BACKFEB 10, 2026
When you’re ready to cook, discovering one of your electric stove burners isn’t heating up is a frustrating interruption. It’s a common problem, and the good news is that the cause is often a simple connection issue you can fix yourself in just a few minutes.
Looking for more guidance? Take a look at our Repairs overview.
Whether you have a single cold burner or the entire cooktop is unresponsive, this guide will walk you through a calm, step-by-step process to figure out what’s wrong. We’ll help you identify the problem and understand what’s safe to try yourself and when it’s time to call a professional.
Before you begin any diagnosis, safety is the first priority.
Once the stove is off and cool, you can begin to investigate the issue.
Our first step is to determine if the issue is with a single burner or the entire stove. This simple test will point you in the right direction.
Turn each burner to "High" one at a time for about 30 seconds. Carefully hold your hand a few inches above the surface to feel for heat. Do not touch the burner itself.
If you’ve narrowed the problem down to a single burner, the next step depends on what type of cooktop you have.
A faulty coil burner is often just a matter of a loose connection. It’s a very common issue and is usually safe and easy to fix.
Now, test the burner again. Turn it on to see if it heats up. If it does, your problem is solved. The connection was just loose.
If reseating the burner doesn't work: The coil element itself may have failed. Look closely at the coil for any blisters, cracks, or breaks in the metal. If you see visible damage, the burner needs to be replaced.
Replacing a coil element is a straightforward task. You can find replacement coils at most hardware or appliance parts stores. Just be sure to get the correct model for your stove—it can be helpful to bring the old one with you or have your stove’s model number handy. Casa is a great place to keep track of your appliance models for moments just like this.
If you have a smooth glass or ceramic cooktop, the heating elements are located beneath the surface. Repairing these, known as radiant burners, is not a safe do-it-yourself project. It requires disassembling the sealed cooktop and working with complex wiring.
You can do a quick check:
In either case—whether the light comes on or not—this is where you should stop. Attempting to fix it yourself can lead to further damage or electrical hazards. It’s time to call a qualified appliance repair technician.
If more than one burner—or the entire cooktop—is not heating, the problem is almost certainly electrical. The most common cause is a tripped circuit breaker.
Your electric stove requires a lot of power and is connected to a dedicated, high-voltage circuit in your home’s electrical panel.
If the burners now heat up, you've solved the problem. If the breaker trips again right away or shortly after you turn on the stove, there is a larger electrical issue with the appliance or your home's wiring. Do not keep resetting it. This is a clear sign to call a professional.
If resetting the breaker doesn't restore power to your stove, it’s time to stop and call for help. The issue could be a faulty breaker, a problem with the stove's internal wiring, or the outlet it's plugged into. These all require the expertise of an appliance repair technician or an electrician.
A non-working stove burner can feel like a major problem, but by following these steps, you can confidently diagnose the issue. You’re now prepared to either fix a simple loose connection, replace a worn-out part, or make an informed call to a professional without any guesswork.
Managing home maintenance is about staying prepared. To keep track of your appliance details, repair history, and maintenance schedules, download the Casa app. It's your always-on home advisor, helping you feel ready for whatever your home sends your way.
