Replace Electric Oven: When to Fix, When to Swap

When you're thinking about how to replace electric oven, you're not just shopping for a new appliance—you're deciding between safety, cost, and convenience. An electric oven, a kitchen appliance that uses electrical resistance to generate heat for baking and roasting. Also known as electric range oven, it’s one of the most used and most fragile appliances in the home. Unlike gas ovens, electric ones rely on heating elements, control boards, and thermostats that wear out over time. And when they do, the question isn’t just "Can it be fixed?"—it’s "Should it be?"

Most electric ovens last between 10 and 15 years. If yours is older than that and the heating element is burnt out, replacing it might make sense. But if the oven control board, the digital brain that manages temperature settings, timers, and safety features is failing, you’re looking at a repair that often costs half the price of a new unit. And if your oven heats unevenly, trips the circuit breaker, or smells like burning plastic, those aren’t just annoyances—they’re red flags. A faulty heating element, the metal coil inside the oven that glows red-hot to cook food is a common fix, but if it’s happened twice in two years, the rest of the system is likely close behind.

Energy bills are another clue. Newer ovens use up to 30% less power than models from 10 years ago. If your electricity bill has crept up without you changing how you cook, your oven might be working overtime just to stay warm. And let’s be real—no one wants to wait 45 minutes for the oven to preheat while dinner burns on the stove.

Replacing an electric oven isn’t just about buying a box with buttons. It’s about matching size, voltage, and installation type. Most homes run on 240-volt circuits, and not every new oven fits the same cutout. If you’re replacing it yourself, you’ll need to check the wiring, the venting, and whether your cabinetry can support the weight. Most people don’t realize that a professional install can add $200–$500 to the price of the unit.

Here’s the truth: if your oven is over 12 years old, and the repair quote is more than half the cost of a new one, you’re probably better off swapping it. Repairs on older models often use outdated parts that won’t last, and manufacturers stop making them. That means even if you fix it now, you’ll be back here in a year.

But if your oven is under 8 years old and just has a broken element or a glitchy door switch? Fix it. Those repairs are cheap, quick, and keep your appliance running like new. We’ve seen people spend $150 to replace a heating element and get five more years out of their oven—no new installation, no mess, no hassle.

Below, you’ll find real advice from people who’ve been there: when to call a pro, what parts actually break, how to test your oven’s thermostat, and why some "fixes" are just wasting your time. Whether you’re trying to save cash, avoid a kitchen disaster, or just want your roast chicken to cook evenly again—this collection has the straight talk you need.