Supper doesn't wait for a broken stove. We repair electric stoves and hobs at homes across Johannesburg: freestanding stoves with solid plates, glass-ceramic hobs, and the oven section underneath. The technician finds the fault, explains the repair and tells you the cost before any work starts.
Stoves are among the most repairable appliances in the house. Plates, switches, elements, thermostats and wiring are all replaceable, and a stove that's otherwise in good shape is almost always worth fixing. For a built-in oven or a separate wall oven, see oven repairs.
Common stove faults we fix
One plate not heating
A solid plate can burn out, or its switch (the energy regulator) can fail. Loose or burnt wiring at the back of the plate is another cause. Each is a standard repair.
Plate stuck on high
A plate that glows red whatever the knob says usually has a failed switch. Switch it off at the isolator and don't use that plate until it's fixed.
Stove trips the electricity
Tripping the earth leakage usually means a fault to earth in a plate, an oven element or the wiring. Moisture in an old element is a frequent cause. Leave the stove off until it has been checked.
Oven section not heating
If the plates work but the oven stays cold, the oven element, the thermostat or the oven switch has usually failed.
Nothing works at all
Check the isolator switch on the wall and your distribution board first. If both are on, the fault may be at the stove's terminal block, in the supply cable or in an internal connection.
Burning smell from the back
A smell of hot plastic, or scorch marks near the terminal block, means a connection is overheating. Switch off at the isolator straight away and book a technician.
Does an electrician fix a stove?
An electrician handles the supply to the stove: the cable in the wall, the isolator and your distribution board. Faults inside the stove, such as plates, switches, elements, thermostats and internal wiring, are an appliance technician's job. If you're not sure which you need, book us. The technician checks the supply at the stove as part of finding the fault and tells you if it's a job for an electrician.
Solid plates and glass-ceramic hobs
A solid plate is a cast-iron disc with the element sealed inside. It's tough, but once it burns out it has to be replaced as a whole, and it should match the size and rating of the original. A glass-ceramic hob hides radiant elements under the glass. They can fail one at a time, and so can the switches that control them. A crack in the glass itself is a different matter: switch the hob off at the isolator and don't use it until it has been looked at.
Is it cheaper to fix a stove or replace it?
Usually it's cheaper to fix it. A replacement plate, a switch or an oven element costs a fraction of a new stove, and there's no installation to pay for. Replacing makes more sense when an old stove needs several parts at once, or the body is rusted through. Our repair or replace check gives you a quick answer.
Stay safe with a faulty stove
Electric stoves draw a lot of power. While you wait for the technician:
- Switch the stove off at its isolator, the large switch on the wall near the stove.
- Don't keep resetting a breaker that the stove trips.
- Don't use a plate that is cracked, sparking or stuck on high.
- Keep water away from a glass hob that has cracked.
- If you smell gas from a gas hob, open windows, don't use any switches and call your gas supplier.
No call-out fee when we repair it.If no repair is done, a R500 call-out applies. The technician finds the fault and explains the repair before any work starts, so you decide whether to go ahead.
Book a repairStove repair questions
Why is one plate on my stove not working?
Usually the plate itself has burnt out, or its switch has failed. If several plates stopped at once, the problem is more likely the supply or the stove's terminal block, so check the isolator and the DB board first. A single dead plate or switch is a standard repair: book a technician.
Why does my stove work but my oven doesn't?
The plates and the oven have their own switches and elements, so one can fail while the other keeps working. A cold oven usually points to the oven element, the thermostat or the selector switch. On an oven with a clock, check it isn't flashing after a power cut, because some won't heat until it's set. See our guide to an oven not heating.
Why does my stove trip the electricity?
A stove that trips the earth leakage usually has a fault to earth: a cracked plate, a damp oven element or damaged wiring at the back. Switch it off at the isolator and don't keep resetting the power. Note whether it trips with one plate, with the oven, or the moment you switch on, because that tells the technician where to look. Book a technician.
Why is my gas stove clicking but not lighting?
The igniter is sparking but the gas isn't catching. Common causes are a wet or dirty burner after a spill, a burner cap that isn't seated properly, or a gas cylinder that's empty or turned off. Let a wet burner dry, wipe it clean and reseat the cap. If you smell gas, close the cylinder, open the windows, don't touch switches or flames, and call your gas supplier. Fittings and leaks are a job for a registered gas installer.
How much does it cost to replace a stove plate or switch?
A plate or a plate switch is one of the smaller stove repairs, because each is replaced on its own. The price depends on the size and type of plate and on your stove's make, and the technician gives it to you before any work starts. No call-out fee when we repair it. If no repair is done, a R500 call-out applies. See how our prices work.
Is it worth fixing a 10-year-old stove?
Usually, yes. Electric stoves are simple, sturdy appliances, and the parts that wear out, like plates, switches, elements and thermostats, are made to be replaced. A ten-year-old stove that's otherwise sound is normally worth fixing. The exceptions are heavy rust or wiring that has burnt right through. Our repair or replace check helps you weigh it up.
How do I reset my stove after a power outage?
Most stoves need no reset. Turn the plates and the oven off, then check the isolator and the DB board. If the oven clock is flashing, set the time or press the manual button (often a hand symbol): on many models the oven won't heat until you do. If it's still dead, book a technician.
Can I use my stove if one plate isn't working?
If the plate is simply cold, the others are usually safe to use. If the faulty plate is cracked, sparking, stuck on high or tripping the power, switch the stove off at the isolator and leave it off. Either way, book a technician to have it put right.
