You have minced and chopped. You have beaten and whisked. You have blended and stirred. Now it is time to gently cook your creation on your electric stove. You turn on the stove and nothing happens. Knowing some simple repairs for an electric stove that you can do yourself can save you time and money.
Electricity for Your Stove
An electric stove will not work without electricity. The obvious question that comes to mind is whether your stove is actually plugged in to an outlet. If it is, check your circuit breaker. Perhaps you blew a fuse. If all is well so far, check the electric current of the plug using a voltage tester and the voltage using a multimeter. If you don't have these handy, plugging a portable lamp into the outlet will at least let you know if the power is flowing.
Heating Elements
Make sure that your stove is unplugged. Take a peek at the heating element in the burner that is not working. If the heating element is damaged, buy a new one and replace it. If the heating element looks good, put it into a working burner and turn the stove back on. If the element still refuses to heat, replace it.
While you are poking around in your stove, again with the power unplugged, check the terminals. If you see any corrosion, get rid of it using fine sandpaper. Don't use steel wool, as fine particles can get caught in the terminals and cause a short when you turn the power back on.
If the element worked in the other burner, you have a different problem. Unplug the stove again. Follow the burner receptacle's wires to their terminals. Test the wires using a multimeter set to RX1. If the receptacle fails, you will have to remove the receptacle and splice a new one in.
Extension Cords
Avoid using extension cords with your stove.
Be Careful
Electricity can be very dangerous, particularly for someone who does not have a whole lot of experience in doing electrical repairs. If you have any concerns about checking your stove by yourself, ask someone who has more experience to come over and walk you through the process.
If all else fails, call in a professional.
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