Tag Archives: cooktops repair

Tricks to Prevent Scratches On Your Glass Stove and Instead Keep It as Good as New

Installing a new glass stove top and seeing it sparkling and in perfect shape is a terrific sensation. Sadly, this look will not last with regular use unless you take tremendous care of the unit.

Before you realize it, spills will burn onto the surface, and scratches will accumulate in the burner rings.

To avoid this problem, cooktop repair professionals advise that you must be able to do more than just clean a glass stove. The good news is that you can make changes to avoid future scratches and blemishes.

To help you out, here are the best ways to maintain your glass stove and keep it looking like new.

Use the right cookware.

You need to use the right cookware for your stove. This refers to the material of the pan’s base, which ideally should be stainless steel.

Because of its flat surface, stainless steel is ideal for use on glass stovetops and has enough weight to keep it steady when cooking.

This is not to claim that switching to stainless steel will prevent stove top scratches, but it will be gentler on the surface.

Be cautious when handling the pans.

First and foremost, never drag your pans across the glass surface when cooking; instead, always raise them.

Most people ignore this cardinal rule when they shake and combine the cooking ingredients. You should know this is the primary reason your burners have zig-zag scratches and are all pointing similarly.

Even if you’re using a lightweight pan, the base will scratch and pit the surface as it drags, so avoid it. Be cautious when gently lowering your pans onto the stove. You should note that slamming them down can scratch or even fracture the glass. You don’t want this, do you?

Keep the bottom of your pans clean.

Many people overlook the bottom of their pans when cleaning them. This is wrong. Stains on the underside are often baked in and impossible to remove. Second, many believe that since the food isn’t contacting it, it doesn’t matter. Actually, it does.

If your pan has stains and residue baked into the base, it will be much simpler to scratch and damage the stove’s glass surface.

In extreme cases, it will impede your skillet from transferring the heat evenly while food cooks. It can also generate unpleasant scents as it heats.

To clean the base of a pan, apply a baking soda paste and water across the surface. Allow it to sit for 20 minutes before scrubbing it away with a non-abrasive sponge or old toothbrush.

Clean the stove regularly.

Get into the practice of cleaning your stove top after each usage. Of course, you should do this once it has cooled down. Wiping down the surface immediately removes any spills or crumbs that may bake-on or catch under your cookware, causing more scratches.

Remember to clean your stovetop as needed thoroughly. For general guidance, do this once a month; however, if you notice burn marks emerging around the elements, it’s time for a cleaning.

Keeping your stovetop clean will extend its life, but only clean it after it has cooled.

Be cautious of cast iron cookware.

Cast iron deserves special mention because while it is an incredible material for cooking, it is incredibly heavy and may damage glass stove tops significantly.

Take particular caution while laying your cast iron cookware on the surface, and avoid dragging it over the glass – the weight will increase the likelihood of significant scratches.

Get a stovetop cover.

There are stove top covers available in the market that you can use to protect the surface when not in use. These are also useful if you have limited countertop space because the top of the stove can then act as an additional room.

Some mats are safe to cook directly on if you have an induction glass stove. These mats decrease scratching and heat exposure from the pan to the glass surface, allowing the stove to last longer.

Keep in mind that these mats should not be used on a conventional electric glass cooktop since these surfaces heat up far faster than induction, which would burn most mats. Consult the manufacturer for help and guidance on how to use them.

Are there pans that can’t scratch the stovetop?

The unfortunate truth is that any pan can scratch your glass cooktop. You may avoid scratches by choosing a style with a smooth base, such as stainless steel, but you should still be cautious when using it.

Enameled or ceramic pans have a particularly smooth finish that helps prevent scratching. However, how you utilize the pan is as crucial.

Never drag it across the surface; instead, lift it and softly settle. Also, wipe the underside regularly to prevent residue from burning to the base and harming your stove.

Consider the weight of your kitchenware as well. A weighty item, such as a larger work or one of the greatest cast iron skillets, might scratch more easily due to its weight. These can crack the surface when not handled properly, so proceed cautiously.

What should you do when the stove scratches?

Your glass stove top should still function normally with minor scratches. Still, if it is chipped or cracked, you should stop using it and contact an appliance repair Springfield professional to replace it.

If you want to reduce the look of the scratches, try cleaning the surface completely as recommended by the manufacturer, or follow the above instructions for cleaning a glass stove if none are provided.

Many marks are charred residue, and a scraping tool can help significantly. Carefully scrape off the marks, and you are good to go.

When hiring a professional to replace the unit, take your time and hire an experienced one who knows what they are doing. The last thing you want is someone who does a shoddy job, and you must repeat it.

Glass Cooking Top Cleaning Best Practices

Ceramic glass top stoves are sleek, minimalist, and costly but rapidly become discolored with spills and grease. And if they are not properly cleaned, the damage might be permanent. Unlike regular stovetops, these stovetops feature hidden burners that are only visible when heated and become red.

