Electric range

[mvk]

Hi
One of the top burners on our range isn't heating up properly, it gets warm but not hot? must be getting power? Do the elements them selves burn out. It's one of the large ones do they heat up in  two places for control? I never had electric before?

I'm sure more then a few of you know whats what or have a guess before I tear into it! My wife thinks we need a new one

thanks Mike

[Willy]

If the burner has only 2 prongs that plug into the socket it is in your control switch. If it has 2 prongs and is heating some what then it is OK. If it has 4 prongs it is a Dual Element and one could be not working it it and it needs replacing. Now saying that a burner can go bad and sorta burn out in the middle and not heat up good as the element is having a hard time letting the electricty go around it but it will soon totaly quit. The burner prong socket can go bad to and not make a good conection. The burner switch is easy to replace just figure which one it is get the modle number off the range and order a new one. When the new one comes just replace it with the same conectons like the old one. Now another problem is that the crimp on conections could be burned up and not make a good conection and cause the electricty to not flow right to the burner. If this is the problem you can see this by looking at them. They will be chared and crumbly looking and will need to be replace to get a good contact again. I said this in easy to understand terms. A range is only a few wires, burners and switches and all of them can be replaced for a lot less money than a new range cost. Mark

[Sassy]

I had to replace several burners in one of the rental houses in the valley - the electric range was from 1978 I think - we  finally put a new range in - don't remember what went wrong with the old one...   

[CREATIVE1]

Some places that sell appliance parts offer testing so you don't buy "what's not broke".

[NM_Shooter]

Take the element out that is not working and swap it with another location on the stove.  That will let you know if it is the burner or not.

Good luck!

-f-

[mvk]

Thanks everyone
It's working must have been a bad connection, didn't really look bad, just pulled it out and put back in. didn't even have to clean it. didn't feel loose either??
Mike

[Willy]

Thanks everyone
It's working must have been a bad connection, didn't really look bad, just pulled it out and put back in. didn't even have to clean it. didn't feel loose either??
Mike

You cleaned the conection by pulling it out and putting it back in. It will probley happen again and you will need to crimp new ends on the part that the element plugs into. You can get a new socket if it goes out completly. Once a socket goes bad it gets real hot and loses the temper and does not squeez tight on the conection. Sometimes you can get a much longer life by smashing the socket a little to make it tight again. Mark H.