Electric Stove Burner Repair Tips

Updated: Aug. 11, 2022

Electric stove burner repair tips: Simple fixes solve most problems

Electric Stove BurnerFamily Handyman
You can solve most electric range burner problems yourself and avoid the expensive service call. It's quick and easy to replace a burner or bad burner socket.

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Step 1: Replace bad electric stove top burners or sockets

stove burner repair

Photo 1: Check the stove burner

Test the electric stove top burners by replacing the burner that doesn’t work with one that you know does.

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Photo 2: Replace the socket

Replace a stove burner socket if it’s charred or corroded. Remove the screw that attaches the socket to the range. Unscrew the wires and reconnect them to the new socket. Attach the new socket.

If one of your electric stove top burners isn’t heating, it could be a bad burner, a bad connection in the burner socket or a faulty switch.

To see if the problem is the burner, exchange the burner with one that you know works (Photo 1). If that burner won’t heat, the problem is either the burner socket or the infinite switch. (The burner prongs plug into the burner socket.) Connections in the burner socket can burn out and fail to provide power. If the prongs look burned, inspect the socket. If the socket looks charred or burned, replace it. Photo 2 shows how to replace a burner socket.

CAUTION: Always unplug your electric range before working on it.

Step 2: Replace the switch

Photo 3: Test the switch

Test the switch. Unplug the range and turn on the stove burner. Remove the wire from the H1 terminal. Set the tester to RX-1 and place the probes on the H1 and H2 terminals. Replace the switch if the tester reading doesn’t change.

stove burner repair

Photo 4: Replace the switch

Remove the knob and the screws that hold the old switch in place. Install the new switch and replace the screws. You may have to install one of the included adapters so your knob will fit.

The knob you turn to control the stove burner temperature slides over the shaft of the infinite switch. If the switch burns out, your burner won’t get power. Test the infinite switch if you know the burner and burner socket are good but the burner still won’t heat. We removed the back panel to access the infinite switch. Your range may be different. With the range unplugged, test the switch with a multimeter set to RX-1 (Photo 3). If the meter reading remains the same, the infinite switch is bad and should be replaced (Photos 3 and 4).

Required Tools for this Stove Burner Replacement Project

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.

  • 4-in-1 screwdriver
You’ll also need a multimeter.