Most electric stoves last 13-15 years with proper care, but signs like slow heating, glitchy controls, or sparking mean it’s time to replace it. Learn when to repair and what to look for in a new model.
Electric Cooktop Repair: Fix or Replace? Expert Guide for South Shields Homes
When your electric cooktop, a direct-current heating appliance used for cooking on kitchen countertops. Also known as glass hob, it stops working, it’s not just an inconvenience—it’s a daily disruption. Unlike older coil models, modern electric cooktops use smooth glass surfaces with hidden heating elements and electronic control boards. One small failure—like a cracked surface, a dead burner, or a glitchy control panel—and you’re stuck with cold pans and cold meals. The good news? Most issues aren’t worth replacing the whole unit.
Many people assume a broken glass hob, a flat, smooth cooking surface made of ceramic glass means total replacement. But that’s not always true. A crack might look scary, but if it’s just cosmetic and the heating elements still work, you can often keep using it safely. On the other hand, if the heating element, the coil or ribbon that generates heat under the glass surface is burned out, it’s usually a $50–$150 fix. Same goes for the oven control board, the electronic brain that manages temperature and power to each burner. If your cooktop shows error codes, flickers, or doesn’t heat evenly, the board is often the culprit. Replacing it costs less than half of a new cooktop and takes under an hour for a trained tech.
Here’s what most homeowners in South Shields don’t realize: electric cooktops last 15–20 years with basic care. That means if yours is under 10 years old, repair is almost always the smarter move. You don’t need to call a full electrician—just a local appliance technician who’s seen this exact problem before. They’ll test the element with a multimeter, check the wiring for loose connections, and inspect the control board for burnt traces. Most repairs are done in under two hours. No need to rip out your countertop or pay for a new kitchen.
And if you’re wondering whether a cracked surface is dangerous—it usually isn’t. As long as the crack doesn’t go all the way through to the wiring and the unit still heats properly, it’s safe to use. But don’t ignore it. Water can seep in over time, leading to shorts or worse. That’s why early repair matters. A small chip today can become a full replacement tomorrow if left alone.
What you’ll find in the posts below are real fixes from actual jobs done in South Shields. No theory. No fluff. Just what works: how to tell if your heating element is dead, why your control board keeps failing, when a glass hob is beyond saving, and how to avoid the trap of buying a new unit when a $120 repair would do. These aren’t generic guides—they’re the exact steps local technicians take when they show up at your door with their tools.