Hidden Element Problems in an Electric Range

Faulty Wiring

• Each of the electrical coils is filled with electrical connections. If just one of these connections has a short, it may only work intermittently. If it is broken altogether, the burner will not work at all. Rather then rework the wiring, simply replace the burner, as they are relatively inexpensive and easy to install.

Poor Installation

• Electrical coils are easy to pull out, and doing so is essential when thoroughly cleaning the stovetop. Sometimes, however, you can fail to install the burner correctly and it won't work. You may not be able to see that the burner isn’t installed correctly. To ensure it is, pull out the burner. Line up the terminals on the burner with the terminal in the stove and press hard until it clicks into place.

Broken Infinite Switch

• The infinite switch is an interior switch that controls a burner. Each burner and heating element has an infinite switch. If the switch is broken or if it has a short, the burner will stop working. This is an issue that will not be visible and will only display itself if you open the top of the range and examine the terminals and the attached indicator lights. If the infinite switch it working, an indicator light will turn on when you turn on the control knob.

Old, Worn-Out Burners

• Burners will naturally wear out over time. You will first begin to notice this when the burner doesn’t get as hot as it used to. The burner also will not get as bright as it used to. When this happens, pull the burner out and replace it. Besides the brightness of the burner, it might not show any other visible signs of wear.