Fixing Not Working Stove Burner and Oven (The Anatomy to DIY)

If you have an electric range with a coil surface burner that does not work properly. This blog will help you troubleshoot the problem. Basically, when you understand how something works it makes it easier to figure out which part is broken. Therefore, an ideal first step to fix the typical issue of electric stove burners and oven would be knowing the anatomy of it. A common electric stovetop has only three parts that commonly fail.

The Anatomy of Electric Burner Circuit

A circuit for an electric burner is very simple, it takes two 120 volts of AC power to make the electric burner also called a surface element heat up.

When you turn the control switch on, three contacts inside of the control switch which is sometimes also called the infinite switch close. One contact closes and it sends 120 volts AC to the burner on indicating light to illuminate it and to other contacts close.

It causes the two legs of 120 volts to go through the control switch to the receptacle block to the electric burner. And when you have the two legs of 120 volts an electric burner, it causes it to heat up.

You have to have a way to control the heat on the burner and the control switch does this. It is actually bi-metal and mechanical and what it does is it pulses one leg of the switch On and Off in cycles.

The faster the switch cycles On and Off, the higher the heat on the electric burner. Conversely, the slower the switch cycles the lower the heat will be on the electric burner.

Fixing Electric Stove Burners and Oven

Fixing an 8-inch electric burner and it’s plugged into the receptacle block and then those two leads from the receptacle block would be connected to the control switch.

In Case No Heating

In case the burner is not heating up, make sure that it’s fully plugged into the receptacle block. If there are two identical size burners, swap them. If the non-working burner does not heat up in either location then it’s likely that the conductor that’s located in the outside insulation is broken. Now the burner needs to be replaced.

If both burners won’t work in one location then the burners are good. The trouble could be a broken connection inside of the receptacle block. Or perhaps the contacts on the control switch are not closing.

There is a remote possibility that the wiring between the receptacle block and the control switch or maybe the wiring that’s coming into the control switch is broken or damaged. If the burner only intermittently heats up or it doesn’t fully heat up, Remove the Burner and Examine the Terminal Ends on the Burner.

In most of the cases, the terminal ends or pitted in worn and blackened. This kind of burner only intermittently works. The blackened and pitted terminal ends are an indication that the terminals inside of the reciprocal block are probably worn and loose.

Because they’re loose they’re causing arcing between the terminal ends of the burner and the connector inside of the receptacle block. Meanwhile, you can compare it with shiny and nice ones in any brand new 5 and 6 burner electric stove.

How to Fix Burner Working Irregularly

Another common symptom of a bed reciprocal block would be that the burner works intermittently. And if you wiggle it around a little bit, it may start to work again. If the terminal ends are blackened and pitted I would suggest you replace both the receptacle block and the burner. Arguably, you may be able to just try replacing the receptacle block first and then cleaning up those blackened connections and see how it works.

If the terminal ends on the burner look good then odds are the problem is that the control switch is not always working.

Fixing Over-Heated Burner Issue

If the burner is overheating, it won’t turn off or it’s running hotter than the temperature setting on the control switch. It is most likely the problem is that the control switch is bad and the contacts inside of it are sticking closed.

Hopefully, I have pointed you in the right direction to troubleshoot the most common errors with Electric Stove Burners and Ovens. Buy the most reliable and affordable electric burners Here. Also, read my other blog The Best Wall Oven Combo Reviewed, Anatomy of Sink and Faucet and Common Issues of Dishwasher and DIY Solution.