When a Colorado Springs homeowner tells us their oven is not heating right, the two most likely causes are a faulty temperature sensor and a faulty thermostat. They are different components and they fail differently.
The Temperature Sensor
The temperature sensor is a thin probe mounted inside the oven cavity near the top back wall. It reads the current temperature and sends that data to the control board. When it fails, the oven runs too hot, too cold, or unpredictably inconsistent. A failed temperature sensor is usually the cheaper of the two repairs. See our full breakdown in the stove thermostat repair guide for Colorado Springs.
The Thermostat
On older mechanical ovens, a thermostat is the physical control that regulates heat. It contains a temperature-sensitive bulb inside the oven connected to a capillary tube and a control valve. Newer ovens use an electronic control board and a sensor instead. When the mechanical version fails, the oven either does not heat at all, stays on continuously, or cannot maintain a set temperature.
How to Know Which One Failed
Check for Error Codes
Modern ovens display F3 or similar codes for sensor failure. Check our stove error code guide for your brand.
Inconsistency Is the Key Clue
A sensor failure tends to produce consistently wrong temperatures. A thermostat failure tends to produce unpredictably variable temperatures.
Most sensor replacements are completed in under an hour. Book a same-day diagnostic at (719) 467-3100.