How to I re-attach the lower element to my oven?

Aaron Rosenberg
by Aaron Rosenberg

I removed the lower element to clean it and the interior. I unscrewed the two bolts and after some difficulty was able to maneuver out the two prongs from the holes, take out the element, and clean everything.


However, trying to reinsert it, something weird happened. The two prongs seemed to go back in...maybe too easily? I put the screws back, turned the breaker back on, and when I tested the oven, the breaker went off again.


When I removed the screws and tried to remove the element again, a wire was now attached to one of the prongs in a way cannot understand, and in a way I can't seem to un-attach. See photo.


I'm feeling pretty stupid right now, but can anybody tell me how to how to replace an oven heating element? Do I need to dig around inside the opening to find more wires? I'd rather not get my apartment maintenance to do it, as I may get reprimanded for removing it!


how to replace an oven heating element


Thanks.

This is the prong part of the heating element after I began to remove it the second time.
  4 answers
  • Diane Coverdale Diane Coverdale on Sep 04, 2018

    From your picture, it looks like you short circuited the element with the loose wire end and it fused to the element. It seems like the element is toast. Do you know where this yellow wire attaches? do you know any electricians, as it looks like you need to cut the end off the yellow wire and solder on a new end.

    • See 1 previous
    • Diane Coverdale Diane Coverdale on Sep 05, 2018

      Depending on how badly you shorted the stove, it maybe toast. Stoves takes a 220 amp plug (really funky looking and the breakers are larger than your usual 110). You're lucky that was all that happened.

  • Alice Alice on Sep 04, 2018

    Just call me paranoid. I'd call the Apartments maintenance man.


    The leading cause of home structure fires, civilian fire injuries, and unreported fires continues to be cooking equipment. Forty-one percent of home fires started in the kitchen area and caused 15 percent of the home fire deaths and 36 percent of the reported fire injuries.

    • See 1 previous
    • Alice Alice on Sep 04, 2018

      I don't think they'll get mad. They probably won't even charge you. I think it's best to get someone knowledgeable, in a situation like this.

  • Thelma Thelma on Sep 04, 2018

    Hi, You need to get the stove repaired by a licensed repairman, you are taking a bad chance on starting a fire by letting the wires short circuit on the element. Also, there's a good chance the element is burned out from the short circuit and will need replaced. Call the apartment maintenance and let them know you'll pay for all repair costs.

  • Aaron Rosenberg Aaron Rosenberg on Sep 04, 2018

    Thanks, done.