La Cornue Oven / Range Repair

The vaulted oven is the feature that defines La Cornue. The curved ceiling directs heat in a continuous loop around the food, which is how the original gas ovens cooked evenly without a fan. Today's ranges offer gas vaulted ovens, electric ovens that may include convection, and combinations of both. Each oven has its own controls, thermostat and heat source, and on gas ovens a safety device that shuts off the gas if the flame is not confirmed.

The most common oven complaint is temperature that does not match the dial. The thermostat can drift, or its sensing bulb can be out of position, so the oven runs hotter or cooler than expected. On gas ovens, ignition problems show up as an oven that takes several tries to light, lights and then goes out, or does not light at all. Those faults usually trace to the igniter, the flame-safety device or the gas valve. Electric ovens can lose an element or a convection fan, and their controls can be damaged by power surges. Door hinges and seals wear on heavy doors, letting heat escape.

If you smell gas, get out of the house and call the gas utility or 911; do not try to relight the oven. Otherwise, check the oven temperature with a reliable thermometer and note how far it is off. On an electric oven, check the breaker. Keep a record of what happens when you try to light a gas oven, such as whether you hear a spark or see a flame, since that helps the technician.

We confirm the oven's configuration, test the thermostat, igniter, flame-safety device and gas valve on gas ovens, and the elements, fan and controls on electric ovens. We also check door alignment and seals.

Oven repairs on a La Cornue are almost always worth doing. The main factor is the parts timeline, since components come through the factory channel. We tell you how long a part is likely to take and whether you can use the cooktop or other ovens in the meantime.