Oven Fixing Cost

Slowestdriver1 on 06/10/2025 - 21:01

So my ovens fan forced heating element got damaged and stopped working. Rest of oven works fine.

I called up to check what the cost of fixing will be. I budgeted it will cost me around $100 to fix and what I got was the following in a quote:

$180 call out fee (includes 15 minutes of labour)
$120 for parts (the one part in this situation)

But could be more in case it takes him more than 15 minutes or in case he needs more than one part.

I called another person to fix it and he quoted me $350 including everything.

At that stage I thought to investigate the issue myself.

I asked why the cost was so much and the guy says to me because he guarantees the part. Not sure what that means.

Long story short I found the authentic part online for $20 (with $2 cashback from eBay ShopBack)

Had to go through an ad on YouTube but managed to fix it in 10 minutes. It was literally taking some screws out removing old element clicking in new element and putting screws back in.

I’m finding it insane that these people charge more per hour than a top surgeon.

Home & Garden Oven

Comments

  • fantombloo on 06/10/2025 - 21:03
    +17

    You don't then know what a top surgeon charges. Even a non-top one.

    • Slowestdriver1 on 06/10/2025 - 21:09
      +5

      Thanks agreed. Was just a figure of speech

  • MS Paint on 06/10/2025 - 21:17
    +17

    Did you stick your head in the oven to make sure it was working? I think it's called a head check.

    • Slowestdriver1 on 06/10/2025 - 21:21
      +2

      Nah I switched off the electricity at the source.

      Then turned it on after it was fixed to check its working.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 06/10/2025 - 21:25
      -1

      Yeah, nah. Just adjust your mirrors.

    • randomusername2017 on 07/10/2025 - 00:59

      Gas ovens only… EA/V are maintenance free.

      • MS Paint on 07/10/2025 - 11:39

        Gas ovens make scents. Cheers

  • Far Cough on 06/10/2025 - 21:26

    try calling a plumber, concreter, etc etc.
    whats the issue?
    other than being an ozbargainer

  • tenpercent on 06/10/2025 - 21:42
    +11

    Well done. You might have got more fanfare and less negativity if your story had been about learning via youtube to do a simple repair on your car or how to gap a spark plug yourself.

  • thatonethere on 06/10/2025 - 21:43
    +2

    For these appliances, estimate replacement and install cost. Also age of appliance. Then decide if cheaper to replace as new

    • Slowestdriver1 on 06/10/2025 - 21:46
      +3

      Yeah was about to buy a new one. Then figured it’s an easy fix

      • kiitos on 07/10/2025 - 07:59
        +3

        Yes, sometimes it works out for the best to try to repair it yourself, sometimes what you think is the problem isn't the problem and you pay a bit more than of you had got someone else to diagnose it properly or bought new.

  • 7ekn00 on 06/10/2025 - 21:54
    +9

    It's the same with everything, learning to fix things yourself will always work out cheaper ;)

    • trustnoone on 07/10/2025 - 01:58
      +5

      While I definitely recommend it and don't exactly want to take away from this advice. I do want to caveat to do some research first as in some cases it is worth getting someone who knows. In particular if you are dealing with electricity/rewiring, sanding of unknown material (asbestos risk), or anything that may affect insurance (say doing your own plumbing that ends up affecting a neighbors unit).

  • jv on 06/10/2025 - 22:16
    +6

    I budgeted it will cost me around $100 to fix

    Maybe in 1980… 🤣🤣🤣

    • MS Paint on 06/10/2025 - 22:36
      +6

      Ovens built prior to 1980 rarely failed

  • mskeggs on 06/10/2025 - 22:36
    +18

    I recently replaced the same element, mine was about $35, also from eBay.
    However, i didn’t expect someone to come visit my home, drag out the stove, replace the part and check it works for $65, including having parts on hand, advertising, paying for a van and turning up promptly, so I didn’t post it to ozbargain.

    So i saved about $250 on getting someone else to do it, and had no oven fan element for a week. I am happy with that saving. Others will be less confident in a repair and will want someone to do it for them.

