Oven, Range & Dishwasher
The kitchen has three appliances that customers call about. This lesson covers oven bake elements, range burner switches, and the dishwasher diagnostic flow that handles 'won't drain' or 'leaves dishes dirty.'
The lesson
Electric oven — won't heat
Test bake element (8–30 ohms typical, open = bad). Visually inspect for broken glow or burned spot. Broil element same diagnostic. Both elements bad? Suspect control board. Modern ovens have a temperature sensor (RTD) — open or shorted = error code on display.
Range burner — won't heat
Electric coil burners use a 240V infinite switch. Swap the coil with a known-good one of same size to isolate (cheap test). If swapped coil works, original coil is bad. If not, infinite switch is bad. Glass-top elements work the same way; access is from underneath.
Gas range — burner won't light
Auto-ignite spark module clicks but no fire? Check that the orifice isn't clogged with food, then check spark gap (1/8" between igniter and burner). No clicking = bad spark module or open igniter wire. Standing pilot? Bad thermocouple or pilot orifice.
Dishwasher — won't drain
Almost always: drain pump impeller jammed (broken glass, label peel, twist tie). Open the bottom screen, clear debris, run a drain cycle. If pump runs but no water moves, impeller is sheared. If pump doesn't run, check for power at pump connector first.
Dishwasher — dishes dirty
1) Spray arm holes clogged with food/mineral. 2) Pump filter dirty (clean every 30 days). 3) Hot water supply too cold (must be 120°F+ at start). 4) Wash impeller worn. 5) Detergent — old or cheap powders cake in hard water; use rinse aid.
Tool list
- Multimeter (continuity + voltage)
- Bake/broil element pull tool (or just hex driver)
- Igniter / spark module tester
- Dishwasher drain pump access screen tool (varies by brand)
- Combustible gas detector (for gas appliance work)
- Brand-specific service manuals (Whirlpool, GE, LG, Samsung)
Safety — Read or get hurt
- !!240V live work — unplug or breaker off + lockout before opening control panels.
- !!Gas appliance work — verify gas-off, check with combustible gas detector before relighting.
- !!Sharp edges inside ranges and dishwashers — cut-resistant gloves recommended.
Take the mini quiz
6 questions · pass at 80%