Cooktop repair guides for electric, gas, and induction models. Burner diagnosis, glass-top crack repair, and cost comparisons.
Cooktops come in four distinct technologies — electric coil, radiant ceramic glass, induction, and gas — and each fails in fundamentally different ways. An electric coil burner that won't heat is usually a $15 element swap. A cracked ceramic glass top on a radiant cooktop costs $300-600 to replace and cannot be safely repaired. An induction cooktop that shows an error code may have a failed power board that costs more than half the unit's original price. Our guides are organized by technology so you get the right diagnosis path for your specific cooktop type.
Glass-top cooktops (both radiant and induction) are the most popular style in newer California homes but also the most fragile. We cover the physics of thermal shock cracks, weight limits for heavy cast-iron cookware, and the cleaning products that damage the glass coating versus those that are safe. For induction-specific issues, we explain how the cooktop detects compatible cookware and what causes the common "pan not detected" error even with magnetic-base pots.
Gas cooktops share ignition and burner mechanics with gas stoves but have unique installation considerations: they require separate ventilation (usually a range hood or downdraft system), their sealed burner designs trap spilled food differently than open burners, and the electronic ignition modules differ between manufacturers. Our repair guides cover these cooktop-specific details alongside the general gas troubleshooting.
155 articles

What a burner cap replacement really runs, the signs it is failing, and the age at which a new cooktop becomes the smarter buy.

What a burner switch replacement really runs, the signs it is failing, and the age at which a new cooktop becomes the smarter buy.

A ceramic top runs $250-$600 fitted, and most of what sends people looking for one does not need it. Find what you are actually looking at before you price the glass.

What a control board replacement really runs, the signs it is failing, and the age at which a new cooktop becomes the smarter buy.

What a control knob replacement really runs, the signs it is failing, and the age at which a new cooktop becomes the smarter buy.

What a downdraft fan replacement really runs, the signs it is failing, and the age at which a new cooktop becomes the smarter buy.

What a igniter electrode replacement really runs, the signs it is failing, and the age at which a new cooktop becomes the smarter buy.

What a radiant element replacement really runs, the signs it is failing, and the age at which a new cooktop becomes the smarter buy.

What a terminal block replacement really runs, the signs it is failing, and the age at which a new cooktop becomes the smarter buy.

Induction cooktop showing dE? It is running in showroom demo mode, so the panel lights but the zones never heat. Here is how to exit demo mode and when to call a pro.

Induction cooktop showing F0? The control board is reading a key as permanently pressed and has locked out. Here are the causes, safe DIY checks and when to call a pro.

Induction cooktop showing F1? The control board found an internal fault it cannot pin to a key or sensor. Here are the causes, the one safe DIY check and when to call a pro.

Induction cooktop showing F2? A zone or the surface ran past its safe temperature and cut power. Here are the causes, safe DIY checks and when it needs a technician.

Induction cooktop showing F5? The control board failed its own start-up self-test, so the board hardware is faulty. Here is the one safe DIY check and when to call a pro.

Induction cooktop showing F8? A control-board relay has failed, usually after a power surge or brown-out. Here are the causes, the safe DIY check and when a pro is needed.
A pro rangetop is a built-in cooking surface, 30 to 48 inches wide and only 8 to 12 inches in body height, that drops into a countertop over cabinets.
A plug-in induction cooktop runs on 120 volts through a 5-15R or 5-20R outlet. A single-burner unit draws 12 to 15 amps for 1,440 to 1,800 watts on a 15 to.
Dacor cooktop burner won't ignite? On Dacor it is usually perma-Flame re-ignition thermocouple response delay on Heritage series causing flame dropouts...
Gaggenau cooktop burner won't ignite? On Gaggenau it is usually vario 400 series modular gas cooktop brass valve stem micro-leak from prolonged high-BTU...
GE cooktop element not heating? On GE it is usually induction pan-detection false negative, not the generic cause. Brand-specific fixes, DIY checks and...
Thermador cooktop burner won't ignite? On Thermador it is usually star Burner pedestal-mounted igniter electrode cracking from thermal fatigue.
Wolf cooktop burner won't ignite? On Wolf it is usually dual-stacked sealed burner simmer port ring clogging from boilover residue, not the generic cause.
Bosch cooktop element not heating? On Bosch it is usually induction pan-detection rejecting non-ferrous or undersized, not the generic cause.
Thermador cooktop element not heating? On Thermador it is usually freedom Induction pan-detection not registering cookware, not the generic cause.
Viking cooktop burner won't ignite? On Viking it is usually spark electrode fouled or cracked, not the generic cause. Brand-specific fixes, DIY checks and...
Wolf cooktop element not heating? On Wolf it is usually induction pan-detection rejecting non-ferrous or undersized, not the generic cause. Brand-specific...

Cooktop burner valve replacement cost, why a burner that will not light or leaks gas is a safety fix, and how it compares to a new cooktop.

A switch runs $100-$190 fitted, and the burner's behaviour says which of the two parts under it has gone. Match what your zone does before anyone opens the front panel.

Cooktop repair costs by part and symptom, from a surface element to a cracked ceramic glass top, with clear guidance on when a gas, electric, or induction cooktop is worth fixing.

Cooktop spark module replacement cost, why a clicking or non-lighting gas burner points to the module, and how the repair compares to a new cooktop.