How To Replace a Burner on a Glass Top Oven

It’s always frustrating when one of your stove burners stops functioning properly—particularly when everything else seems to be working as normal. As the rest of your stovetop is still usable, you may be hesitant to spend the money to hire a professional to replace that one faulty burner. However, you have another option—replacing the burner yourself. Although it may seem daunting to do this when your stove is covered with a glass top, it’s actually easier than it might appear. Follow our guide for how to do it. 

Identifying the Issue

Make sure you correctly identify the problem with your stove before you start purchasing replacement parts or taking the stove apart. Ensure it’s a burner issue you’re dealing with by checking that other parts of your oven are still functioning correctly. Also, make sure you’re certain which burner is the problem before you start as you won’t be able to check once the stove is disconnected from the power. 

Note that if the burner is overheating or only turning on high, a replacement burner won’t resolve this issue. In these cases, you’ll need to replace the infinite switch, which we cover in more detail at the end of this guide. 

Before You Begin

Before you start, make sure you have all of the necessary parts and tools on hand to do the job. The exact tools you’ll need will vary depending on the make and model of your oven, but in general, you’ll need the following:

• A replacement burner
• A screwdriver
• A multimeter
• A large towel or blanket
• Access to the user’s manual (either a hard copy or an online version)

It’s also essential that your oven isn’t connected to the power while you’re working to avoid electric shock. Most ovens are hardwired in and you can’t simply unplug them, so the easiest way to cut power is to flip the circuit breaker that corresponds to your oven. Here’s how to do it:

• Locate your home’s circuit breaker board. It’s usually located in a basement or garage. If you live in an apartment, the circuit breaker board is probably in a hallway. 
• Locate the circuit breaker that corresponds to the oven. This should be labeled clearly. 
• Flip the circuit breaker to the ‘off’ position. 
• Test your oven to ensure that the power is off. 

Removing the Glass Top

To start replacing the faulty burner, you’ll need to remove the glass top to gain access to the necessary parts. The process will differ depending on the make and model of your stove, so consult your manual before you start. In general, the process looks something like this:

• Locate the fasteners holding the glass top on the oven. These may be clips or screws. Remove the screws or clips to loosen the cooktop. 
• Check if the cooktop has a hinge. If so, you can simply prop the glass top up without having to remove it from your stove. 
• If there’s no hinge, spread out the large towel or blanket so you have a soft place to put the glass cooktop. Carefully lift the top away and place it on the towel or blanket. 
• Put the clips or screws somewhere safe so you can find them easily when it’s time to put the cooktop back on. 

Removing the Faulty Burner

Now it’s time to remove the faulty burner. Once again, consult your manual for any specifics about removing the burner in your stove model. In most models, follow these instructions:

• Make sure you remove the correct burner and disconnect the burner from the stovetop. It may be held in place with clips, screws, or a wiring harness. Before you remove the burner, take a picture of the connections so you can install the new burner correctly. 
• Carefully lift the faulty burner out. Be careful as they can be fragile, particularly when damaged. 

Installing the New Burner

To replace your burner, ensure you have a compatible replacement part. To source this, you can either go directly to your oven manufacturer or you can purchase a new burner from a respected appliance parts retailer. Make sure that you buy a burner that’s compatible with the make and model of your oven. Also, make sure that you purchase a new part rather than a secondhand one. To install the new burner:

• Carefully place the burner in line with where the old one was, referring to the picture you took if necessary. 
• Ensure the wiring is reconnected to the correct terminals. 
• Tighten the burner into place with the screws (or whatever your stove requires). Make sure you don’t tighten too much as burners are fragile and can become damaged with too much pressure. 
• Once the burner is securely in place, carefully put the glass top back on. 
• Secure the fasteners on the side of the glass top, ensuring it’s firmly held in place. 
• Restore power to your oven, and then test the stove to ensure all of the burners are functioning correctly. 

If Your Burner Is Overheating

If the burner is overheating or won’t turn down, you’ll need to replace the infinite switch instead of the burner. To do this:

• Cut power to your stove. 
• Locate the infinite switch. This will be behind the burner control that adjusts the burner that’s having issues. Check your manual if you have trouble locating it. 
• Purchase a replacement switch, making sure it’s compatible with your oven. 
• Remove the faulty switch. You may have to remove the control panel to do so. 
• Put the new switch in place. 
• Replace the control panel and any other components that were moved during the repair. 
• Restore power to your oven and check if the burner issues have been resolved.