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

Cooktop surface element replacement cost for coil, radiant, and induction tops, what makes an element fail, and why the repair almost always beats replacing the cooktop.

Induction cooktop showing E0? It means no suitable induction cookware was detected on the active zone. Here are the causes, DIY checks and when to call a pro.

Induction cooktop flashing E1? The cooktop or an active zone has overheated and needs to cool. Here are the causes, safe DIY checks and when to call a pro.

Induction cooktop showing E2? The control electronics have overheated, often from a dry pan. Here are the causes, safe DIY checks and when to call a technician.

Induction cooktop showing E3? The pan on the zone is unsuitable — a warped base or cookware the coil cannot drive. Causes, DIY checks and when to call a pro.

Induction cooktop showing E4? The mains voltage read low — a brown-out or weak circuit is starving it. Causes, safe checks and when to call an electrician.

Induction cooktop showing E5? The mains voltage read high — the incoming line is above the safe ceiling. Causes, safe checks and when to call an electrician.

Induction cooktop showing E6? Poor cooling — a blocked airflow path, a weak fan, or a temperature-sensor reading. Causes, safe checks and when to call a pro.

Induction cooktop showing EF? Water or a spill is bridging the touch-control panel and confusing the keys. Causes, safe checks and when to call a technician.

Induction cooktop showing F3? A temperature-sensor or user-interface fault on the control board. Causes, safe DIY checks and when to call a technician.

Induction cooktop showing F4? A zone temperature sensor is reading open or shorted. Causes, the one safe DIY check, and when to call a technician.

Induction cooktop showing F7? A touch key is reading stuck or shorted on the control panel. Causes, safe DIY checks and when to call a technician.

Induction cooktop showing U400? Connected to the wrong mains supply — a wiring error at install. Causes, safe checks and when to call an electrician.

Downdraft cooktop dimensions: 30-inch electric and induction and 36-inch gas cutouts, plus the below-counter blower depth and pop-up vent clearance an island install needs.

Gas cooktop dimensions: 30, 36, and 45-inch cutout sizes with depth, below-counter clearance, and the combustible side clearance a sealed-burner gas cooktop needs.

Induction cooktop dimensions: 30, 36, and 24-inch cutout sizes with depth, below-counter clearance, and the ventilation gap an induction cooktop's cooling fan needs.

Cooktop dimensions and countertop cutout sizes: 30-inch, 36-inch, and 24-inch models with overall width, cutout width, depth, and clearances.
Electric cooktop amps, watts and breaker: a 30-inch radiant top draws about 30 A at 240 V, a 36-inch about 40 A, both hardwired on a dedicated 40 A circuit.

Gas cooktop electrical specs: a drop-in gas cooktop with electronic ignition needs only 120 volts and 1 to 2 amps on a standard 15-amp outlet for its spark igniters.
Induction cooktop amps, watts and breaker: a 30-inch unit draws about 40 A at 240 V on a 40 A circuit; a 36-inch model 50 A on a 50 A circuit, both hardwired.
How many watts an induction cooktop uses, its kWh per month, and what it costs to run — plus why heating the pan directly puts it at the low end of the electric-cooktop range.
A cooktop shares the range’s 13–15 year longevity and is the simplest cooking appliance. See what fails, how to extend it, and when to replace.
Wolf gas cooktop clicking non-stop? Moisture in spark module, shorted igniter switch, and grounding diagnostics for Wolf CG and CT series gas cooktops.

Wolf gas cooktop flame uneven or weak? Dual-stacked burner diagnostics, gas pressure regulation, and orifice cleaning for Wolf professional cooktops.

Viking Professional cooktop clicking non-stop? Moisture, spark module, and igniter switch diagnostics for Viking gas cooktops and rangetops.

Viking Professional cooktop flame uneven, yellow, or weak? High-BTU burners carbonize their ports fast — plus air-shutter, regulator, cap, and LP-orifice causes on Viking gas cooktops.

Thermador Star Burner clicking and won’t stop? Moisture in the ignition wells is the usual cause. How to dry it out, plus spark-module and igniter-switch diagnostics for Thermador gas cooktops.

A Miele induction zone that won't heat is often incompatible cookware or a PowerFlex pairing that split the zone, sometimes an induction power module, a glass micro-crack at the zone sensor, or tripped overheating protection. Why these premium repairs differ.

Complete guide to Viking cooktop error codes for Professional gas and induction models. Covers F-codes, E-codes, ignition failures, and induction fault diagnostics with repair costs.

Complete guide to Viking cooktop error codes for Professional gas and induction models. Covers F-codes, E-codes, ignition failures, and induction fault diagnostics with repair costs.