Gas Vs Electric Ovens: Which One Actually Breaks More Often?

This is one of the most common questions we get asked on service calls, usually from someone deciding between a gas or electric range while replacing a broken one. Having repaired both for years, the honest answer isn't as simple as "gas breaks more" or "electric breaks more" — each has its own set of common failure points, and which one you'll deal with depends more on how the oven is used than which fuel type it runs on.

The Honest Answer

Across the calls we run each week, electric ovens edge out gas ovens in raw number of service visits — but the gap is smaller than most people expect, and it's largely explained by the fact that electric ovens simply have more parts that can individually wear out: two heating elements instead of one ignition system, more complex electronic control boards, and additional sensors for convection and self-clean cycles.

What Goes Wrong With Gas Ovens

• Failed igniter — the single most common gas oven repair. A weak or dead igniter means the oven won't heat even though you can smell gas briefly before it shuts off as a safety measure.
• Gas valve issues — less common, but when the valve itself fails, it typically needs professional replacement rather than a DIY fix.
• Pilot or spark module problems — on older units still using a standing pilot rather than electronic ignition.
• Uneven cooking — often from a burner that's partially clogged rather than a major component failure.

What Goes Wrong With Electric Ovens

• Bake or broil element burnout — the most common electric oven repair. You'll often see a visible break or blister in the coil, or notice one side of the oven not heating.
• Faulty temperature sensor — causes ovens to run hotter or cooler than the set temperature, leading to inconsistent cooking results.
• Control board failures — more common on newer models with digital displays and touch controls than on older dial-based units.
• Door switch problems — some ovens won't heat properly if the door switch thinks the door is open when it isn't.

How Repair Costs Compare

Heating element replacement on an electric oven and igniter replacement on a gas oven are both relatively affordable, straightforward repairs — often comparable in cost. Where the two diverge is in control board and gas valve replacements, which tend to run higher on both types but are somewhat more common as a repair need on electric models given their more complex electronics.

Which One Lasts Longer

In terms of overall lifespan, gas and electric ranges are fairly comparable, typically 13 to 15 years with reasonable care. Gas ranges tend to have a slight edge in longevity for the core cooking function since the burner and ignition components are mechanically simpler, while electric ranges with heavy convection or self-clean use can see elements wear a bit faster due to the higher heat cycles involved.

Related reading: check out our guides on deciding whether to repair or replace and spotting appliance issues on your energy bill.

Frequently Asked Questions