Crackling buzzing noise when red switch wall switch for oven on

[mous]

I know this is bad but how bad.

I think the wires are damaged behind my red oven switch (red one on the wall, I have a gas oven and hob). When I cook using hobs and oven, it makes buzzing abd crackling noises - my fear is the current is arching and wires damaged in switch. If I use less power (turn hobs right down) it doesn't crackle but still scared to use oven and hob now in case it starts a fire in wall.

I can do basic DIY but anxious over doing anything electrical. Has anyone replaced a wall switch like this and had experience? Obviously I would take every precaution and turn circuits and mains off etc but is it something an amateur should not do anyway?

Also getting a sparky in during lockdown??! 😵 Is it even allowed?

Off all the things to go during lockdown, I feel power to the oven might be the worst sobs

Fffff

I think you’ll find an electrician will come out in emergencies, and a potentially unsafe oven would count as an emergency.

Electricians are definitely working and work like this is most certainly allowed versus trying to do this yourself! Please don’t try and do it. Get the experts in.

Go to your fuse box and flip the switch OFF for the cooker. They usually have a dedicated fuse. Then you can change out the switch yourself; if you don;t want to then of course call a sparky in immediately.

Thanks, looking at local sparkies now, hopefully one will come out. With my local ones you have to lure them in at the best of times ('yeah, I could come over next quarter blood moon maybe').

I remembered a few days ago my oven made an angry beep (electric) at me and switched itself off. Have never known it to do that. It worked fine after I counted to ten and turned back on (usual method for anything that stops working). But maybe it's the oven itself that is faulty and not just wires in wall. Hurray 👍

I know loads of people are suffering far far more etc but this is just been icing on cake. I didn't dare keep cooking last night so have had to chuck a load of half cooked chicken, stuff I was doing in batches for freezing, etc, and stood doing hungry sobs at my cat around 10 o clock last night (who didn't give a shit obviously, its going to be fine with a constant supply of Felix).

I have a slow cooker at least so I can eat every 16 hours, like a snake

Oh you poor thing - but don't use the oven!

...And slow cooker dinners are frickin delicious :)

Don't use the oven and call your electricity provider, they have will arrange someone to call out. "Crackling" is a term that automatically deems a call out.
It may concern your actual supply rather than a fault inside your home/cooker.
You should find the number on your bill, maybe on the reverse.

Don't get an electrician, call your supplier.

Ours has been doing this for months, we just turn it off at the red switch when we aren’t using it. The connection is also lose as sometimes it doesn’t turn on at all. We know we should get it looked at but can’t afford to right now. If you find out what it is please update OP!

I have managed to do a fair impression of a 'roast' using just my slow cooker and steamer.

Don’t use crackly wiring, fire hazard surely?!

"Don't get an electrician, call your supplier."

this is incorrect

you say it's the oven wall switch.

The supplier is not responsible for anything beyond the meter.

PigletJohn

Oh yes they are, it used to be my job.
Any crackling and we had to send somebody to the property immediately, wherever it was coming from.