Troubleshooting an Electric Cooktop That Won’t Heat
There are particular devices that you will certainly find in any type of residence, and among those is an oven. When your home appliances like an electric range or cooktop break down and won’t heat, you need repair advice or help to get it fixed as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will end up costing you a great deal of money. You commonly have 3 choices when it comes to cooktop repair:
- Go out and buy a new one
- Call a range repair company
- Try and fix it yourself
When you have an electric cooktop not working or your gas range or oven won’t heat, and if you do not want to get a new one, and you would like to fix it, then the next question becomes: can you fix it yourself or should you hire an appliance repair technician?
Sometimes the problem is minor and you can fix it yourself. Just remember that this article is focusing on fixing tips for electric ovens and not gas cooktops. If you have a gas cooktop, it is usually a best practice to just hire a professional, because handling gas requires extra safety measures to avoid injuries.
Electric Range All Burners Not Functioning
If none of the burners are heating up properly, the issue is likely with the main power supply. Check your home’s breaker panel to ensure the circuit hasn’t tripped. If the breakers are on but there is no power, you may have a faulty power cord or a terminal block issue.
Cooktop Not Turning On
If the cooktop unit itself will not activate, check the control board or the main fuse box within the unit. Inspect the outlet terminals to see if the cords are connected properly. If they are connected tightly and your electric range is still not working, then the next step is to check the electric switch. To perform this step you will need to use a tester to see if the switch is functional.
Electric Cooktop Making Noise
If your cooktop stopped working or is making loud or odd sounds, it could indicate a failing component such as the cooling fan (for induction tops) or a relay on the control board buzzing.
You might have the problem with specific parts such as the fuse box, selector switch, infinite switch, baking element, broil components, burner element, temperature sensor, or safety valve. If it’s a GE electric range, the owner’s manual might help identify why it isn’t heating.
Prior to you try to fix any type of electric home appliance like electric stoves, remember to first disconnect the power cable, either by unplugging it or turning off the electric breaker switch for the home appliance you are attempting to service.
Checking the Burner Connection
If you found that the burner is not working on an electric oven, the first thing to check is to see if it is plugged into the receptacle properly. Over time they can come loose and since they are not making the best contact, the burner might appear to either not work at all or it won’t heat up correctly. If after checking it, you see that it is still not working, then you might want to consider replacing the electric range burner or at least test it with another burner that you know is working.
Checking the Infinite Switch
If the burner connection is tight but the element still won’t heat, the issue might be the “infinite switch” (the knob you turn to set the heat level). If you are familiar with servicing electronics, you can test the switch for continuity. If any of these steps seem overwhelming, it is safer to call a professional.
If you need help diagnosing burner heating failures, review our detailed guide. For more homeowner maintenance tips, visit our main website.