Electric cooktops are one of the most commonly used things in modern houses. This appliance is abused by homeowners on a daily basis. Since they are like any other appliance, electric cooktops can also run into certain problems for which you may need cooktops repair. Here is how you can troubleshoot your electric cooktop.

Remember to unplug the electric cooktop before doing any repairs and inspections.

Identifying Common Electric Cooktop Problems

Usually, electric cooktops are known to be long lasting kitchen appliances. But like any other appliance, they themselves or either one of their parts might eventually fail. That is why you must know how to troubleshoot your electrical cooktop.

• If your cooktop seems dead and does not display anything, you can try checking the electrical connection and the service panel from behind.
• If the top is not hearing properly, try pushing the terminals back into place (with the cooktop unplugged). You can also check the switch, the element or the receptacle and see which part is causing the problem.
• If one part within the electrical cooktop fails, you can always replace it by following the right tutorial.

Always use the right tools for cooktop repairs, and keep yourself safe from electric shocks by unplugging the appliance beforehand.

Try Replacing The Sockets

If the problem just seems to be with one of the top burners, this might be due to a faulty socket or a bad burner.

First of all, you should try replacing the (seemingly) bad burner with the one that you are sure works. If the problem still persists, the problem might be with the socket or the switch.

The burner socket can become faulty due to the burnt connectors. If you can see the burned connectors, inspect the socket and find any signs of damage. A burned socket can also be replaced easily to restore the full functionality of your electric cooktop.

The Problem Might Be With The Switch

Knob of the cooktop that you turn to adjust its power relies on a switch below it which provides power. Any type of damage to this switch can render it burned, and the cooktop will stop receiving power.

If everything turns out okay in the first step, you can then test to see if the switch is okay or not. This is always a panel on the range which can be removed to access the infinite switch. After accessing the switch, set the multimeter on RX-1 and test the switch (with the range unplugged). If the meter does not show any reading fluctuations, the switch is burned, and will need a replacement.

Replacing A Broken Timer

Timer is an essential part of your electric cooktop, and should always work fine. However, there might be various reasons why it might break and stop working eventually.

To replace a broken timer on your electrical cooktop, you will first have to unplug your cooktop for a safe replacement. After that, you can remove the screws of the panel to expose the internal circuitry. Remember that the panel on your cooktop might either be on the front or back of your cooktop depending on the model you have.

Now locate the timer, and unscrew to remove it from the panel. Now reverse this whole process to place a new timer in place and plug it back with all the connections. Screw the panel back into place and you are done. The timer should now work perfectly.

Replacing A Broken Receptacle

Never replace a receptacle without first checking to see if it works fine or not. You can start the process by unplugging the cooktop from the socket.

Now you can test the receptacle with a multimeter to see if the reading changes. If not, your cooktop’s receptacle is broken, and will need to be replaced. You can easily do that by removing the panel (just like in the last heading), disconnecting all the plugs and cables, removing the receptacle and replacing it with a new one.

After placing in the new receptacle, just plug all the connectors back and screw the panel back into place. That should be it for this step.

This is how you can easily troubleshoot and repair your electric cooktop if anything bad happens. However, if this confusing, hire an appliance repair Fairfax service for cooktop repair.