[rjansing]

The baking element in my GE oven just broke in half. I've tripped the breaker so power is off. I have replaced the element before and have one on order. Question is - would it be safe for me to remove the old element, tape off the ends of the power leads and use the stove top until I replace the baking element? Should only be a day or 2.

What might cause the element to fail? The second one failed in less than three years?

[denman]

It is not a good idea to tape off the connectors unless you can be sure that both cannot short to any thing and that heat will not effect them.
If some one forgets about the taped off connectors and turns the oven on, the broiler will come on, melt the tape and that could cost you a new control board. So it is a gamble.

Elements just go. If you have overflows from cooking onto the element, it will shorten their lifetime.

[rjansing]

Thank you for the advice. I guess a day without the range is better than the consequences.