      • JimB on 06/10/2025 - 22:57
        +4

        It could take an hour to get there if they're the slowest driver.

        • MS Paint on 06/10/2025 - 23:01
          +7

          Factor in the tradies multiple car accidents on the way because they took their eyes off the road to perform a head check.

          • spackbace on 07/10/2025 - 11:23
            -1

            @MS Paint: With these sort of rants, I feel OP owns a Mustang and keeps it under 3,000rpm…

            • Daabido on 07/10/2025 - 18:51

              @spackbace: I tried that with my mustang. Let's just say it wasn't pretty.

      • mskeggs on 07/10/2025 - 07:12
        +11

        Maybe you should go into business repairing ovens?
        If there is a lot of work within 10mins drive of your place to earn $750 an hour.

      • smartazz104 on 07/10/2025 - 20:19

        Would you do that work for $100? No you wouldn't.

  • try2bhelpful on 06/10/2025 - 23:00
    -3

    Hope ya did it properly because if it causes a fire your insurance company will drop you like a hot potato. That is what ya pay the bucks for, a certified proper job.

    • Slowestdriver1 on 06/10/2025 - 23:18
      +2

      That did cross my mind but there is a circuit breaker. That’s what happened when the last one stopped working

    • mskeggs on 07/10/2025 - 07:21
      +9

      Oven elements are made to be replaced, and electric ovens installed to standard have a plug and socket. This is like saying replacing a light bulb could invalidate your insurance.
      I’m interested in any example of insurance being denied in such a case.

    • ssfps on 07/10/2025 - 17:48
      +3

      Do you have a license to plug in that toaster?

    • Cheap Gamer on 07/10/2025 - 18:34

      And it's illegal if the element has wire terminals. Hard to get it wrong, but no worries if the wires are reversed. Of course, there's a risk of death if the switch is left on. You're paying for someone else to take that risk.

  • simplystu on 07/10/2025 - 01:01
    +1

    Try sourcing quotes from actual "oven repair ppl" … Rather than from Jim's mob type.

    Less than 2 years ago - got oven element replaced … By a proper "oven specialist" that advertised in local area.

    All up - cost $160 (including parts + labour + driving to site).

  • randomusername2017 on 07/10/2025 - 01:01
    -1

    budgeted it will cost me around $100

    Landlord Redbook?

  • AustriaBargain on 07/10/2025 - 03:56
    -1

    $20 for the part. $330 for knowing where to hit it.

  • joka on 07/10/2025 - 05:21
    +9

    You made up a completely arbitrary figure up for your budget and then was disappointed that your figure was way off and now you’re angry. Got it.

    • apu on 07/10/2025 - 15:34

      Totally agree with this. OP's initial budget and mindset was warped. Obviously doesn't own or run their own business or has ever engaged a repair person or tradesperson.

      And as others have said, if you repair/do something yourself, obviously you're going to save a fortune. No different to servicing a car, painting a house or gardening - trades exist for pretty much everything, but you can DIY to save money.

  • Dollar General on 07/10/2025 - 07:12
    +1

    People gotta make a living

    A hooker charges me a lot more than the moisturiser and tissues that I can use myself but price is what you pay, value is what you get

    • mike6969 on 07/10/2025 - 08:15

      Spit and old tshirt is the OZB way

      • MS Paint on 07/10/2025 - 08:21
        +1

        TIL it's no longer a sock but a T-shirt. When was the transition period?

        • freefall101 on 07/10/2025 - 10:44

          My socks tend to last longer than tshirts these days, so it makes sense. Fast fashion has changed the world in so many ways.

        • smartazz104 on 07/10/2025 - 20:20

          mike thinks he has enough girth to warrant a t-shirt.

    • Slowestdriver1 on 07/10/2025 - 08:24
      +2

      The plumber doesn’t have to touch the body of an ozbargainer though

  • ihbh on 07/10/2025 - 09:18
    +1

    I’m finding it insane that these people charge more per hour than a top surgeon.

