Gas or electric changes this fault three times over: what failed, what it costs, and who is allowed to open it. Across 390 completed jobs behind this page, one part accounts for more of these failures than every other put together: weak or failed gas igniter, 209 jobs at $210–$380 installed [S2]. The next largest is one part at 87 jobs, and the second group together is 181. That concentration is the useful part of the diagnosis: the oven never reaches the temperature you set - described as oven never reaches the set temperature, bake element stays dark, gas oven glows but never lights or takes forever to preheat - usually has one short list of causes, and they sit close together in price.
What a technician actually does
weak or failed gas igniter [S2]
high likelihood advanced $210–$380 installed about 75 minn=209 completed jobs
gas oven glows but never lights oven never reaches the set temperature
The single most replaced component in S2's dataset: median $350 across 209 completed jobs. It is a wear part by design - it glows red hot every cycle until it can no longer pull enough current to open the gas valve. S1 gives the electrical tell: below roughly 3.2-3.6 amps the valve never opens, and a glow that runs past 90 seconds with no flame means the igniter is failing even though it looks alive. S1 prices the job at $210-380. Time basis: no published duration, book estimate.
both sources price the igniter as an installed job, never as a bare part; the retail part is around $30 (S2) but no part-only installed figure is claimed
failed temperature sensor or thermostat [S2]
medium likelihood advanced $160–$420 installed about 60 minn=19 completed jobs
oven never reaches the set temperature takes forever to preheat
S2 medians this at $420 across 19 jobs and S1 puts the sensor job at $160-260. This is the fault behind an oven that heats but not to the number on the dial. S1 gives the reference reading for the RTD probe in the upper rear of the cavity: about 1080 ohms at room temperature; a probe knocked against the oven wall reads the wall instead of the air. Time basis: no published duration, book estimate.
priced by both sources as an installed job, so no part-only figure is claimed
control board or bake relay failure [S2]
low likelihood advanced $180–$469 installed about 90 minn=87 completed jobs
oven never reaches the set temperature
The most expensive standard oven repair: S2 medians $469 across 87 jobs, S1 puts boards at $180-450 installed. Relays fail with burned contacts, often visible as a scorched spot. Both sources say to confirm it carefully, because a failed sensor produces overlapping symptoms for less money and a burnt element can take a board out with it. Time basis: no published duration, book estimate.
both sources price the board as an installed replacement; no part-only figure is claimed
Repair or replace?
An igniter or element at $319-350 against a $1,000 range is not a close call at any age. A sensor at $420 still comfortably favours repair under fifteen years; a control board at $469 is where it gets closer past fifteen. A built-in wall oven wins on repair almost regardless, because replacement means matching a cabinet cutout that may no longer be a standard size. [S2]
- Typical completed repair: $302–$478 [S2]
- Comparable new unit: $700–$1,500 [S2]
- Planning life used for the decision: 15 years
- A new freestanding range is $700-1,500 before delivery and installation, and a built-in wall oven runs well past that.
S2 sets its decision line at fifteen years: a sensor or thermostat repair comfortably favours repair under fifteen, while a control board past fifteen is where the arithmetic gets closer
Run your own quote through the calculator — the same half-of-new-price rule with your numbers.
Do this first (free)
burned-out bake element (electric ovens) [S2]
high likelihood easy $180–$322 installed about 45 minn=75 completed jobs
bake element stays dark oven never reaches the set temperature
S2 publishes 57 heating-element jobs at a $319 median and 18 bake-element jobs at $322, shown here as one group of 75. Failure is usually visible: the element blisters, cracks or shows a bright burn spot, and because it is a resistive loop it either works or it does not - an oven that heats slowly but does get there is more likely a sensor problem. S1 adds the two-minute test: a healthy bake element glows evenly orange during preheat. Time basis: no published duration, book estimate.
S1 and S2 both quote the element job installed ($180-320 and a $322 median); no part-only price for this record is claimed
one leg of the 240-volt supply lost [S1]
medium likelihood easy no part needed about 15 min
oven never reaches the set temperature bake element stays dark
Electric ranges take 240 volts as two 120-volt legs: lose one at the breaker or in the cord and the surface burners and the clock still work while the oven cannot heat. S1's proof test is the broiler - if broil works but bake does not, the board, thermostat and supply are all fine; if neither element heats and the cooktop is fine, test both legs at the terminal block before buying any part. Free to check.
not a fault: a normal temperature swing [S2]
medium likelihood easy no part needed about 20 min
oven never reaches the set temperature takes forever to preheat
Worth ruling out before booking: put an oven thermometer on the middle rack, set 350F and let it run 20 minutes. A swing of 25-30 degrees around the setting is normal on almost every home oven. S2 also reports that across 65,924 service records there is effectively no standalone calibration job - if a technician finds nothing to replace, the diagnostic is the whole bill.