You Can Probably Fix Your Broken Stove Burner Yourself.

At some point in your life, you woke up (or found) that one of the burners on your stove just wasn’t working. You still have three (or more) to work with, so if you don’t cook mass feasts often, you can probably do without one. But perhaps you don’t need to. If you have a stove with a glass top, repairing or replacing a single burner is a little more difficult and should probably only be done by a professional. But if you have an electric or gas heated stove, a failed burner is usually pretty easy to fix, and if it’s not , it’s often (though not always) pretty easy to replace.

How to repair a burner on a gas or electric stove

Before spending a small fortune on a new one, it’s worth seeing if you can just fix the problem. The first step when planning to repair your stove should always be to unplug it (yes, your gas stove is plugged into the wall) to avoid any chance of electric shock. You should probably turn off the gas as well to be on the safe side.

Once this is done, remove the burner grate and start working on the failed burner.

Gas stove burner repair

The first thing to check on a gas stove is the burner cap, the disc (usually black) that sits on top of the distributor. Remove and thoroughly clean the cap using a non-abrasive sponge or washcloth and some mild detergent. Let it dry completely, then replace it, making sure it sits securely in place, and check your stove – often the problem is as simple as a dirty cap or a cap that doesn’t sit properly.

If this does not help, remove the cover again and inspect the burner opening. This is a small hole in the center of the burner where the ignition gas enters. It can get clogged easily, so take a piece of wire or any similarly rigid narrow tool, carefully insert it into the hole and move it around a bit. Don’t use too much force; you are just trying to remove all the dirt that can stop the gas flow. Now look at the base on which the cap sits – there are small “holes” around its circumference through which the flame spreads. Using the same wire, make sure these ports are not blocked by accumulated dirt . Close the lid and check the burner.

If it still doesn’t work, look at the igniter. This is the white protrusion on one side of the burner that produces the spark that ignites the flame on your burner. You can usually (gently) pry it off with a small flathead screwdriver or some other edge. Inspect the connections to see if anything is loose and reset if necessary. Put it back in place and see if that solved your problem.

If none of these steps fix the problem, you may need to replace the burner (see below).

Electric stove burner repair

The electric burner is a little easier to fix: it either heats up and turns bright red, or it doesn’t. Repairing a faulty electric burner is not that difficult:

• Look for a connection, two thin metal rods connecting the burner to the interior of the oven. Grasp the opposite end of the burner and gently pull it towards you while lifting slightly. The burner will pop out.
• Using a wire brush, clean the connecting ends of the burner (the parts that slide into the oven and connect to the power source). Replace the burner by pushing it into place, making sure the connections are not bent.

Turn the power back on and check the burner. If it still does not heat up, or only partially heats up, you need to replace the burner.

How to replace a gas or electric burner

If you need to replace one of the burners on your stove, your first step is to find out the model and manufacturer so you can order the correct replacement part – there are some “universal” replacement parts that can help, but this is the best option. usually to get parts specific to your stove. You can usually find this information on the inside of the roaster or warming drawer if you have one, or on the oven door. After receiving this information, go to the manufacturer’s website. Most appliance manufacturers will gladly sell you replacement parts.

If you have a new burner, replacing it is fairly easy. Again turn off the electricity and gas to the stove before starting work.

Electric burner replacement

This is an easy replacement. Just remove the failed burner as above, discard it and put the new one back in. If the burner still won’t heat up, the oven problem is more serious and you may need the help of an electrician or repair technician.

Gas burner replacement

First remove the burner cover. Then remove the base on which the lid sits. It can just pop off (sometimes it requires a twisting motion), but more often than not you’ll have to remove a few obvious screws first. As soon as they disappear, the base will rise. Wires will be connected to the igniter, which can simply be pulled out. Secure the wires so they don’t slip inside the stove, then insert them into the igniter on the replaceable burner base. Reinstall it and replace the screws. Turn on the power and gas again and check.

If the gas burner still won’t ignite properly, you’re probably stuck with a repair technician again.