    Don't say crap you don't understand - that is, comparing apples with bananas is meaningless. Do top surgeons come to your house to operate on you and then go back home?

    Also, a top surgeon could cost multiple $0,000s per hour if that's the sweet spot part of their income (obviously lower for initial consultations, etc.).

  • gyrex on 07/10/2025 - 09:35
    -4

    Buy the element and replace it yourself - it should take 15-30 mins and there's a tonne of youtube videos on the process. Turn off the oven at the fuse box and there's probably ~8 screws to remove the cover, remove old element and fit new one in.

    • MS Paint on 07/10/2025 - 10:00
      +2

      Tell us you didn't read the full post without telling us you didn't read the full post.

      • gyrex on 07/10/2025 - 10:11
        +4

        Your assumption would be correct and I shall humbly and gracefully remove the egg from my face.

        Well done to OP for fixing it himself then :)

  • Drakesy on 07/10/2025 - 14:21

    Just buy a new one - australia's ridiculous wages to keep up with living have resulted in a consumerist society.

    • Slowestdriver1 on 07/10/2025 - 14:24

      It’s a shame it’s forcing us to become a wasteful country. Luckily I was able to fix it myself.

      Considering the cost of hiring someone ($300) might as well as a couple of hundred and get a brand new one with a warranty

  • Euphemistic on 07/10/2025 - 16:10

    Just replaced our oven. Prior to it letting out the magic smoke, it ran without working on fan foce mode for near 5 years.

    Wasnt worth the time and effort to repair it because it was a terrible over before the fan force failed anyway. Plus we wanted to go to a bigger oven and that meant rearranging stuff in the kitchen to make it fit.

  • Daddy Chill on 07/10/2025 - 16:27

    Well done on doing it yourself. Do not pay for another home or jetski

  • jeeg on 07/10/2025 - 16:50

    We will need to replace our oven as well. The fan has gone kaput and it is a very old oven. What is a reasonable cost for sparky to do the installation?

  • Mnke on 07/10/2025 - 17:12

    You are basically paying for the persons experience, not the time it takes for someone to do it.

    Keep in mind in more complex issues that involve more than just replacing one part and slapping it together again, it will cost you much more if something goes wrong.

    Generally, if they know you botched the job before calling them, most if not all self respecting tradies will refuse to take it.

  • Cheap Gamer on 07/10/2025 - 17:58

    Welcome to the club. I get my parts from Doug Smith Spares.

    Twenty bucks is a really good price for an oven element. Hope it's genuine, you'll find out soon enough.

    the guy says to me because he guarantees the part. Not sure what that means.

    It means don't ask questions because tradies hate being questioned.

  • Windows7forever on 07/10/2025 - 18:16

    Good on ya for having a crack at it. DIY all the way!

  • sammm on 07/10/2025 - 18:19

    that happened with my oven a couple of years ago and i paid somewhere between 120 and $150 fro an airtasker person (gas plumber) to fix it.

  • R4 on 07/10/2025 - 18:54

    This is what it is and none of the costs you mentioned were excessive. With appliances, if I can't fix them myself, I'll buy new.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 07/10/2025 - 19:24
    +1

    HOT OFF THE PRESS

    TRADESPERSON COSTS MOST THAN DIY

    FOLLOW US FOR MORE EXCITING NEWS

    • Slowestdriver1 on 07/10/2025 - 20:43

      Think it’s more about the cost rather than diy being cheaper.

  • DoctorCalculon on 07/10/2025 - 19:40

    You just came here to brag, didn't you?

  • Mrgreenz on 07/10/2025 - 21:26
    +1

    See it everywhere, plumbing seems to be the worse.

    600 bucks here.
    2k there.

    I feel for the people who cant conduct the basics DIY and get slogged for tap changes or blockages.

    Probably petrified to touch it with all the insurance scare tactics perpetuated.

  • Dunks on 07/10/2025 - 21:39

    My washing machine needs repairing. They want $400 to fix it. And they are the manufacturer….

    I ordered the part online and cost me $70….stuff paying them…

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