If you have an electric stove in your home or restaurant, then you can expect it to last around 13 years. If your stove is nearing the 12 or 13 year age mark, then you may be able to prolong the life of the appliance by fixing certain parts and pieces as they go bad. If one of the stovetop burners stops working, then it is likely that the switch has gone bad. Keep reading to understand the stove burners, the switch issue, and how to fix the problem. 

Understanding the Stovetop Burners

Each stove burner that sits on the top of your oven has its own heating element. These elements are made out of metal materials that conduct electricity through the burner itself. Most burners are made from nichrome, which is an 80% nickel and a 20% chromium compound. This metal is extremely resistant to breaking or burning out due to the formation of a protective chromium oxide layer that builds on the outside of the burner.

This durable burner is plugged into a port or a type of electrical outlet that sits on the edge of the burner opening. Two different burner prongs or legs are attached to the port and electricity runs through the legs and the element. The prongs work together to allow 220 volts of electricity to run through the element where it is then transformed into heat. 

The Switch Device

A thermostat and a switch are attached to each burner element to control the amount of heat that is created by the burner. When the thermostat indicates that the burner needs to turn on, a piece of metal in the switch makes contact with another piece of metal. This forms a complete electrical circuit, and electrical energy runs from the switch to the burner element.

The switch will then break the circuit when the element is hot enough. Since the components inside the switch are continually moving and making contact with metal pieces, they are likely to go bad before many of the stationary parts of the burner. This device also can become encrusted with carbon deposits and other debris. When the switch goes bad, it will no longer complete an electrical circuit and the burner will be unable to heat up.

Checking the Switch

If one of your burners will not work, then it is wise to check the burner switch to see if it has gone bad. You can do this by removing the back panel of your stove. There are usually two sets of wires that run from the switch to the element. Unplug your oven and look in the back once the panel is removed. Find the wires that run down from the stove element that does not work. Follow these wires until you find a small black box connected to a port on the back stove panel. This box is the switch.

To test the switch, purchase an ohmmeter. This device is a small tool that tests the resistance of an electrical circuit. Attach the ohmmeter to each wire connection coming out of the switch to see if it shows resistance. If it does not, then the switch is bad. The entire switch unit needs to be replaced. This means purchasing the small black box piece from a stove parts supplier. 

Changing the Device

Use the make and model of your stove to order the correct burner switch. Once you receive the part, remove the wires from the broken one and gently pull on the switch to remove it from its port. Place the new switch in the port and connect the wires in the same manner as they were removed. Replace the back stove panel, plug the oven back in, and test the burner to make sure the element works properly.

You can click here to continue reading about the stove parts you may need to make repairs.