A popping noise, then a big mess.
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (42948)
April 18, 2025 7:50am CST
Last night, dinner was in the oven. Just a casserole, but by some stroke of luck, it was a casserole that required a foil covering, which did help a little to contain the disaster, thank goodness. I was standing by the counter making a salad, my son was sitting on the couch, and there was a loud pop from the oven. He looked at me and we both headed for the stove--for some reason the heating element (electric stove) decided to basically blow up and die, and catch on fire! Well, heating elements often have to be replaced, although when I moved in the entire complex was brand new, it's been nearly 12 years and never had to be replaced.
But it made a mess when it blew out--it actually split and made black ash inside the oven, which stuck, and the pan was way too hot when it decided to overheat and boiled over to add to the mess. Sooo....I put in an online maintenance request; we do have a good maintenance guy so I think he will come this morning. I spent most of the night trying to clean up the mess--a bunch of black gunk. And I had just cleaned my oven last week, it was so clean and pretty before this happened.
So, it's as clean as it's going to get for now. After I finally got it all done, I had to take another shower, but that's life. I just hope he has a heating element in his storage stash for me today, so that I don't have to wait. I did want to make Easter dinner in the oven.
And I hope that is the only big mess I will have to clean up this week!
22 people like this
19 responses
@snowy22315 (188102)
• United States
18 Apr
Oh wow,what a disaster! My element burned out last year, and it took quite awhile to find the right one and get it replaced. I was happy as a. clam when it finally was though. Mine only caught fire just a little. It was mostly sparking
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (188102)
• United States
18 Apr
@MarieCoyle Did they give you an estimate on when they could get it fixed..I guess you could get a large toaster oven or use the air fryer in the interim. I hated when my oven was broken .but between all those gadgets microwave and the slow cooker I didn't feel too deprived.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
18 Apr
Unfortunately, this one decided to go out with a bang and a mess! I am lost without an oven.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
19 Apr
@snowy22315
I was told that it isn't an emergency, so I have to wait until Monday. The maintenance man is out of town visiting his elderly father, can't blame him there...I wish I did have a toaster oven at times, but then again, the idea of yet another item to take up residence on my kitchen counter is not appealing at all. An air fryer, I have considered and yes, sometime I will have one. I do have other things that will cook, the crockpot, electric skillet, etc. plus the stovetop burners. We will survive, it won't be the same but I'm not complaining since I can cook food, just not in the preferred way!
2 people like this
@sallypup (63880)
• Centralia, Washington
18 Apr
@MarieCoyle I'm sorry. It sounds like you may need to change the menu.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
19 Apr
@sallypup
Yes, it does. I have a few ideas I will suggest to the son, from what I have here--I will let him decide.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
18 Apr
In the past I've had them die on me before, but this time really did make a mess. He didn't come today, so I think we are in for a holiday with no oven...it's' not going to be fun.
1 person likes this
!@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
17h
I have it all cleaned up--I did it the next morning, it took awhile! Anyway, the element is ordered. We still have no oven, and we really miss it!!
@Juliaacv (53147)
• Canada
18 Apr
It sounds like it was a light supper last night of salad-don't issues like this always occur well into the cooking process?
Can you get a foil oven liner in your area?
I remember having a discussion about them with another member here.
It is literally a thin tin oven liner which is disposable, and you just toss into the garbage if anything boils over.
Otherwise I hope that the maintenance department is out soon to replace the element.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
18 Apr
I am not overly fond of the foil oven liners, I've used them but honestly, I keep the oven clean and it's not been a problem...until this time!
