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Fix an incubator that will not hold temperature

We'll confirm the incubator powers on, rule out power and placement, then isolate the cause—thermostat, heating element, seal, or calibration—or tell you when to call a pro.

Troubleshooting · Home appliances
15–45 min
What you'll need
  • Separate thermometer (to verify internal temperature)
  • Multimeter (for continuity tests on heating element and thermostat, if opening the unit)
  • Replacement seal, heating element, or thermostat (if tests show a fault)
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Steps

Goal: Confirm the symptom, rule out power and placement, then isolate the heating or control fault.

  • Set the incubator to the target temperature (e.g. 99.5°F for chicken eggs) and close the door. After 30–60 minutes, check the display and use a separate thermometer placed inside to verify the internal temperature.
  • Good: The incubator powers on but the temperature drifts or never reaches the set point—heating or control fault. Proceed to Check power and placement.
  • Bad: No power at all—different problem (power, outlet). Check power first.

Check power and placement

Goal: Rule out power loss and poor placement before opening the incubator.

  • Verify the incubator is plugged in and the circuit breaker has not tripped. Reset the breaker if tripped.
  • Confirm the incubator is on a stable surface away from windows, vents, and drafts. Avoid direct sunlight. The room should stay above 65°F.
  • Good: Power is on and the incubator is in a stable, draft-free location. Proceed to Seal and thermostat.
  • Bad: Breaker keeps tripping or incubator is in a cold or drafty spot—fix those first.

Seal and thermostat

Goal: Check the door seal and thermostat calibration on an incubator that powers on but does not hold temperature.

  • Inspect the seal around the door for cracks, gaps, or stiffness. Close the door and look for light leaking around the edges. Replace the seal if damaged.
  • Place a known-accurate thermometer inside and wait 30 minutes. If the display differs from the thermometer by more than 1–2°F, adjust the calibration per your owner’s manual.
  • Check vent settings per your owner’s manual for your egg type. Adjust vents to the recommended position.
  • Good: Seal is intact and thermostat is calibrated. Proceed to Heating element if it still does not hold.
  • Bad: Seal replaced and calibration adjusted but still no hold—check the heating element and thermostat.

Heating element

Goal: Test and replace the heating element or thermostat on an incubator that powers on but does not hold temperature.

  • Unplug the incubator. Open the unit per your model. Check your owner’s manual or search “[brand] [model] incubator service manual” for disassembly steps if unsure.
  • Locate the heating element. Test for continuity with a multimeter. Replace if broken or burned.
  • Test the thermostat for continuity per your model. Replace if it fails.
  • Good: You found and replaced the faulty part. Reassemble and test—the incubator should hold temperature.
  • Bad: All parts test good but it still does not hold—call a technician.

When to get help

Call an appliance technician if:

  • You have checked the seal, thermostat, and heating element and it still does not hold temperature.
  • You see error codes or burnt wiring.
  • You are not comfortable working with electrical components.

Never work on the incubator while it is plugged in.

Verification

  • The interior reaches the set temperature within 30–60 minutes and holds within 1–2°F.
  • A separate thermometer confirms the display reading. No unusual noises or error codes.
  • The heating element and thermostat (if replaced) work consistently. The door seal closes with no visible gaps.

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Confirm symptom Verify the incubator powers on but temperature drifts or never reaches target; rule out a different problem.
  2. Power and placement Check circuit breaker and that the incubator is in a stable, draft-free location.
  3. Seal and calibration Check the door seal for gaps; calibrate the thermostat if the display does not match a reference thermometer.
  4. Heating element and thermostat Test heating element and thermostat for continuity; replace if faulty.
  5. Call a pro Parts checked but still no hold—call an appliance technician.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • Incubator brand and model
  • Whether the fan runs (for forced-air models)
  • Whether the display shows the set temperature
  • Seal condition and thermostat calibration
  • Heating element / thermostat test results
  • Steps already tried

Does the incubator power on but the temperature drift or never reach the set point?

Set a target temperature and wait 30–60 minutes. Use a separate thermometer inside to verify. If the interior does not reach or hold the target, the unit has failed.

Set the incubator to the target temperature (e.g. 99.5°F for chicken eggs) and close the door. After 30–60 minutes, check the display and use a separate thermometer inside. Good: incubator on but temperature drifts or never reaches target—heating or control fault. Bad: no power at all—different problem (power, outlet); check power first.

Yes No

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Is power on and the incubator in a stable, draft-free location?

Circuit breaker and placement in a cold or drafty room can prevent proper temperature hold.

Verify the incubator is plugged in and the circuit breaker has not tripped. Confirm the incubator is away from windows, vents, and drafts. Good: power on and incubator in a stable location. Bad: breaker keeps tripping or incubator in a cold or drafty spot—fix those first.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Is the door seal intact with no gaps?

A damaged seal lets heat escape and prevents temperature hold.

Inspect the seal around the door for cracks, gaps, or stiffness. Close the door and look for light leaking around the edges. Good: seal intact, no gaps. Bad: seal damaged or compressed—replace the seal, then retest. If the seal is good, proceed to calibration.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Replace seal and retest

Replace the door seal with an exact match (order by model number). Retest. If it still does not hold temperature, proceed to check the thermostat and heating element.

Done

Does the display match a reference thermometer after calibration?

Many digital incubators have a calibration or offset setting. Check the owner's manual.

Place a known-accurate thermometer inside. Wait 30 minutes. If the display differs by more than 1–2°F, adjust the calibration per your owner's manual. Good: display matches reference after calibration—check vent settings and heating element. Bad: no calibration or still off after adjustment—check thermostat and heating element.
Question

Does the display match a reference thermometer after calibration?

Continue

You can change your answer later.

Does the heating element have continuity?

If the fan runs but the interior never heats or heats slowly, the heating element may have failed.

Unplug the incubator. Open the unit per your model. Locate the heating element. Test for continuity with a multimeter. No continuity: element failed—replace with exact match, reassemble, test. Continuity: element good—check the thermostat; replace if faulty. If you are not comfortable opening the unit, call a technician.

Yes (good) No (broken)

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Replace heating element and test

Replace the heating element with an exact match. Reassemble and test. The incubator should hold temperature if the element was the only fault. If it still does not hold, the thermostat may have failed—call a technician.

Done

Does the thermostat have continuity?

The thermostat regulates when the heating element turns on. A faulty one can prevent heating.

Test the thermostat for continuity per your model. Replace if it fails. If all parts test good but the incubator still does not hold temperature, call a technician.

Done

Call a technician

Call an appliance technician if you have checked the seal, thermostat, and heating element and it still does not hold temperature, if you see error codes or burnt wiring, or if you are not comfortable working with electrical components. Never work on the incubator while it is plugged in.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

Why would an incubator not hold temperature?
Common causes: thermostat miscalibration or faulty sensor, failed heating element, damaged door seal (heat loss), placement in a drafty or cold room, or incorrect vent settings. Check power and placement first, then the thermostat and heating components.
Can I fix an incubator that will not hold temperature myself?
Yes, if you are comfortable with basic tools and electrical safety. Unplug the incubator before any repair. You can check the seal, calibrate the thermostat if supported, and test the heating element. Call a technician if you are not comfortable.
When should I call a technician for an incubator that will not hold temperature?
Call an appliance technician if you have checked the seal, thermostat, and heating element and it still does not hold temperature, if you see error codes or burnt wiring, or if you are not comfortable working with electrical components.

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