Your electric stove decides to stop working. It always happens at the worst possible time, doesn’t it? It’s usually right when you have a pot of water ready for pasta or guests are about to arrive.
Fortunately, you can fix some common electric stove issues yourself with a little know-how. The trick, however, is knowing which problems are safe for a DIY approach and which ones scream “call a professional immediately.” In this guide, we’ll walk through the difference so you can get your kitchen back in working order safely.
Simple Fixes You Can Probably Handle
Before you start unplugging things and taking your stove apart, let’s cover the basics. Sometimes the fix is surprisingly simple, and you’ll feel like a genius for figuring it out.
The Burner Won’t Heat Up
This is one of the most common issues you’ll run into: you turn the knob, the indicator light comes on, but the burner stays cold. Before you panic, there are a few things to check.
First, check the connection. On many electric stoves, the coil burners plug into a socket, almost like a giant electrical plug.
Sometimes, over time and with repeated cleaning, this connection can get a little loose. Turn off the burner and wait for it to cool down completely. Then, simply try wiggling the burner slightly and pushing it firmly back into its socket. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.
If that doesn’t work, the burner itself might be the problem. You can test this theory easily. If you have another burner of the same size on your stovetop, carefully unplug the non-working one and swap it with the working one. If the “broken” burner now heats up in the new spot, you know the issue isn’t the burner itself, but likely the socket it plugs into.
If the burner still doesn’t work in the new spot, then congratulations, you’ve found your culprit. A replacement coil is inexpensive and easy to install. Just unplug the old one and plug in the new one. You’ve just performed a simple electric stove repair!
The Drip Pans Are a Mess
Those metal bowls underneath the burners, the drip pans, catch all the spills and boil-overs. When they get caked with burnt-on gunk, they can look awful and even start to smoke when the burner is on high.
Replacing them is incredibly simple: once the burners are cool, lift them out. The drip pans will lift right out with them. You can find universal replacement drip pans at most hardware or big-box stores. Just make sure you get the right sizes for your small and large burners. Pop the new ones in, place the coils back on top, and your stovetop will look brand new.
A Burner Works Only on High
You turn the dial to low, but the burner heats up like it’s preparing for a space launch. The problem here is almost always the infinite switch, which is the part behind the control knob that regulates how much power goes to the coil. When it fails, it often gets stuck in the “full power” position.
Replacing an infinite switch is a more involved DIY project, but it’s manageable if you’re comfortable with basic wiring. After unplugging your stove, you’ll need to remove the back panel to access the switches.
Take a clear picture of the wires connected to the old switch before you disconnect anything. This photo will be your guide for connecting the new one. Carefully swap the wires to the new switch, secure it in place, and reattach the panel. It’s a bit more complex, but definitely a doable weekend project for the handy homeowner.
When to Stop and Call a Professional
Electricity is not something to experiment with, as a mistake can lead to serious injury or damage to your appliance and home. If you see any of the following signs, it’s time to put down the tools and call for professional electric stove repair in OKC.
You Smell Burning Plastic or See Sparks
If you see sparks coming from a burner, the control panel, or anywhere on the stove, unplug it immediately if you can do so safely. If not, go to your breaker box and shut off the power to the stove.
A sparking appliance or the smell of burning plastic or wires indicates a serious electrical short. This could be caused by frayed wiring, a failed component overheating, or moisture getting into the electrical system.
Don’t try to diagnose this yourself. This is a fire hazard, and you need an expert to find and fix the source of the short safely.
The Glass Cooktop is Cracked
A crack in your smooth glass cooktop is a major safety problem. That smooth surface is a specially designed ceramic that can withstand extreme temperature changes. A crack, even a small one, compromises its structural integrity, and continuing to cook on a cracked top can cause the crack to spread rapidly. This could potentially shatter the entire surface.
More importantly, liquid can seep through the crack and into the electrical components underneath, which creates a serious risk of electric shock. Replacing a glass cooktop is a complex and expensive job that requires a professional touch.
Multiple Burners or the Oven Stop Working at Once
If one burner fails, it’s usually an isolated problem. But if two or more burners suddenly stop working, or if the entire cooktop and the oven go out simultaneously, you’re likely dealing with a major power supply issue. This could be a problem with the main terminal block where power enters the stove or a more significant internal wiring failure.
This isn’t a simple part swap, as it requires a technician with diagnostic tools to trace the electrical path and find the point of failure. Unfortunately, guessing could lead you to replace the wrong part or, worse, create a new electrical problem. When the issue seems to affect the entire appliance, it’s a clear signal that the problem is central and requires professional expertise.
Your Breaker Keeps Tripping
Your circuit breaker is a safety device, and when it trips, it’s telling you that the circuit is drawing too much power, which could be due to a short or a failing component in your stove.
If you reset the breaker and it immediately trips again as soon as you try to use the stove, that’s a red flag. There’s an underlying electrical fault that needs to be addressed. Constantly resetting a breaker without fixing the root cause can lead to damaged wiring and create a fire risk, but a qualified technician can identify why the stove is overloading the circuit.
Be Cautious When Dealing With DIY Electric Stove Repair
When it comes to your home and your safety, it’s always better to be cautious. While tackling a simple burner replacement can be satisfying, knowing your limits is even more important.
If you’re facing a stove problem that feels bigger than a simple DIY fix, don’t hesitate. For safe and reliable electric stove repair, it’s time to call in the experts.
If you’re in the Oklahoma City area, the team at OKC Appliance Repair has the experience to diagnose the problem quickly and get your kitchen running safely again. Contact us today to schedule a service call.