There is no doubting the aesthetic attractiveness of glass top stoves, but they, like luxury cars, must be handled with caution. As a rule of thumb, properly clean the surfaces.

To help you out, here are cooktop best practices to ensure that your surfaces remain as straightforward as possible.

Don’t let the cooktops remain dirty for too long.

A clean glass top stove is lovely, but its flawless appearance rarely lasts long. After use, water stains, oil drips, or dried food globs are always present.

Unfortunately, according to cooktops repair professionals, even little spatters are visible due to the surface’s dark and lustrous appearance. And if you continue to use it without cleaning the surface, the muck will accumulate, heat up, and cool down, making it much more difficult to remove, and the crustiness may leave scratches when you wipe it off.

Leaving food stains on a glass-top stove impacts its cooking performance. Messes like these form barriers on top of the surface, affecting how heat is transported to cooking pots and pans. As a result, your food may cook unevenly.

Grease stains can potentially catch fire if not handled properly. Most people don’t have time to clean a glass top stove right after meals, but try to do it as soon as possible. Being careful about this can help extend the life of the glass top stove, which is expensive to replace.

Always wait for the cooktops to cool down before cleaning them

Glass top stoves feature heat indicators to alert you that they are still hot. You should look out for a little, additional light near the knobs or touchpad. If the light is on, you should avoid touching the cooktop.

Attempting to clean it before the surface has cooled may result in burns and even fires (if you use a cloth or towel). Although we indicated that removing crusted-on food from a glass-topped burner is more difficult, you must still wait until it is safe.

Even if you don’t feel the heat or see the burners ignite through the glass top, the entire surface might be extremely hot.

Unwanted fumes are another reason to hold off. If you apply a cleaning product on a still-hot stove top (hot vinegar smells incredibly unpleasant), the product evaporates and becomes less effective.

If you wish to speed up the cooling process, use a fan or open the window. Do not touch the surface until the indicator light turns off. If yours does not have one, consult the manufacturer’s instructions to determine how long you should wait.

Don’t use abrasive cleaning products.

Don’t use abrasive cleaning products as much as you want to keep your surfaces clean.

Abrasive cleaning products, such as steel wool pads, are effective for cleaning pots and pans but should never be used on a glass-topped stove. This is because glass may be scratched by anything tougher than it, even steel.

Steel wool pads are made of bundled fine metal wires (steel is a type of metal) with abrasive edges, available with or without cleaning chemicals; steel wool is sometimes used instead of sandpaper.

Should you use that to clean your glass-topped stove? It’s not wise to do it.

Don’t throw away your steel wool pads; you can still use them at your sink or workbench. They’re also useful for blocking up openings where mice and other pests try to enter.

Since it is too abrasive, you should avoid steel wool when cleaning stainless steel, plastic, and non-stick coatings. Do yourself a favor and keep those pads and other scouring pads away from the glass-top stove so no one accidentally grabs one.

The same rules apply to scrub brushes and abrasive scrubbing pads. You might think these are ideal for removing cooked-on gunk off glass stovetops, but they can also leave visible scratches.

Use the recommended cleaning products.

Now that you know that glass top stoves cannot accept abrasive cleaning materials and tools, what are your options? A few companies make solutions designed to clean these delicate surfaces, which you may purchase in stores or online.

To be safe, use non-abrasive stovetop cleaning products containing feldspar, quartz, and citric acid. When handling such products, use a cloth and keep your hands away from your eyes.

To use the product, scrape any dried or burnt-on food debris with the scraper before wiping down the surface with a soft towel. Next, apply the cleanser to the scrubbing pad and remove the stains.

Use the product once per month or as needed for the best outcome. You should use a clean, dry cloth instead of a pad to buff the surface to a good shine.

Don’t use a glass cleaner.

Glass cleaning products might be an excellent choice for ceramic glass top stoves and cooktops, but they may contain harsh chemicals and create stains. If you use them too frequently, they may cause permanent discoloration.

Glass cleaners contain surfactants such as lauryl dimethyl amine oxide and 2-phenoxyethanol, as well as isopropanolamine (a solvent), fragrance, and colors. These products could induce discoloration on glass stovetops, so avoid them.

Use vinegar

Vinegar is a well-known cleaning agent, so have a large quantity in your home. In the kitchen, you can use it to clean and disinfect cutting boards, floors, and counters and polish your glass cooktop.

You can use it straight from a spray bottle or diluted with water. You can also mix it with a drop of baking soda or dish soap.

The best way to clean a glass cooktop is to spritz it with a 50/50 vinegar and water solution. Spray it over the surface, then wipe it with a damp microfiber cloth.

Vinegar is acidic, so it dissolves filth and dirt. According to appliance repair Northern VA professionals, using vinegar reduces accumulation, and you have an easy time cleaning the surfaces.

