How to Replace an Oven Thermostat in an Electric Cooker

If your oven temperature has been feeling wrong lately, it could be because you are experiencing issues with the thermostat. This part regulates the heating of your appliance, so when it fails, you won’t be able to cook anymore. In this article, we list the steps to oven thermostat replacement – a straightforward repair that you can perform yourself, with no need for a professional!

There will be a couple of warning signs that will indicate you need to replace an oven thermostat. For example:

• The temperature inside the oven is not reaching what you’ve set it to.
• The temperature indicator light is going off before reaching the correct temperature.
• The temperature inside the oven is always at maximum, no matter what you’ve it set to.
• You're not hearing a click when you turn the control knob.

If the thermostat is broken, an oven could be showing one or multiple of these symptoms. Read on to find out how you can get your appliance back in working order!

How can I test the temperature of my oven?

If you aren’t sure whether your oven is actually not reaching the temperatures you’ve set it to, you can always double-check. We have a handy universal oven thermometer on the eSpares website. You can place it at the base of your appliance or hang it on one of the shelves. It will then give you the correct temperature reading, showing whether your oven thermostat needs to be replaced. 

• Replacement thermostat for an oven
• Torx screwdriver

If your oven’s not heating up right, we have a solution for you! Watch the video below or read our guide to find out how you can fix your appliance.

❗ Note: This video shows an example of how to repair an oven thermostat on a typical machine. Some models may be different, but the overall procedure should be similar. 

The thermostat control sits behind the temperature control knob with a capillary tube that runs around the back of the oven to the top of the oven cavity. To access it, you will need to move your appliance out so that you can remove the back panel.

If your built-in oven is not heating up, you will need to remove it from its position. It will be secured with fitting screws that you can find when opening the door. Remove the screws, lift the oven out of its position, then unplug any cables leading into it. Place it on a solid, flat surface before you start your work.

Having moved your oven out so that you can access it, you may now want to take off the door so that it is easier to work on the inside of the appliance. On most oven doors, there will be a latch on either hinge – flip it up.

With the latch opened, close the oven door without fully shutting it. Then, lift it up and out of the appliance.

Looking inside the oven cavity, you will see the thermostat’s capillary tube situated at the very back, at the top. It is held in place with clips, so all you need to do is unclip it.

Make sure to unclip it on either side. Then, you can move it to the left-hand side and leave it hanging for now.

The next step is to actually access the back of the oven. First, you will need to remove the Torx screws that hold the back panel in place. Then, lift it up and put it aside.  

On this model, there are also two panels at the top that need to be removed. Once again, use your Torx screwdriver to remove the screws holding the panels in place.

Lift them up and put them aside. You will not be able to see the back and top of the appliance. 

You will see wiring leading from the top of the appliance and into the inside, to the capillary tube. Gently pull on this wiring to take the capillary tube out of the oven cavity.  

The capillary tube wiring is secured via a fixing bracket. Use your Torx screwdriver to remove said bracket and free the wiring.  

Moving to the top of the appliance, you will see the thermostat control behind one of the control knobs. You will need to remove all wiring. However, you might note that the wires will probably look quite similar.

Mark the top wire with a pen. Then, take a picture or make a note of how the wires are positioned so that you can refit them later.

Once you are sure you know which wire goes where, you can remove the connections from the thermostat control. Simply pull them off.  

You will need to remove the control knob as well. These can also be pulled off fairly easily.  

Behind the control knob, you will find screws that hold the thermostat control in place. Using your Torx screwdriver, remove those screws.

Then, pull out the old oven thermostat control block and the capillary tube.  

Grab your new oven thermostat and fit it inside the cutouts on the cabinet.

Secure it in place by refitting the screws behind the control knob. You may also reattach the control knob at this stage.  

Referring to your photo or notes, refit the wires on the thermostat control.  

Grab the capillary tube and gently feed it through to the inside of the oven cavity from the back of the appliance. 

Place the thermostat wire underneath the fixing bracket. Then, refit the two screws you removed earlier. 

Secure the new capillary tube in the oven cavity by refitting it into the clips.  

First, refit the two top panels on the oven and secure them with the Torx screws. Make sure you fit them in the correct order. Then, refit the back panel as well.  

Finally, refit the oven door. Align the door hinges with their spots in the cabinet. Then, pull the door all the way down as though you were opening it normally. Close the latches you have opened earlier.  

We hope that with this new thermostat, you have managed to regulate your oven temperature and can now get back to cooking. However, if it seems that the problem you are facing isn’t due to a faulty oven thermostat or you are experiencing some other issues, we can still help! Be sure to watch our YouTube playlist dedicated to troubleshooting common cooker problems.

Finally, for any spare parts, accessories, or cleaning products for your oven, be sure to visit the eSpares website!