When an oven bakes but won't broil, the cause is often a setting or door-position issue, and if not, it's usually the broil element on an electric oven or the igniter on a gas broiler. This path rules out the simple things before you look at parts.
Safety first: Let the oven cool fully and switch off its breaker before touching an element; on a gas oven, don't try to light the broiler by hand or remove the igniter, and if you smell gas, leave and call the gas utility or 911 from outside.
Follow the diagnostic path
Step 1: Are you using the door position your manual specifies for broiling?
If yes: Go to Step 2.
If no: Some ovens are designed to broil with the door closed, others with it slightly open. Using the wrong one can affect how well it broils.
Step 2: Does the broiler glow or light, then turn off and on during broiling?
If yes: That's often normal. Many ovens cycle the broiler to control heat, especially on a low broil setting.
If no: Go to Step 3.
Step 3: On an electric oven, does the cool top element show a break, blister or bubbled spot?
If yes: The element has failed. Replacement parts are model-specific; with the breaker off, some elements unplug or unscrew at the back wall, but if you're unsure, have a technician do it.
If no: Go to Step 4.
Step 4: On a gas oven, does the igniter glow but the broiler never lights?
If yes: A weak igniter is a common cause. It may glow without drawing enough current to open the gas valve. That's a technician repair.
If no: Go to Step 5.
Step 5: Does the oven also take longer than usual to preheat on bake?
If yes: Many electric ovens use the top element during preheat, so a slow preheat supports a failed broil element.
If no: If the element looks fine and settings are right, the control, a relay or wiring may be at fault. A technician can test them.
What your answer points to
| What you found | Most likely cause | DIY or technician |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong door position | Usage issue | DIY |
| Broiler cycles on and off | Normal temperature control | No action |
| Blistered or broken element | Failed broil element | DIY with care, or technician |
| Igniter glows, no flame | Weak gas igniter | Technician |
| Element intact, no heat | Control, relay or wiring | Technician |
Stop and call a technician if
- •You smell gas at any point.
- •The element sparked or arced.
- •The oven trips its breaker when you select broil.
Keep it from coming back
- •Keep the broil element clear of grease and foil.
- •Use a broiler pan, not foil laid over the element area.
- •Follow the manual's rack and door positions.
Owen's shop tip: A broil element that's failing often shows it before it quits: a bright spot, a hiss or a small flash. If you see that, turn the oven off and stop using broil until the element is replaced. If bake and broil both stop and the display goes dark too, start with our guide to an oven display that's blank.
Broiler still cold? Call ProFix Boston at (617) 812-1425, or see our oven repair service.