Why won't my oven door close all the way?
An oven door that won't seat fully usually points to one of three things: worn hinges (the dominant cause, year 7 to 10 typical, the door gaps at the top corners while sitting flush at the bottom), a flattened or torn gasket that's lost its compression, or a bent or warped door panel from impact damage. Quick visual: close the door fully and look at the gap between the door and the frame. Even gap all around (about 1mm) means the door is seating right and the issue is elsewhere. Wider gap at top corners means hinge sag — that's a $200 to $380 mid-market or $600 to $900 pro-style fix per pair. Wider gap on one side only usually means a bent door, which needs door replacement on most models. $89 residential diagnostic, applied toward repair.
How do I fix a sagging oven door?
Sagging means the hinges have lost their spring tension or developed wear in the pivot mechanism — it's not adjustable on most modern ovens, the fix is hinge replacement. Step by step: (1) Confirm the sag by measuring the gap at the top corners with the door fully closed (more than 5mm at one or both corners means repair-needed). (2) Verify the gasket isn't the actual cause by inspecting it visually — flat, torn, or cracked gasket can mimic hinge sag in the symptom. (3) Order replacement hinges (always as a pair — single-side replacement creates uneven door weight that wears the new hinge faster). (4) Removal requires lifting the door off the hinges (heavy on pro-style — 40 to 60 lbs), then transferring the hinges from inside the oven cabinet. Pro-style hinges (Wolf, Viking, Thermador) need careful spring-tension setup during reinstallation. Most homeowners book us for this rather than DIY because the door weight makes it a two-person job and the spring-tension setup matters for long-term wear.
How do I tell if my hinges are sagging?
Close the oven door fully and look at the gap between the door and the frame at the top corners. If one corner has a wider gap than the other, or both top corners gap evenly while the bottom is flush, the hinges are sagging. Healthy doors close with even gap all around (about 1mm). Sag of 5mm or more at the top corner is repair-needed; below that you're still in normal wear range.
Can the door glass be repaired or only replaced?
Replaced only. Cracked or shattered oven door glass is not repairable, the safety properties (tempered, layered, or ceramic) are lost the moment integrity is broken. Replacement runs $300 to $560 for mid-market doors, $700 to $1,200 for pro-style (Wolf, Viking, Thermador) where the glass is a custom assembly.
Why is the oven door light always on or never on?
Door switch (the small mechanical switch that detects door open or closed). Light always on means the switch reads door open even when closed; light never on means switch reads closed even when open. Either way the oven might also refuse to start, since most safety interlocks use the same switch. Replacement $200 to $340.
Pro-style range door (Wolf, Viking, Thermador), premium hinge cost?
Yes. Pro-style hinges are heavy-duty spring assemblies that hold the weight of larger glass and heavier door panels. Replacement runs $600 to $900 versus $200 to $380 mid-market. Worth it because the door is meant to last 18 to 25 years, replacing hinges at year 8 or 12 keeps the rest of the oven on its design service life.
Door won't open after self-clean, separate issue?
Related but distinct. The self-clean cycle locks the door for safety during 900°F+ operation; sometimes the lock motor or its electronic latch fails to release after the cycle ends. We cover this on /services/oven-repair/self-clean-problems/. The fix often overlaps (door lock motor replacement) but the diagnostic context is the cycle, not general door wear.
Should I replace both pairs of hinges on my double oven proactively?
Yes, on most GE, KitchenAid, and Whirlpool double ovens. The lower oven hinges fail first and faster than the upper, because the lower oven sees more heat (rising heat from below cycles compounds), more weight on the door, and more open-close cycles in typical use. By the time the lower hinges sag, the upper are usually 60 to 80% along the same wear curve. Replacing both pairs in one visit costs slightly more in parts ($120 to $200 extra) but saves a full second service call within 12 to 24 months. We recommend it on doubles past year 8.
My oven cooks unevenly — could the door be the cause instead of the sensor?
Yes — heat loss through a sagging hinge or a flattened door gasket lets hot air escape, so the top of the food cooks lighter and customers often blame the oven for running cold. Our techs at Same Day Appliance Repair check the door seal and hinge gap before condemning a temperature sensor, because a $180 to $340 gasket replacement frequently fixes an 'uneven cooking' complaint that would otherwise get misdiagnosed. $89 residential diagnostic, waived with repair.
Can you replace just the inner glass panel instead of the whole door?
On many mid-market doors, yes — a cracked inner glass panel can be swapped without replacing the full door assembly. Our techs at Same Day Appliance Repair assess whether the damage is the inner pane alone (often paired with a worn door switch on impact jobs) or a full door-glass replacement, which runs $300 to $560 mid-market or $700 to $1,200 pro-style. We quote the narrower fix when the door structure is otherwise sound. $89 residential diagnostic, waived with repair.
What's your warranty?
90 days parts and labor on every repair. BHGS #A49573, EPA 608 Universal certified (#1346255700410), BBB Accredited Business.