Nearly everyone uses their gas stove on an almost daily basis. With that said, not everyone knows all the ins and outs of a stove.
This is what likely brought you to today’s guide, as we will be explaining why the back of your stove might get hot and what that could mean; along with helpful fixes for any possible issues.
Have you ever questioned why the back of your stove is getting hot or perhaps found yourself worrying about just how hot the back of your stove is getting when you use it? Well, you have come to the right place.
Does the Back of a Stove Get Hot?
Yes, at least generally speaking. This is especially true if you are using the oven portion of the gas stove, as this will typically warm up the majority of the appliance. However, if the back of your stove is getting genuinely hot to the touch, this could be a reason for concern.
It should also be said that when you are using your gas stove, the flames that warm the burners can reach a temperature of 3,560 degrees Fahrenheit, which means that almost all of the appliances can become hot enough to burn your skin.
This is also a good reason to always be cautious when you are using a gas stove.
There are also many possible reasons for the back of your stove to reach concerning levels of heat such as issues with the components, bad or no oven insulation, or even faulty components.
So, this could be possibly summed up as just being the function of your stove; however, this could also imply that there is something not functioning correctly, which is why it is good to know how your stove should operate and what to look out for.
We will be covering all of these possibilities and you should also keep in mind that you should not attempt to DIY or fix most of these issues yourself, as it is usually best to leave it to professionals.
Should Ovens Get Hot on the Outside?
No, generally speaking, the outside of your oven should not get hot; however, it should and will get warm but if the outside of your oven is hot to the touch, this could be cause for concern.
Keep in mind, that with most gas stoves, the inside of the oven will be heated from the bottom so that the heat will rise and cook your food. With that said, if you have been baking or broiling all day long, it is quite normal for the stove to become warm or even hot.
Since you have been heating the appliance all day or for long periods of time, the entire surface of the appliance will progressively get more warm or even hot.
So, when the outside of your oven/stove is hot, it is important to ask yourself “How long have I been using the oven?” If you have been using the oven for quite a while, the surface temperature of the oven/stove will naturally rise, which can also be said for the oven handle and door.
Now, this does not always mean that something is wrong with your oven/stove, it simply means that you should use even more caution when using the appliance.
Also, if you put your oven on “self-cleaning mode” (if it has the option), the oven can still reach temperatures of 900 degrees Fahrenheit, which is certainly enough to make the outside hot.
Why Does Stovetop Get Hot When Oven is On?
An important factor to remember about heat is that it rises, which means that when you are using an oven that is heated from the bottom, the majority of that heat is rising to the top of the oven; which is also the bottom of the stovetop.
This is especially true if you have been using the oven for long periods, as the heat will build up underneath the stovetop, which is completely normal. However, there are also a couple of possibilities as to why the stovetop gets hot when the oven is on, which we will list and provide fixes for below.
1 . Improper Ventilation
There are many components to a stove that are utilized so that the appliance will function properly, a few of these components is the oven vents. Now, all of these pieces can deteriorate and gather grime over time and the oven vents are certainly some of those pieces.
Typically the oven vents will be located behind the back burners or they can also sometimes be found on the back of the stove. Another possible area for the oven vents is within the space behind the back burners and the display panel.
With this in mind, you can see why the stovetop may get hot when the oven is on, and if these oven vents become covered or obstructed by build-up, grime, or spilled food; they can also become dangerous for oven use.
Fix – Clean and Check Oven Vents
It is very important to keep your stovetop and oven clean and to make sure that the oven vents do not become blocked by grime, spilled food, or objects.
If you believe that your oven vents are being obstructed by build-up, grime, or otherwise, you will want to clean your stovetop thoroughly, and sometimes with older models of gas stoves, you can raise the top cover of the stovetop to see below the cover.
For these models, this is where a lot of things can build up over time and can cause dangerous blockages, which means you will want to clean your stovetop with an appropriate stovetop cleaner.
If you have a gas stove, you can also open the top of the stove and check the stove flue, which is a part of the stove responsible for capturing and redirecting the heat and gas from the oven/stove.
If your stove flue is split or corroded, you will want to get the flue repaired or replaced, which is better left to a professional.
2. Improper Insulation
If you have an older stove, it is even more important that you keep up with cleaning and maintenance for your stove.
As we mentioned earlier, ovens/stoves have many components to them that all contribute a part to ensuring that your appliance works properly. One of these parts is the insulation (also known as a gasket), which is what occupies the space between the cavity of your oven and the flue.
Now, filling space is not the only job that the gasket takes on but it also insulates your oven to ensure that too much heat does not escape.
When and if you have a loose or broken gasket, it can not only make your stovetop become incredibly hot but can also stop the oven thermostat from working, which means that your oven will not reach the correct temperature since it is losing too much heat.
Essentially, the oven gasket is the flexible lining that runs around the door of the oven door.
Fix – Replace Oven Door Gasket
If you believe that your oven/stove is experiencing heating issues due to a faulty or corroded gasket, you will want to replace it as soon as possible.
This is because not only can a broken or loose gasket cause your oven to lose heat but it can also make your stovetop reach dangerous levels of heat.
With that said, whenever you are working with a stove/oven you should always wear oven mitts or some sort of heat protective wear. However, luckily, replacing a broken or loose oven door gasket is a relatively easy project, so much so that you do not call it a project.
Before we begin the steps to replacing an oven door gasket, you can find a reasonably priced oven door gasket on Amazon.
