Asko Steam Oven Problems: No Steam, Water Leaks and Odd Behavior

A combi-steam oven is a more complicated machine than a plain oven. Besides the heating elements and fan, it has a water supply, a steam generator, a path for steam and condensation, and seals that must keep the moisture where it belongs. In our library the OCS8687S is listed as a combi/steam oven in the Celsius series, still sold new. Whatever your model, the same logic applies to problems: separate the heat side from the steam side, then follow the water.

Which half is failing?

Run a simple test. Use a plain heating mode with no steam and see whether the oven comes up to temperature. If it does not, the trouble is on the heat side, and our guide to a wall oven not heating is the better starting point. If it heats but the steam modes disappoint, the water side is the place to look, and the rest of this article stays there.

No steam or weak steam

Steam needs water, and the oven needs to be able to heat it. Depending on how your oven is installed, water arrives from a removable container that you fill or from a plumbed supply. In either case, a missing supply is the simplest explanation. If your oven uses a container, check that it is filled, seated firmly and not cracked. If it uses a plumbed line, check that the shutoff valve to the oven is open and that the flexible line is not kinked. Beyond that, a steam generator coated in mineral deposits heats poorly and produces little steam, and a pump or valve that fails to move water leaves the generator dry. These are technician items.

Water where it should not be

• Water on the cavity floor after steaming: some condensation is part of normal use. A pool that keeps growing, or water that drains away slowly, points at a drain or evaporation path that is not working as designed.
• Water at the door edge: check the door seal for gaps, folds or food debris. A seal that does not close evenly lets steam escape and drip.
• Water under or in front of the oven: this may come from the supply line, a connection, or the drain path. Switch the oven off and keep the area dry. Do not open panels to look.
• Steam coming from vents in unexpected amounts: a seal, the fan or the venting path may be involved.

Smells and mineral taste

A musty smell after a steam cycle usually means moisture is left in the cavity and the oven was closed too soon. Wipe the cavity with a soft cloth when cool, leave the door open for a while, and the smell often disappears. A chalky film on the cavity or a taste of minerals in food points to hard water. San Francisco water is generally soft, yet elsewhere in the Bay Area it varies, and buildings with older plumbing can add their own character. A technician can check the generator for deposits and advise on how your water supply affects the oven.

Door, seal and latch

Steam ovens depend on a door that closes fully and evenly. A seal that is worn, flattened or torn, or a door that sits slightly crooked, lets moisture and heat escape. You can check the seal visually: run a finger along it with the oven cold and off, looking for splits, hardened spots and food. Keep the door area clean and free of burnt-on material. If the door does not shut with a firm feel, or the oven refuses to start because it thinks the door is open, stop and book a visit.

Display, codes and controls

Our library does not list fault codes for the combi-steam oven, so we do not offer a code table for it. If your oven shows a message or number, copy it exactly, note what the oven was doing, and tell us. Many messages relate to water: low level, supply, descaling reminders. A reminder to descale is not a fault, though ignoring it for long can create one. Do not run unusual cleaning products through the generator without checking what your oven allows.

Installation points that change the diagnosis

Combi-steam ovens in Bay Area homes are often fitted in a tall cabinet column in a remodeled kitchen or an in-law unit, with a plumbed supply added at the time. The cutout must be square and ventilated, and the water line must be accessible. A line that is crushed by the cabinet or an oven pushed back too far against a rigid supply causes trouble that looks like a steam fault. If you recently had cabinetry work, tell us about it.

Checks you can make safely

1. Check the power: breaker and any switch feeding the oven.
2. If your oven has a water container, fill it and seat it properly; if plumbed, confirm the shutoff valve is open.
3. Look for a kinked or pinched supply hose where you can see it, without moving the oven.
4. Wipe the cavity and door seal when cool and look for gaps or debris.
5. Run a heating-only mode and a short steam mode to see which half misbehaves.
6. Write down any message, then make one controlled power reset.

Do not remove the oven from its cabinet, loosen fittings or open covers. If you smell gas on a gas-supplied kitchen, or see sparks, leave and switch off power at the breaker.

Booking a visit

We diagnose first, give a written estimate and wait for your approval before any repair. Have the oven model ready and note whether the water comes from a container or a plumbed line. Start from the Asko wall oven repair page, read more about Asko wall ovens, and if you cannot find the label, see how to find your Asko model number.

Frequently asked questions