Whirlpool Oven — Bake Element Arced & Damaged Control Board Fixed in Plantation, FL
iFixExpress Technician
March 10, 2025
4 min read
Job Summary
ApplianceWhirlpool Electric Range / Oven
IncidentLoud bang, flash of light, smoke from oven during cooking
Root causeBake element arc failure — short circuit damaged control board relay
Parts replacedOEM bake element + control board relay (board-level repair)
Visits1 — both repairs completed same visit
LocationPlantation, FL
The Call
A homeowner in Plantation called us after a frightening incident: while cooking in the oven, they heard a loud bang, saw a flash of light, and noticed smoke coming from inside the oven. They immediately turned off the range and called us. No fire started, but the oven was clearly unusable.
A loud bang with a flash from inside an oven is almost always a bake element failure — and in this case, it was, with secondary consequences that made the repair more involved.
What Happened: A Chain Reaction
The Whirlpool oven's bake element had failed catastrophically — not the gradual open-circuit failure we see most often, but a dramatic arc failure where the element's coil burned through and the exposed wire arced to the oven cavity wall. This arc created a short circuit to the oven's metal chassis.
That short circuit sent a voltage spike back through the control circuit, which damaged the control board — specifically the relay on the board that controls the bake element circuit.
Diagnosis
1
Visual inspection of bake element
Found the bake element with a clear burn-through point and arc marks on the oven floor near the element terminal. Visible burn marks on the oven wall at the arc point.
2
Tested the control board
Powered the oven carefully with the damaged element disconnected. The oven displayed a fault code related to the bake circuit. Inspected the control board — found a burned relay (the relay controlling the bake element). The rest of the board was intact.
3
Assessed repair options
Two options: replace the entire control board ($280–$320 part alone) or repair the board by replacing only the failed relay component. We chose board-level relay repair — more cost-effective and equally reliable.
The Repair
Bake element: Replaced with OEM Whirlpool bake element — straightforward swap with the correct part from our stock.
Control board repair: Desoldered the burned relay from the board and soldered in a matching replacement relay. Tested all board functions before reinstalling.
Both repairs were completed in the same visit. The oven baked normally at the end of the visit.
1
Visit — both repairs same day
2
Components repaired
✔
Baking normally
💡
Board repair vs. board replacementA full control board for this Whirlpool model costs $280–$320. Board-level relay replacement cost a fraction of that. When the board failure is isolated to a single identifiable component — like a relay — board repair is a completely reliable and significantly more affordable option.
⚠️ If your oven makes a bang or you see a flashTurn off the oven and the circuit breaker immediately. Do not open the oven door until any smoke has cleared. Do not attempt to use the oven again until it has been inspected. Arcing inside an oven can damage the cavity lining and create a repeat hazard if the cause isn't fully addressed.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is almost always a bake element failure — the element's coil burns through and the exposed wire arcs to the oven wall or floor. It's startling but the element is a replaceable part. The concern is whether the arc caused secondary damage to the control board, which our technicians always check.
Yes. When a bake element arcs to the oven chassis, it creates a short circuit that can send a voltage spike back into the control circuit. The most vulnerable component is the relay on the control board that switches the bake element on and off. If that relay is damaged, the oven won't heat even after the element is replaced.
Bake element replacement alone is typically $90–$160 in Broward County. If the control board also needs repair or replacement, total costs range from $200 to $420 depending on whether the board can be repaired at component level or needs full replacement.
Only if the control board and oven cavity have been inspected and confirmed undamaged. iFixExpress always checks the full system after an arc event — not just the visible element — before confirming the oven is safe to use.