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Top Electricians » Common Electrical Problems » Kitchen Appliances » Electric Cooktops

Electric Cooktops

So here’s the thing, a stove was just a stove in the old days. There was nothing complicated or sophisticated about it. Generally there were two burners on top that you could cook on with your pots and pans and an oven; all in one snug unit. Modern technology came along and took over our simple stove and has given us cook tops that are separate from the oven and sometimes even the source of energy is different for each part of the oven. We can’t really complain about these changes because we just love them, right? But here’s the thing, taking care of a sophisticated oven is really no big deal. You just need to know how it works and what electrical problems to look out for.

If you have an electrical cook top, it simply means that the cooking appliance is powered by current and the surface heating is supplied by heating elements. The heating elements are controlled by switches that regulate the current so that you can have varying degrees of heat. This cook top could be a part of a larger kitchen appliance which is sometimes referred to as an electric range or stove.

Electric cook tops do last for quite a long time. However, there are things that could go wrong. For starters, one of the elements could burn out or the switches and or the burner receptacles could fail. There are instances where the control panel may fuse or the timer may stop working. Now, if you are not too tech savvy, then the best thing is to call a qualified electrician if you feel your cook top is not working properly.

If nothing lights up on the panel or comes on, then the first thing to do is to check the electrical service panel and test the electrical chord. If one of the elements does not heat, then first you must disconnect the power. Then, push the terminals of the element into the receptacle to make sure it is secure. If this does not work, then check the element and test the switch. But here again, if you have no idea how it works or what to look for, call your electrician and they will do the job for you.

There is one word of caution though; NEVER use foil to line the drop pans under the burners because it can create shorts in the electrical connections. Always use the proper, recommended drip pans as without them, the oil/grease can damage the wiring as well.