding the electrical connector in place and it dropped down a bit. I had to fish it out with a pair of needle nose pliers. I suppose I could have taken the back of the oven off if I had to, but it was easy enough to pull the connector out with pliers. Other than fiddling with the electrical connector a bit, it was a very easy job.
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### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-to-replace-a-burned-out-oven-element/769303/17 "2016-10-23T21:59:03Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#):
>
> Piece of cake!
… at 350\*F for 45-50 minutes …