It can be frustrating when your oven stops working right before you make a nice home cooked meal. If you’re serious about cooking, your range has to be one of your top priorities. Even if you don’t use it every day, try going a week without it! Whether you’re making cookies, sourdough bread, or just a frozen pizza after a long day at work, you need a working oven.

When your oven breaks, you need to know how to fix it and when to call a professional. Here are five common things that can go wrong with your stovetop and the most common ways to improve them.

Problem

The gas burner isn’t going to light.

How to Fix It

A few things could be wrong with your gas cooktop if the flame will light. First, write down what happens when you try to light the burner. Usually, the valves should make a clicking sound and give off a smell of gas. If you hear a click but don’t smell anything, the gas flow is probably the problem. It could be the ignition switch if you smell gas but don’t hear anything clicking.

Turn off the appliance and, if you can, unplug it. The grate and burner cover must then be removed. Clean out any food that has fallen out and reattach any wires that have come loose. If that doesn’t work, you may need a new igniter or to fix the way your gas line is connected. We’ll help you find replacement parts and make any major stovetop repairs if you call us.

Problem

The gas burner is slow to heat up.

How to Fix It

No matter what kind of stove you have, a stove that takes a long time to heat up can be a big problem. If you have a gas cooktop, this problem could be caused by debris blocking the burner openings, which makes the flames small and weak. This can be fixed easily by cleaning the whole stovetop.

Turn off and unplug your stove, then take out the grates and burner caps and soak them in hot soapy water in the sink. Use a stiff brush to clean the surface. Use a damp sponge to clean the cooktop’s character and a toothpick to get food or other debris out of the gas valves. Baking soda and vinegar can also help make your cleaning more effective.

Problem

The electric burner won’t warm up.

How to Fix It

Try another if you have an electric stove and just one burner is working. If none of your burners can get hot, it’s probably an electrical problem, and you’ll need to call a pro or get a new cooktop. If only one coil isn’t heating right, check the connection and make sure the coil is firmly plugged into the cooktop. Try swapping out the broken coil on your cooktop with another one. If the new coil works fine where the damaged coil was plugged in, it’s time to get a new coil.

Problem

The induction element will not warm up.

How to Fix It

If you have an induction stovetop that won’t heat up, ensure the pan you’re using is compatible with induction. Induction heats the pan directly instead of the burner below it, so you’ll need special pans made of ferromagnetic metal for your cooktop to work. Here’s a list of pots and pans that will and won’t work with your cooktop.

Problem

The clicks come from the gas stove top.

How to Fix It

Some clicking is normal when you turn on your gas stove top, but if it keeps going long after the burner is lit or even keeps the burner from lighting, it can be unpleasant. Usually, this happens when something is in the way of the burner. Ensure that the burner cap hasn’t been knocked off and that there isn’t anything in the form of holes. If you don’t have a sealed-burner cooktop, it’s easy for food to get stuck in the gas grates. Use a paperclip or another thin metal object to get the food out. Don’t use toothpicks or plastic forks, which can break or catch fire. If the clicking continues, there might be too much moisture in the cooktop. Try drying the stovetop with a towel or pointing a fan to soak up water or grease that may have spilt.

Conclusion

With these tips, you’ll be able to get your stove top working again in no time. If your cooktop needs a major repair, or if it’s time to upgrade your appliances, contact our store to ensure you have the greatest repair service, new machines, and replacement parts in the area.