How to Replace WB44T10011 Oven Bake Element on GE Ranges — Step-by-Step

Your oven's taking twice as long to bake a frozen pizza, or worse — it's stone cold even though the display says 350°F. That's the telltale sign of a dead bake element. The good news? Replacing the WB44T10011 bake element on your GE, Hotpoint, or Kenmore range is one of the easiest oven repairs you'll tackle. No soldering, no complex diagnostics — just two screws and a plug connection.

This element works across dozens of GE models including the JBP78 series, JBP66 series, and JBP80 series. If your element has visible breaks, blistering, or just won't heat up, it's time for a swap.

What You Need Before Starting

Gather these items before you begin:

• 1/4-inch nut driver or socket wrench
• Flashlight (for seeing inside the oven cavity)
• Work gloves (the old element may have sharp edges)
• Towel or blanket to protect your floor

Estimated Time: 15-20 minutes

Difficulty Level: EASY

Safety First

Warning: Disconnect power at the circuit breaker before starting this repair. Oven elements carry 240 volts, which can cause serious injury or death. Don't just unplug the range — shut off the dedicated breaker. Use a voltage tester on the terminal connections to confirm zero power before touching any wires. If your range is hardwired, you'll need to access the junction box behind the unit.

Step 1: Remove Oven Racks and Locate Mounting Screws

Pull out all your oven racks so you've got clear access to the back wall. You'll see the bake element sitting on the bottom — it's the large metal loop. Look at the back wall where the element connects. You'll find two hex-head screws (usually 1/4-inch) holding the element bracket in place. These screws go through the element's mounting tabs into the oven cavity wall.

Step 2: Unscrew the Element Mounting Bracket

Using your nut driver, remove both mounting screws. Keep them somewhere safe — you'll reuse these. Once the screws are out, gently pull the element forward about 3-4 inches. You'll see two wire terminals on the back where the element connects to your range's electrical system. Don't yank the element out completely yet; those wires are still connected.

Step 3: Disconnect the Wire Terminals

The terminals are usually slip-on connectors. Grab the metal connector (not the wire itself) and pull straight off. If they're stubborn, wiggle them gently side to side while pulling. These connectors aren't polarity-sensitive, so it doesn't matter which wire goes where when you reconnect. Once both wires are free, remove the old element completely. This is when you'll probably see the damage — a visible break in the coil, blistering, or corrosion.

Step 4: Install the New WB44T10011 Element

Take your new WB44T10011 element and position it so the mounting tabs align with the screw holes in the oven wall. Before you push it all the way back, connect the wire terminals to the element's prongs. Push each connector firmly until you hear or feel it seat completely. Give each one a gentle tug to confirm they're secure. Now push the element back so the mounting tabs sit flush against the wall.

Step 5: Secure and Test the Installation

Thread both mounting screws back through the tabs and tighten them snugly — but don't overtighten or you could crack the ceramic insulators. The element should sit evenly on the oven floor without wobbling. Replace your oven racks, close the door, and restore power at the breaker. Set your oven to 350°F and watch the element. Within 90 seconds, you should see it start glowing red. If it heats evenly across the entire coil, you're done.

Testing After Installation

Let the oven run through a complete preheat cycle. The element should glow bright red across its entire length — if you see dark spots or sections that don't heat, recheck your terminal connections. Once it reaches temperature, the element will cycle on and off to maintain heat. That's normal. Run a quick bake test with an oven thermometer to verify it's hitting the right temperature. If your oven was also heating unevenly before, this new element should fix that too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this WB44T10011 element fit my specific GE model?

This element fits over 60 GE, Hotpoint, and Kenmore models including JBP78WB1WW, JBP66WB4WW, JBP80BK4BB, JBP48WB2WW, JBP30WB1WW, JBP26WB5WW, and many others. Check the compatible models list on the product page, or look up your model number on heima.com to confirm compatibility. This element replaces part numbers AP2030997, PS249286, 820921, and WB44T10059.

How do I know if my bake element is bad or if it's a different problem?

If your oven shows power (lights work, broiler works) but produces little to no heat when baking, the bake element is the likely culprit. Visually inspect it — you're looking for breaks in the coil, blistering, or burn marks. You can also test it with a multimeter set to resistance; a good element should read between 15-50 ohms. If it reads infinite resistance, it's open and needs replacement. If the broiler doesn't work either, you might have a control board or power issue instead.

Can I replace just the bake element or do I need to replace the broil element too?

Replace only what's broken. The bake element (bottom) and broil element (top) are separate components that fail independently. If your broiler still works fine, there's no reason to replace it. However, if both elements are original and your range is 10+ years old, some people choose to replace both at once to avoid a second repair down the road. The broil element uses a different part number and isn't included with this WB44T10011 bake element.