Why Is My Electric Glass-Top Stove Burner Not Working?

Electric glass-top stoves, also called ceramic cooktops, are generally highly reliable and useful cooking appliances. Their flat, smooth glass top gives them a sleek, modern look and makes them very easy to use and clean.

That said, like all kitchen appliances, glass-top stoves aren’t immune to problems. If you’re unlucky, you might find that yours stops working, and you’ll need to figure out the cause of the problem so you can fix it.

That’s what this article is all about. We’re going to delve into the potential reasons why your electric glass-top stove burner is no longer working so you can take the steps you need to rectify it.

Why your electric glass-top stove burner isn’t working

Here are the four most likely reasons your electric glass-top stove burner isn’t working.

1. There’s an issue with the plug, breaker, or outlet

Ceramic cooktops are either hardwired into the home’s electrical system or they plug into a special 220–240 volt outlet. In either case, it’s worth checking that the dedicated circuit breaker for the glass-top stove hasn’t tripped.

You can also try resetting the breaker by switching it off, waiting 30 seconds, then switching it back on again.

If your glass-top stove plugs into an outlet, check that the plug is inserted all the way and that the outlet is switched on. If you believe the outlet might not be working, you can test it with a multimeter to see if it’s producing the right voltage.

2. A burner is bad

If your electric glass-top stove has multiple burners and you’ve noticed that one has stopped working, it could be that the burner is defective. The burner is the primary heat-producing component of an electric glass-top stove, so if yours is no longer heating, it’s an obvious component to check.

To confirm whether this is the cause of the problem for you, you need to lift off the glass top, inspect the heating element for breaks, and test it with a multimeter. Here are the steps involved:

1. Unplug your electric glass-top stove or switch it off at the circuit breaker.
2. Remove the screws securing the glass cooktop. They’re usually found on the underside at the front of the appliance.
3. Lift off or up the glass top to gain access to the burner. Be careful as the glass is fragile.
4. Inspect the faulty burner’s element for breaks or discoloration.
5. Take a photo of how the wires are connected to the burner and then disconnect them.
6. Test the burner with a multimeter set to ohms. A functioning burner should have a reading between 20 and 100 ohms.
7. If the burner doesn’t have continuity or is visibly damaged, take out the screws securing it and then remove the burner completely.
8. Install the new burner, securing it with screws, and refer to your photo to ensure you connect the wires correctly.
9. Carefully set the glass top back in place and turn the power back on.

3. The surface element control board is faulty

If the burner is okay, the next most likely cause of the problem is a faulty surface element board. This component controls how much power is sent to the heating element. If faulty, one or more of the burners on your electric glass-top stove may stop working.

To test and replace the surface element control board, follow these steps:

1. Unplug your electric glass-top stove or turn off the power at the circuit breaker.
2. Remove the screws holding the glass cooktop in place, typically located underneath the front of the appliance.
3. Lift up or off the glass top to gain access to the surface element control board. Be cautious as the glass is fragile.
4. Locate the surface element board. It’s usually found toward the back, under the glass top. It looks like a circuit board with multiple relays connected to the burners.
5. Locate the relay for the faulty burner and disconnect the wires connected to the relay terminals.
6. Test the relay with a multimeter in continuity mode. If there’s no reading or if you hear a beep, the relay is faulty and you should replace the entire surface element board.
7. To replace the surface element board, first take a photo of how the wires are connected.
8. Disconnect the wires and remove the screws securing it in place.
9. Install the new surface element board, securing it in place with screws and being sure to connect the wires correctly.
10. Set the glass top back in place and turn the power back on.

4. The surface element switch is defective

The surface element switch, also called the infinite switch, controls the power and temperature settings of the burners. If the surface element switch is faulty, it can result in the burner not heating up, or constantly staying on a low or high heat, regardless of how you set it.

The surface element switch is not repairable, so if yours is faulty, it must be replaced. Testing and replacing the surface element switch is quite complex and best left to the professionals. However, here are the general steps involved:

1. Disconnect the power to your cooktop.
2. Remove the screws securing the control panel.
3. Locate the surface element switch behind the control panel.
4. Take a photo of the wiring.
5. Disconnect the wires and test the surface element switch with a multimeter for continuity.
6. If faulty, take out the screws securing it in place and remove it.
7. Install the new surface element switch, securing it in place with screws and being sure to connect the wires correctly.

Glass-top stove still not fixed?

This article has covered the most likely causes of a ceramic cooktop burner not working. If at this point, your electric glass-top stove burner is still not working, we highly recommend you hire a professional to inspect the appliance. The main control board might be faulty, and an expert will have the specialist equipment and knowledge required to diagnose and fix the cause of the problem quickly and safely.