How To Repair An Oven Door Hinge

If you've ever had trouble opening or closing your oven door with ease, the hinges that attach the door to the oven are likely responsible. Instead of replacing your entire oven, make minor repairs using only a couple of tools. Regardless of how handy you consider yourself to be, it's an easy fix.

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When an oven door is in need of repairing it is usually caused by one of two things: the door hinge or a broken glass. A broken or bent hinge can prevent an oven door from opening or closing efficiently. Sometimes, a hinge can simply be loose, in which case you'll just want to tighten any screws that bolster it. Usually, however, if your hinge is damaged it's best to replace it with a new one.

In order to begin replacing your hinges, you'll need to remove the door. Start by applying a pair of gloves and using a slot screwdriver to unlock the tabs (or hinge latches) on either side of the door. Close the door back up until it reaches the broil stop position, which is only about 1/4 of the way open. If your oven door does not have hinge latches to unlock, simply open to the broil stop position and carefully pull the door up and away from the oven.

Carefully remove the door by grabbing each side firmly and lifting up until it pops off of and away from the oven. Set aside gently on a padded surface to protect the glass plate and use a screwdriver to unscrew the inner door panel that holds the hinge. Remove the screws that keep the hinge locked down, securing them safely in a cup or off to the side. Pull the hinge away and replace with a new hinge in the exact position, taking care to screw all parts down firmly. Reassemble and reattach the door, taking care to push down and make sure that the door is pushed back in so that it rests in the hinge locks.

Although hinges are generally similar in shape, you'll want to be sure that the hinges you purchase are suited to the particular model of your oven. Contacting the retailer you purchased your oven from is a good place to start when searching for hinges, especially if you're working with an older model. Hinges are also available online if you know what model you are searching for (this information can be found on a plate inside your oven, usually on the cooktop, behind the door, or on the back or side) and are usually sold in pairs to ensure that the springs contained on either side of the door match to prevent uneven tension in the coils.