A Wolf oven provides the utmost in high-quality design and performance. So when a particular function doesn’t operate correctly, it can command immediate attention. Troubleshoot common reasons for a Wolf oven broiler not working, including specific solutions. From a burned-out broil element to a worn-out spark electrode, here’s how to restore this important function.
Common Reasons for a Wolf Oven Broiler Not Working
While Wolf 18″ ovens don’t have a broil function, this cooking option is available on all other models and should always operate correctly. The following troubleshooting tips can help diagnose a Wolf oven broiler not working.
What Does Broil Mean?
Before we troubleshoot Wolf oven broiler not working, you may be wondering, “What is broiling, anyway?” Like grilling, broiling cooks food through contact with high, direct heat. When oven broiling, this heat typically comes from a gas burner or electric heating element at the top of the oven. To maintain close contact with this direct heat, most foods are placed on the oven’s top rack when broiling.
Broiling quickly cooks food surfaces, giving it a browning or char that’s ideal for smaller cuts of meat and fish. Broiling can also be used to give larger cuts of meat a flavorful brown crust as they finish cooking. By contrast, baking and roasting cook food indirectly by heating the air around it. This hot air cooks food more slowly, at a lower temperature, and from the inside, and out, providing little to no browning or char.
Burned-Out Broil Element
In electric ovens, one of the most common reasons for a Wolf oven broiler not working is a burned-out broil element. When functioning properly, this element will have an uninterrupted red glow that provides even heat. A burned-out broil element may have visible damage like blistering or dark spots, resulting in uneven heating and improperly cooked food.
If there is no visible damage, but your Wolf oven broiler doesn’t work properly, test it for continuity with a multimeter. If there is no continuity or the element shows visible damage, it requires replacement.
Weak Gas Oven Igniter
In gas ovens, the igniter lights the gas as it flows through the broiler’s burner. However, if the igniter is too weak, the broiler won’t ignite. To determine if your igniter is weak, leave the oven open to observe it as you start the broil function. If it takes more than 90 seconds to light the broiler, the igniter is weak and needs replacement.
Worn Out Bake or Broil Spark Electrode
If your gas oven doesn’t have an igniter, the burner is typically lit with a spark electrode. Functioning much like a spark plug, when the broil function is initiated, the electrode generates an electrical spark that lights the burner. If the spark electrode is worn out, it won’t be able to produce this spark, resulting in a Wolf oven broiler not working.
To diagnose a worn-out spark electrode, first, inspect the tip and assembly for visible damage like cracks or chips. A damaged electrode requires replacement. However, if the broiler ignites but turns off, the oven’s electrical outlet may not be providing sufficient power to the spark electrode. In this case, the outlet needs to be checked for correct grounding and polarity.
If you find your broiler not heating up even after these troubleshooting tips, a Wolf oven repair may be in order. Need more tips for a variety of oven problems? Appliance Genie’s 7 Signs You Need A Company To Repair Your Gas Oven can also provide quick answers to common malfunctions.
