Stove Burner Not Working? Electric and Gas Cooktop Troubleshooting

When one burner quits, most people just cook on the other three for a while. That works until the day you need all four. From what we see on service calls in Kitchener and Guelph, the fix is often small.

If your oven is the part giving you trouble, see our separate post on an oven not heating. This one is all about the burners and elements on top.

Safety First

For electric stoves, turn the burner off and let it cool completely. For anything beyond a coil swap, switch off the stove at the breaker. For gas stoves, turn all knobs off and unplug the range before touching the igniters.

If you smell gas at any point, stop. Do not flip switches or light anything. Leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. The same goes for any burning electrical smell or sparking at a burner: shut off the breaker and call a technician.

Electric Coil Burners

1. The Coil Is Not Seated Properly

Coil elements plug into a receptacle at the side of the burner well. After cleaning, they are easy to put back slightly off. With the stove off and cool, lift the coil out and push it firmly back into place.

2. The Coil Itself Has Failed

Look for blisters, cracks or a spot that glows brighter than the rest. The easiest test is to swap the problem coil with a working one of the same size. If the known good coil heats in that spot, the original coil is done.

3. A Burned Receptacle

If the coil works elsewhere but not in its own spot, check the receptacle it plugs into. Black marks or melted plastic mean it has overheated. Replacing it means working with wiring, so leave that to a technician.

4. A Faulty Burner Switch

Each burner has its own control switch behind the knob. If the element either will not heat at all or only runs on high no matter the setting, the switch is a likely cause. This is also a technician job.

Smooth Top (Glass) Electric Cooktops

Radiant elements sit under the glass, so there is nothing to swap by hand. If one zone will not heat, the element, its limiter or the control switch has usually failed. If the glass is cracked, stop using that cooktop until it is repaired, since spills can reach live parts.

Gas Burners

5. Clicking but No Flame

This usually means gas is not reaching the igniter properly. Make sure the burner cap is sitting flat and centred on its base. Clean the burner head with a soft brush and warm water, clear the ports with a straightened paper clip (never a toothpick, which can break off inside), and let everything dry completely before reassembling.

6. No Click at All

If the other burners click and this one does not, the igniter may be cracked or loose. If none of them click, check that the range is plugged in and the breaker is on. A failed spark module is a repair for a technician.

7. Constant Clicking

Clicking that will not stop is almost always moisture after a boil over or cleaning. Remove the cap and head and let them dry fully, then try again. If it continues, the igniter switch may be faulty.

8. Weak or Yellow Flame

A healthy gas flame is mostly blue. Yellow or uneven flames usually mean clogged ports or a misaligned cap. Clean and reseat the burner parts. If it stays yellow, have a technician check the air and gas supply.

Get Your Stove Back to Full Power

If a quick check has not solved it, Al's Appliance can help. We provide in-home stove repair across Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph, covering electric, glass top and gas cooktops.

Call us at 519-824-8828 or visit alsappliance.ca. If your stove is past the point of repair, stop by our Kitchener showroom at 20 Stewart Street or our Guelph location at 6 Holliday Street to see our new, used and scratch and dent ranges.