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Holiday Oven Not Heating: Repair and Replacement Parts

Quick Answer

If your Holiday oven isn't getting hot, the most likely culprit is a burnt-out bake element or a failed gas igniter. You should first check if the stovetop burners still work to rule out a total gas or power failure to the entire unit.

Holiday ovens are workhorses, honestly. I've seen these things run 20+ years in rental kitchens without a hiccup. But when they stop heating, it's almost always one of three things: the bake element burned out, the igniter got weak, or the thermostat gave up. Ignore it and you're eating cold food or, worse, smelling raw gas every time you try to bake. Most fixes run $30-$75 in parts.

HolidayOvenSeverity: highDifficulty: intermediate95% DIY Success
Time to Fix
20–45 min
Difficulty
intermediate
Parts Cost
$25 – $65
Tools Needed
Phillips #2 screwdriver, 1/4 inch nut driver

Holiday Oven Not Heating: Repair and Replacement Parts

OK so your Holiday oven is cold and you're trying to figure out if this is a $40 fix or a full replacement. Good news: it's probably the cheap fix. These are super simple mechanical ovens with no fancy control boards in most models, which actually makes them easier to diagnose than a lot of newer stuff. I fixed three of these last month alone. The bake element or igniter is dead 80% of the time.

Most Likely Causes

Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:

Burnt out electric bake element45%
Weak or cracked gas oven igniter35%
Failed mechanical oven thermostat10%
Wiring or connection failure10%

Symptoms You May Notice

  • The oven stays completely cold no matter what temp you dial it to, but your stovetop burners fire right up like normal.
  • Bake element sits at the bottom of the oven cavity and never glows red or orange when the oven is on.
  • Faint smell of gas when you turn the oven on, but you never hear a click or see a flame come on.
  • Oven takes 45 minutes or more to reach 350 degrees, and even then it feels weak and inconsistent.
  • Food comes out with burnt tops but completely raw on the bottom, which points to a bake element that's struggling or gone entirely.

Can you reset a Holiday oven to clear the NOT-HEATING code?

Most Holiday ovens are purely mechanical, so there's no digital reset button. If yours has a digital clock panel, unplug the whole unit from the wall for a full 5 minutes, then plug it back in. The clock will need to be reset after. For older gas models with a standing pilot light, relight it by holding the pilot knob down for 30 seconds while you apply a match to the pilot opening. After any repair, let the oven run empty at 400 degrees for 20 minutes to burn off any residue before you cook in it.

Tools Required for Diagnosis

Phillips #2 screwdriver1/4 inch nut driverDigital multimeter (set to ohms for continuity testing)Work glovesFlashlight or headlampNeedle-nose pliers (for wire connectors)

Diagnostic Checklist

Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.

ComponentComponent Under Test
Expected Range10–50 ohms
ConditionIf Open (OL) or infinite, replace component.

Replacement Parts

If your diagnostic testing proves the component has failed, you will need a replacement. We recommend OEM parts over aftermarket for water-handling components.

Part Name
Oven Bake ElementCH44X5008 · $35–$65
Flat Style Gas IgniterGR403 · $25–$55

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need a new holiday stove replacement part or a new stove?
If the stove is structurally solid and the porcelain isn't cracked all the way through, fix it. These are simple machines. A bake element runs $25-$60, a gas igniter is $30-$70, and a thermostat is $40-$90 depending on your model. Even if you pay a tech $150 in labor you're still way ahead of buying a new compact range at $600-$900. The only time I'd say replace instead of repair is if the main gas valve is dead and you're already looking at $200+ in parts alone on a unit that's 15+ years old.
Why does my Holiday gas oven smell like gas but won't light?
That's almost always a weak igniter. Here's what's happening: the igniter glows, but it's not drawing enough current to pull the safety valve fully open. You need about 3.2 to 3.6 amps to open that valve. So a little gas seeps out while you wait, but the burner never actually lights. Don't keep trying over and over, you're letting raw gas accumulate. Swap the igniter, they're usually $40-$60 for Holiday models, and the problem goes away. If you replaced the igniter and still get gas smell with no flame, then the safety valve itself is the issue.
Are Holiday stove parts interchangeable with other brands?
Sometimes, yeah. Holiday ranges used a lot of the same internal components as Peerless-Premier and some older Roper units from the same era. Igniters especially tend to cross over between several brands. But don't guess. Find your model number on the sticker inside the door frame, look up that exact model, and match the part number. The wattage on electric elements really matters, and so does the connector type. Getting the wrong element won't just fail to work, it can cause electrical problems in your oven circuit.
Can I replace an oven bake element myself?
Yes, and it's genuinely one of the easiest appliance repairs there is. Two to four screws on the back wall of the oven cavity, two wire connectors to unplug, done. The whole job takes 15 minutes once you've done it once. Just make sure you flip the breaker off at the panel, not just turn the oven knob to off. The wire connectors are spade or spring-clip type, they just push on and pull off. Order the part by your model number, not just by wattage alone, and you'll get the right fit.
How long should a Holiday oven igniter last?
Anywhere from 5 to 12 years depending on how hard the oven gets used. Heavy daily baking or lots of broiling wears them out faster. I've replaced igniters on 6-year-old ovens and I've also seen them go 15 years in a lightly-used kitchen. The warning signs show up before it totally dies: longer preheat times, oven struggling to hit temperature, or that dim glow with no ignition. When you start seeing those signs, budget $40-$60 for a new igniter and about 30 minutes of your time. Way better than getting surprised mid-dinner.

Models Known to Experience NOT-HEATING Errors

This repair applies to most Holiday ovens with this error code. Common model numbers include:

HLY110W, HLY140W, HLY160W, HLY310W, HLY640W

MS

Written by

Mike Sullivan

Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 20 years experience

Last verified for technical accuracy on May 20, 2024