4 Common Cooktop Problems And How To Fix Them

Like the other kitchen appliances, cooktops also develop a myriad of problems that you need to fix to continue using the unit. Which are these problems? Here they are as given by cooktops repair professionals:

Failure of the electric cooktop to turn on

You will switch on the cooktop, but it fails to come on. You can’t cook with an appliance that won’t come on, can you?

One of the reasons an electric cooktop won’t turn on is if you haven’t plugged it in. Before you start investigating other issues, check whether the appliance is properly plugged in. Also, check whether the outlet is functioning correctly.

Use a multimeter or test it using any other small appliance such as an iron or blow dryer to check the outlet. If you do this and still it won’t come on, get in touch with an experienced electrician to help troubleshoot it.

Sometimes you will find the outlet providing power, but the cooktop doesn’t work. If this is the case with your appliance, your unit might be having problems with the internal components.

If you have never fixed a similar problem before, let an experienced professional help out.

Failure of the gas burner to light

If you have a gas furnace, the gas burner will sometimes fail to light. And like the above problem, this issue can be brought about by several factors.

Before you go deep into the problem, observe what happens when you try to light the burner. You should hear a clicking noise and smell gas coming out of the valves. If you hear a click but can’t smell anything, the problem might have to do with gas flow.

If you smell gas but don’t hear any clicking, the issue might be within the ignition switch.

You should turn the appliance off and unplug it to fix the problem. Follow up by removing the grate and burner cap, then clean out all the loose food debris, and once done, reconnect the wires that might have gone loose.

If this doesn’t fix the problem, you might need a new igniter or look into the gas connection problem.

Failure of the electric coils to heat

When you turn on your electric cooktop, you expect the coils to heat so that you can cook. So, it’s out of the ordinary when you turn the unit on, but the coils don’t heat.

You will often have this problem when you have a loose connection between the coils and cooktop. If the problem came about after removing the coils for cleaning, you might not have properly put them back.

To fix the problem, you need to check whether you have correctly installed the coils, and if there is anything stuck between the coil element and stove.

The coils will also fail to heat if you have an issue with the cooktop’s internal ignition switch, which provides you with action you need to heat the burners.

If you have never diagnosed the problem before, don’t try to fix it yourself, as chances are high you will cause more problems. Instead, let an experienced professional help you out.

Gas stove clicking all the time

It’s normal for the gas stove to click when you switch it on, but if the clicking continues long after the burner is lit, you have a problem. Sometimes the clicking is too much that it prevents the burner from lighting.

This will happen when something is blocking the burner, and all you need to do is to check and ensure that the burner cap hasn’t been knocked out of place and there is no debris blocking the holes.

You should inspect the unit for any blocking material and remove it using a paperclip or any other slim, metal object.

If you remove it and the clicking continues, you might have excess moisture trapped in the cooktop, and you need to towel off the stovetop or point a fan at the cooking surface to soak up the extra water or grease.

If you do this and still the clicking continues, your appliance must be having a deeper sitting problem, and you should have it looked at by an experienced appliance repair Springfield professional.

Cooktops Repair: Common Cooktop Problems And How To Fix Them

According to cooktops repair professionals, cooktops develop problems like any other kitchen appliance. The most common problems being:

Failure of the cooktop to turn on

You can’t cook on a cooktop that doesn’t turn on, can you? So when you switch the unit on and it doesn’t work, you should move with haste and restore it.

In most cases, the cooktop will fail to turn on when you haven’t properly plugged it in. Before you think of any other reasons why the unit isn’t working, first confirm it’s properly plugged in.

If it’s plugged in but still not working, check the outlet and confirm it’s not defective. You can use a multimeter to test or use any other small appliance such as blow dryer or iron. If all of these fail, hire an electrician to help you out.

It’s common to find an appliance providing power but still the cooktop isn’t working. This might be a problem with the internal components. If you don’t have the skills, let an expert take a look at them.

Damaged electric coils

It’s normal for the electric coil burners to wear out especially if you frequently use your cooktop. Signs of damage include: bubbles, cracks, and blisters on the coils. Coils are irreparable so when they develop problems, you should replace them.

When buying new coils, buy those of the right size as loose coils often result to plenty of cooking issues and put your property at the risk of fire.

Cooktops create sparks when you turn them on

A properly functioning electric cooktop shouldn’t spark the same way as a gas cooktop so if your electric cooktop is producing sparks before its lit, you have a problem you need to address as soon as possible.

Electric cooktops produce sparks when the heating element is damaged. The element can be damaged by plenty of things including excessive weight and temperatures.

Your cooktop will also produce sparks when you have loose wire connections around the electric coil burners. These sparks are extremely dangerous and a potential source of fatal electric shock so when you notice them, fix your appliance as soon as possible.