We are very fortunate to have a nice maintenance man who is as prompt as he can be, plus he is a good ''fixer'' and solves the little problems that come up. The best thing about him is that he never, ever leaves a mess at all, and is very polite and kind. One in a million--we've had some doozies in the past, so he is much appreciated around here.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
18 Apr
@Juliaacv
I usually have a casserole or two in the freezer. I got one out and we microwaved it, so son was happy.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (123812)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Apr
I’m sorry to hear that this happened. Never a fun thing to deal with. The same just happened to us not too long ago when my daughter was cooking. It scared her so bad she thought the oven was on fire and ran and grabbed the fire extinguisher!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (123812)
• Gainesville, Florida
2h
@MarieCoyle Same thing with my daughter. It ended up going out on its own. But it looked like there was an explosion on the inside of the over, there was ash stuck everywhere on the inside of the oven.
@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
22 Apr
I was ready to put it out if needed but luckily it just went out, leaving that ashy disgusting mess for me to clean up!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (187028)
• United States
21 Apr
What a mess! I hope your new element is installed ASAP.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
22 Apr
It had to be ordered. I hope that it arrives quickly, but time will tell!! Thank you, Linda.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (163145)
• United States
18 Apr
That was quite the adventure and it is too bad it spoiled your supper.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11553)
• Legaspi, Philippines
19 Apr
Sometimes, disaster do happen. Good thing is that nobody is hurt. I hope you got a replacement before the Easter. Have a blessed day!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
19 Apr
I don't think it will be replaced before Easter, but it's OK. We will make do, I will work around not having an oven until it's fixed. Thank you so much.
@RasmaSandra (84135)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Apr
Poor you what an unpleasant mess, Glad you go most of it cleaned up and I hope your oven will be working for Easter,
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
19 Apr
@RasmaSandra
It is clean, so much ashy stuff and it took awhile! I don't think it will be fixed by Easter. We will be fine, I am inventive. I do wish I would have made the coffee cake I had planned to make for Sunday, but we won't die without it, so it's fine. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (84377)
• United States
21 Apr
What a mess is right! I didn't know an element could blow like that (I have a gas stove) and I certainly hope the maintenance guy has been able to fix it for you.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
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22 Apr
I didn’t know it could, either. But it sure did, and it left a big mess!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
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19 Apr
Don't think I will see the maintenance guy until Monday. But that's OK, I try to count my blessings and I know that so many will have no Easter dinner at all...sad, but true. I am fortunate. Thank you, Judy.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
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18 Apr
Oh, on Christmas! That would just not be good at all!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
19 Apr
When I finally got done with the mess, I headed straight for the shower--I had taken a shower already but I felt way too grubby to not have another one at that point! Thanks, Kandase!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
18 Apr
It certainly is! I had my little nap and my old body wants to go back to sleep!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (73844)
• United States
18 Apr
Aw, that stinks. Go from a yummy casserole to sandwiches for dinner. 
Funny but true: I don’t have a stove. I use a crockpot, electric skillet, and the microwave.
Hope everything gets repaired quickly!
Funny but true: I don’t have a stove. I use a crockpot, electric skillet, and the microwave.
Hope everything gets repaired quickly!1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
18 Apr
I do have other appliances of course...crockpot, electric skillet, microwave, waffle maker....and of course, the son was wanting homemade pizza. Not going to happen without an oven!
I don't think the maintenance guy is going to work today, or until next week after the holiday.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (52245)
• United States
18 Apr
I hope he can get a new element on by Easter. If he has one it is a quick fix.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
18 Apr
I've actually put a heating element in an oven before, and it's not difficult. But that was in a home that I owned, and this is a rental, so they of course want to fix things themselves. Plus, I don't want to go and buy one myself. I am hopeful it will be fixed before Easter, too. Thank you, Marie.
@wolfgirl569 (114826)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Apr
I hope he can get it fixed. That would be a huge mess
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
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18 Apr
I finally got it cleaned up, it just took awhile. All of these homes have the same appliances, so often they have replacements for certain things--I am hopeful he will call shortly and have one, but time will tell.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (43341)
• United States
18 Apr
Wow, what a mess. But thank God you were there when it happened.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42948)
•
18 Apr
Yes, we were right there. I never leave my oven on if I am not home. I am thankful it wasn't worse!
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