Oven and Stove Repair in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)

The ovens and stoves we see in Gqeberha

Gqeberha's housing stock is wide-ranging, and so are its kitchens. Older homes in Walmer, Mill Park, Newton Park and Richmond Hill often have long-serving freestanding stoves and older wiring. Newer homes and complexes in Lorraine, Lovemore Heights, Westering and Bluewater Bay usually have built-in ovens with separate ceramic or induction hobs. Apartments in Summerstrand and Central have compact built-in units. We repair all of them.

Power cuts and modern ovens

Load shedding changed the kinds of oven faults we see. Modern ovens have electronic clocks, timers and control boards, and induction hobs have sophisticated power electronics. These are sensitive to surges when power returns after an outage.

Common power-related problems

• Oven will not heat after a power cut. Many ovens need the clock reset before they will heat. This is not a fault, but it causes a lot of confusion. Set the time, or press the manual mode button, and try again.
• Clock flashing or blank. The clock may simply need resetting, or it may have been damaged by a surge.
• Induction hob error codes. Power boards and touch controls can be damaged by spikes.
• Fan oven not heating evenly. The fan motor or its control may have been affected.

Protecting your oven

Ovens and hobs are usually hard-wired, so plug-in surge protectors do not work for them. The best protection is a surge protection device at the distribution board, installed by an electrician. During outages, switch the stove off at its isolator, and switch it on again a few minutes after power returns.

Other common oven and stove repairs in Gqeberha

Burned-out elements

The bake element at the bottom of the oven, the grill element at the top and the fan element at the back all wear out. You may see a break, blister or bright spot on the element.

Thermostat faults

The oven heats too much, too little or not at all. Food burns on the outside and is raw inside.

Simmerstat faults

A plate only works on high, or does not work at all, or the control knob feels loose.

Terminal block damage

The terminal block where the supply cable connects to the stove can overheat if a connection is loose. This can cause tripping, a burning smell or scorch marks. It needs urgent attention.

Door seals and hinges

Worn door seals let heat escape, which makes the oven slow and the front hot. Hinges wear on busy family ovens.

Older homes and wiring

In some older Gqeberha homes, the stove isolator, the cable to the stove or the circuit at the distribution board may be tired. If we find heat damage or loose connections in the household wiring rather than the stove, we will tell you, and recommend a registered electrician for that part of the work.

Salt air near the beach

In beachfront homes in Summerstrand, Humewood and South End, salt air can corrode the electrical connections at the back of the stove and on the terminal block over time. If your stove is near an open window facing the sea, it is worth having the connections checked during any repair.