My Kenmore Gas Oven Will Not Maintain the Temperature

Main Heat Source

• One of the simplest reasons an oven might not be able to reach the proper temperature is a malfunctioning gas burner. Gas burners are the components that light up when fed with gas to become the heat source inside the oven compartment. They are the main heat source in these types of ovens. When a burner is clogged or faulty, it will have to be replaced or cleaned so that the oven can reach the proper temperatures. If your oven is overheating, then this is not likely the issue.

Sensing Bulb

• The thermostat sensing bulb is located inside the oven. This bulb tells the oven the current temperature inside the oven and helps it to regulate the desired heat level. If the bulb is damaged or has come loose, it could send back inconsistent readings. The bulb may be resting against a heating element, or it could have dropped to the floor of the oven, both of which would result in inconsistent readings. You’ll need to replace this sensing bulb or put it back in its place carefully, depending on the problem.

Electronic Sensor

• If you have an electronic Kenmore oven with a digital display, then it likely uses an electronic sensor to determine the heat of the oven. This sensor could potentially go bad. This problem will cause the oven to heat inconsistently or not at all. You may have to replace the sensor entirely, which is usually a job for a repair technician used to dealing with electronic units.

Temperature Calibration

• Your oven may be in need of recalibration. If your oven temperature appears to be inconsistent with the setting on your dial by a significant amount, then you may need to calibrate the controls to make them functional. Some ovens may see variances of more than 35 degrees. In this case, calibration is a must. If you have a dial type temperature setting, you can remove the knob and turn the adjustment screws underneath to adjust the dial to make the temperature right. You may need to use a thermometer in the oven to make sure you are exact. With a digital setting, you should consult your specific model’s user manual to learn how to calibrate the temperature control.