Burners and cooktops
Stove and cooktop repair
Gas burners that click without lighting are almost always wet, dirty or misaligned. Electric coil burners that stay on high or will not heat point to the switch or the receptacle. Glass, radiant and induction cooktops have their own parts, and cracked glass is a stop-using-it problem.
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What changes a cooktop repair
- Type
- Induction boards are complex and model specific; coil switches are simple.
- Built-in or range
- Built-in cooktops are serviced from above after lifting the top; ranges often from the back.
- Glass replacement
- Depends on the part being available for that model.
Checks before booking
Dry and reseat gas parts
After a boil-over, let the burner dry fully and set the cap flat on its base.
Swap a coil
Move a working coil into the dead position. If it works there, the original coil failed.
Try another pan on induction
A magnet should stick firmly to the base of any pan used on induction.
Check the breaker
Electric cooktops use a double breaker. If half has tripped, some burners work and others do not.
How urgent is it?
- Act now
Gas smell, or a burner that lights with a whoosh
Turn the knobs off, open windows, and if the smell stays, leave and call the gas utility.
- Act now
Cracked glass cooktop
Turn it off at the breaker and stop using it.
- This week
One burner out of four not working
Book a repair.
Cooktop symptoms and likely causes
| What you notice | Usual cause | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Gas burner clicks but does not light | Misaligned or wet cap, clogged burner ports | Cap reseated, ports cleaned |
| All burners keep clicking | Moisture on a switch or a failed spark switch or module | Dried out; switch or module replaced |
| Yellow, lazy gas flame | Dirty burner, wrong orifice for the gas type, poor air mix | Burner cleaned; conversion checked |
| Coil stays on high | Failed infinite switch | Switch replaced |
| Coil works in one spot but not another | Burned receptacle or failed element | Receptacle or element replaced |
| Induction shows an error or cuts out | Unsuitable pan, blocked fan, or power board fault | Pan tested, fan cleaned, board diagnosed |
Cooktop parts replaced most often
- Spark switch and module
- Cause nonstop clicking when they fail or get wet.
- Burner heads and caps
- Warp or corrode, which lifts the flame unevenly.
- Infinite switch
- Controls heat on coil and radiant elements.
- Glass top
- Cracks from impact or a pot boiled dry; replaced as an assembly.
Three cooktop types, three sets of faults
Gas cooktops use spark igniters, burner caps and valves. Electric coil and radiant cooktops use elements controlled by infinite switches. Induction cooktops use coils, a power board and a fan, and are closer to electronics repair.
- Gas
- Spark electrodes, spark module, burner heads and caps, and the valves behind the knobs.
- Electric coil
- Coil elements, their receptacles and the infinite switches.
- Radiant glass
- Elements under the glass, limiters, switches and the glass top itself.
- Induction
- Induction coils, power and control boards, and the cooling fan that protects them.
What the technician does
Reproduce the fault
Each burner is run across its settings.
Test components
Switches, elements and the spark system are tested electrically; gas pressure and flame are checked on gas models.
Repair and leak check
Parts are replaced and any gas fitting that was disturbed is leak tested.
Stove and Cooktop Repair: common questions
Is a clicking gas burner dangerous?
Clicking alone is not, but a burner that clicks without lighting releases unburned gas. Turn it off, let it dry or reseat the cap, and try again after a minute.
Can I use a cracked glass cooktop?
No. Liquid can reach the elements and wiring through the crack. Turn it off at the breaker until the top is replaced.
Why does my induction cooktop make a buzzing sound?
Some buzzing at high settings is normal with certain pans, especially multi-layer ones. A loud fan noise or cutting out is not and is worth having checked.
Can a gas stove be converted to propane?
Many can, with the manufacturer's conversion kit. The work changes orifices and the regulator and should be done by a qualified gas technician.
How do I book stove and cooktop repair?
Call (877) 686-5950 and describe the stove and cooktop problem. Fixwell connects you with an independent technician who handles stove and cooktop repair in your area.
Talk to a technician about stove and cooktop repair
Call to be connected with an independent appliance repair technician near you.
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- Your ZIP code
- The appliance, brand and model number
- What is happening, any error code, and whether water or gas is involved
Gas smell, smoke or flames: leave and call 911 or the gas utility first.