Failure of electric coils to heat

Traditional electric cooktops have electric coil burners that heat when you turn the appliance on. If your cooktop is receiving power but the coils aren’t heating, you have a problem in your hands you need to address fast.

This problem often comes about due to a loose connection between the coils and cooktop and this happens when you clean the coils and fail to return them the way they are meant to. As a result, they don’t receive power.

You need to inspect them and ensure they are in their right place. Also confirm there is nothing stuck between the coil elements and stove.

Your coils will also fail to heat if you have an issue with the cooktop’s ignition switch that provides the action necessary to heat the burners. Unless you have the necessary skills, this can be a complex problem to fix on your own.

Problem adjusting the temperature of the burners

One of the main reasons homeowners invest in cooktops is because they provide precise temperature settings. Unfortunately, the appliance develops problems and you can’t adjust the temperature of the burners hence you can’t take advantage of the features the appliance comes with.

You might have a problem adjusting the temperature of the burners when you have a problem with the unit’s infinite switch. The switch is connected to the dial that regulates the power levels and a faulty switch that can force the burners to heat to only a specific level regardless of the settings.

This problem will also come about when you have a faulty internal ignition switch.

Regardless of the reason you can’t adjust the temperature of the burners, contact an experienced professional to help you with the diagnosis and fixation of the problem.

Parting shot

These are some of the problems your cooktop can have. If you have the skills you can attempt to fix some of the problems, but if you have tried everything within your knowledge level and still the problem doesn’t go away, let an expert appliance repair Northern VA professional handle it.

Cooktops Repair: 6 Ways You Might be Damaging Your Cooktops And What To Do About It

Did you know you could be hurting your cooktops without even realizing it? When you use the appliances the wrong way, they break down, and you have to hire expensive cooktops repair professionals. To help you out, here are some of the ways you might be hurting your cooktops and what you should do about it:

You ignore the manual.

Every appliance you buy comes with a manual that lets you know about the different parts of the appliance and how to use them properly. It’s a fact manuals are boring, but they are vital when it comes to keeping your appliance in top shape.

In addition to detailing the different parts, they also contain special tips on maintenance and correct cleaning and care of the appliance. To keep the appliance in top shape and avoid using it the wrong way, always take time to read them.

You can skip the boring part descriptions, but when it comes to care and maintenance tips, pay close attention to them.

You let the pot cook on its own

You will regularly hear people saying that a watched pot never boils, but when you ignore it, it tends to boil over. When boiling water or heating liquids, you can find it meaningless to wait until it boils, but stepping out of the kitchen can often be dangerous.

When you walk out of the kitchen, the liquids can boil over, and the spills and splashes get stuck on the cooktops. When you let the spills stay on the stovetop for a long time, they are not only unappealing, but they also cause damage to the appliance, which significantly reduces its life.

How can you avoid this? Simple. Never leave the kitchen regardless of what you are cooking. Always be in the kitchen when cooking. When the food starts boiling, reduce the fire, or remove it from the fire altogether. When spills happen, remove them immediately.

You ignore burner clogs.

When you light a burner and notice it not working, it means that it has clogged and you need to clean it. There are plenty of issues that come with clogged burners. When a burner clogs, it corrodes, which shortens the life of the appliance.

When you ignore the clog and don’t clean it early enough, the opening where the gas comes out decreases in size, which can potentially lead to inefficient gas burning and even hot spots in the pan.

When you continue ignoring the clogged burner, it will eventually stop functioning, and in no time, the entire appliance will break down.

To avoid this, you should give attention to the burners, and when you notice them not burning as well as you would want them to, clean the burners.

You ignore debris on the gas stovetop.

Most people that want a sleek modern look on their kitchen go for a glass stovetop. While the stovetop gives your kitchen an elegant appeal, if you let dirt build upon it, it not only provides the kitchen with a cheap look, but also significantly reduces its lifespan.

Nothing is exciting about a glass stovetop full of burn marks, steaks, and baked-on stains, so you should regularly clean the stovetop to remove any gunk that might be there.

You use a lot of water.

Cleaning the cooktop is vital for its life, but you shouldn’t use a lot of water when cleaning it. When you use a lot of water, you put your gas and electric cooktops at the risk of shorting out.

You might have the impression that there is no way gas will be affected by water, but you need to remember that the gas cooktop has electrical components too, such as the control board, high voltage wires, and electric switches.

Clean your cooktops but avoid using a lot of water as you will not only be putting the cooktops at risk, but also yourself.

You use the wrong cleaning products.

While some people use a lot of water on the cooktops, others use the wrong materials. For example, using a razor blade to remove any built-up gunk, cleaning the surfaces with a wire brush, or using chemical cleaners will damage the appliance, and it’s only a matter of time before you hire an appliance repair Alexandria professional to fix the unit.