Even after being turned off, an oven’s fan will run to remove the heat from cooking. It is therefore normal for you to hear the fan running after cooking for several tens of minutes. However, if your fan continues to run longer than usual, or you feel like it won’t stop, there may be a problem with your oven.
To solve a ventilation problem that does not stop after cooking, you can:
- Test the temperature probe
- Test the control thermostat,
- Test the safety or ventilation thermostat
- Examine the cooking modes switch
- Test the power electronic board supply
Ovens have become an integral part of our lives, helping us whip up gastronomic delights with the turn of a dial or a push of a button. But it’s not uncommon to find some post-cooking behavior in these appliances that often leads us to a curious question: why does my oven continue to ventilate after cooking? If you find yourself pondering over this scenario, this article aims to shed light on the matter.
Understanding Your Oven’s Ventilation System
The ventilation system is an essential feature of modern ovens. Its primary role is to exhaust hot air and cooking odors from the oven and help regulate the internal temperature. The system typically kicks into gear during the cooking process, but many people notice that it continues to run even after the oven is turned off, causing some to worry that there might be a malfunction. But more often than not, this is a normal function designed to protect the oven and your kitchen.
The Purpose of Post-Cooking Ventilation
- Cooling Down the Oven: The ventilation system in the oven helps cool down the internal components after a cooking cycle. Ovens, especially those with electronic control panels, need to cool down to prevent heat damage to the sensitive electronics. The fan continues to run until the oven has cooled down to a safe temperature.
- Protecting Your Cabinets: Besides safeguarding the oven’s internal components, the ventilation system also protects your kitchen cabinets from heat damage. By continuing to vent out hot air, the oven reduces the chance of the surrounding areas becoming excessively hot, which can lead to warping or discoloration of your cabinets over time.
- Improving Air Quality: The ventilation system works to improve the air quality in your kitchen. It continues to extract any lingering smoke, steam, or odors from the oven even after the cooking process is complete. This ensures a healthier and more comfortable environment in your kitchen.
Is Constant Ventilation an Issue?
Generally, if your oven’s fan is running for a little while after you’ve finished cooking, it’s nothing to worry about – it’s just the oven’s way of cooling down. However, if the fan continues to run for an unusually long time, it may indicate a problem. The thermostat that triggers the fan to shut off when the oven cools down might be faulty, causing the fan to run longer than necessary.
CHECK OVEN TEMPERATURE SENSOR
The temperature in your oven is controlled by a temperature sensor: its ohmic resistance changes with the temperature. This value is transmitted to an electronic board that regulates the power supply to the resistors in order to obtain the correct temperature in the oven body. It is possible that the temperature sensor is giving incorrect information to the electronic board.
This probe is inserted into the back of the oven, usually at the top. It is often seen inside a case: it is a metal rod connected to two thin electrical wires, which are themselves connected to an electronic board.
If the sensor value is specific to each make and model, it can be checked in a simple way:
- Disassemble the back and top of the oven to find the temperature sensor. You can also find it from inside the oven, look for the rod sticking out of the back wall.
- Remove the probe from the back of the housing and disconnect it from the electronic board.
- Select a 200 kΩ gauge in ohmmeter mode, then place test leads on each probe terminal. If you find “OL”, “1” or 0, then the sensor is faulty.
- Then fill the glass with very hot or very cold water. Dip the probe into the glass and see if the ohmic value changes. If the value does not change, the sensor is faulty.
CHECK OVEN CONTROL THERMOSTAT
The control thermostat is a small box that tells the oven its internal temperature. It is connected to a sensor located behind the cooking temperature control knob.
- Remove the top plate and disconnect the cables from the thermostat.
- Set the multimeter to the lowest value of the ohmmeter function, 200 or 600 ohms.
- Turn the rotary knob of the thermostat to the maximum temperature.
- Put the multimeter probes on the tips (metal connection points) of the thermostat.
If you read a non-zero numerical value close to zero, the thermostat is good and the electronic board may need to be blamed.
If your multimeter reads 1 or OL, your thermostat is probably bad and needs to be replaced.
INSPECT COOKING SELECTOR
If you notice a malfunction in the cooking modes, it may be the switch on your oven. It supplies electricity to the parts suitable for the selected cooking mode. Thus, if it is defective, the oven may not follow the selected cooking mode or stop ventilation.
The switch is only for ovens with a cooking mode selection knob, and not for ovens with an analog display. He is behind the coach.
- Perform a visual inspection of the switch making sure all contacts are in place and in good condition.
- Dismantle the flat part in which the guides are built in, which allow you to feed different parts, and check if the overall condition of the part is good. You can also try to gently clean this part of the room.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, the continued ventilation of your oven after cooking is a thoughtful feature designed to ensure the longevity of the oven and the safety of your kitchen. However, if the ventilation seems to run incessantly or is noticeably noisy, it’s best to consult with a professional appliance technician to ensure that everything is functioning as it should. It’s all about understanding the mechanisms that our appliances use to deliver the best results and preserve their own operational efficiency. That way, we can continue to rely on our ovens to help us create culinary masterpieces while maintaining a safe and comfortable kitchen environment.
