My wife noticed a faint noise coming out of our electric oven (which is really old) while it was off. It sounds almost like rice krispies treats or something like that. Any ideas what it could be? We have planned to replace it in the next year or so.

Wear on the clock/timer motor causing noise in an older non-electronic oven would be the most likely candidate.

You know, I've never really stopped to listen to rice krispies treats.

Now you know why the pizza crust gets too brown and hard, why the cakes are under baked, why biscuits resemble hockey pucks...it's the dreaded oven demon!

I am a weenie about electric stuff since I have been electrocuted twice...replace it now.

My oven (nice 70s double oven) makes a few noises when it is heating up or cooling down. Mostly a couple pops or thumps. Not a bunch though. I would love to replace it, but I would probably need to do it as a whole kitchen remodel because it is difficult to find something to fit that exact built in size.

Does it make the noises after it has been used, while it is cooling down? If so probably no biggie.

Does it have an old electromechanical clock? If so, probably o biggie.

Is it vented to the exterior? If so, it could be the wind, or leaves in the ductwork, basically no biggie.

It could be mice in walls or ductwork, bothersome.

It could be shorting out circuitry, BIG deal! I would flip the breaker and see if the noise goes away, then figure out what to do next.