Electric stoves and cooktops are convenient tools for everyday cooking, but like any mechanical device, they can experience problems requiring repairs. Most kitchen appliances can easily be fixed through DIY projects by using the right tools and parts. Before visiting your local appliance parts store, make sure you understand the type of repair needed by considering these common problems with electric stoves. 

3 Reasons Your Stove Needs Repairs

1. You Can’t Control the Temperature

If you notice it takes longer to heat food on a burner, or it cooks too fast, the stove’s infinite switch might be faulty. This switch connects to each temperature dial, but it can lose voltage if it gets covered with carbon deposits. Replace the switch by unplugging the stove from its electrical outlet. Remove the upper left temperature knob and remove the back panel of your stove.

The infinite switch is located behind this dial and resembles a phone jack. Carefully disconnect the color-coded wires from the switch’s terminal by using pliers. Insert the wires into a new switch using the same wire placement as on the previous switch.

Reinstall the dial and replace the back panel. Plug the stove back up and test the temperature, which should work properly.

2. The Burner Doesn’t Heat Up

If this happens, the most likely culprit is the burner itself. Start by making sure the burner is tightly connected to its receptacle, also called a block. If there is still no heat, disconnect the questionable burner by unplugging it from the receptacle. Unplug one of the working burners from their block and insert it into the non-heating burner’s receptacle.

If you feel heat radiating from the replacement, head to an appliance parts store for a new burner. If the working burner doesn’t heat up, you should purchase a new burner block instead. Bad burner blocks typically have charred wires or blackened metal.

3. Your Indicator Lights Don’t Work

Indicator lights on your stove serve as a warning that the surface is hot,  but they can stop working if the bulbs burn out. If the lights don’t turn on, but you know that the cooktop is hot, purchase new bulbs.

This replacement can be somewhat difficult if you’re working with a glass cooktop cover and inexperienced, so consult a professional beforehand. The cooktop needs to be removed to access the bulbs inside of the stove. When peering inside the cooktop, unscrew and replace the bulbs with the new ones.

If you need appliance parts to fix your stove, head to Appliance Parts of Radcliff Inc. in Kentucky. They carry more than 5,000 parts from top brands for a variety of appliances at affordable prices. For more than 25 years, they’ve helped professional technicians and DIYers find the parts they need to repair malfunctioning appliances. Call (270) 352-2900 to ask about a part’s availability or visit them online to see a manufacturer's list.