Get tips for keeping your cooktop clean and in good working condition.
Whether you have a top-of-the-line Viking range or just a basic cooktop, you depend on it to provide even, reliable heating so you can cook all the dishes you love. Here are some helpful tips for keeping your cooktop clean and in good working condition.
Caring for Your Cooktop
Clean up spills quickly: Yes, it’s a pain to stop what you’re doing and mop up all those drips and spatters as you’re cooking, but it is important to develop this habit. Some acidic foods can damage the finish on your cooktop if you don’t clean them up promptly.
Don’t Scrub: Scrubbing your cooktop with an abrasive cleaning product or brush can scratch the finish. Instead, loosen stubborn residue with water or a water-baking soda mix.
Keep Burner Bowls Clean: This will not only prevent the smell of burnt food when you turn your burners on, but actually improve the efficiency of a gas cooktop by keeping the bowl surface reflective.
Common Cooktop Problems
Of course, despite proper care cooktops can develop problems with age. Here are two common problems and how American Appliance Repair can solve them.
Sputtering Gas Burner: If you have a gas cooktop, a hissing or sputtering burner can make it impossible to cook food properly. The problem is either too much or too little air being supplied to the flame. To fix this, you will need to adjust the air shutter. This involves taking off the top of the stove to access the air shutter. Turn the burner on high and then open or close the air shutter until you get the nice steady flame you need.
Burners Don’t Work: If your burners don’t work at all, the first thing to do is check that the circuit breaker serving your cooktop is on and has a good (not blown) fuse. Obviously lack of power will prevent an electric cooktop from working, and it can also put a gas burner out of commission by preventing the electronic ignition from working. If just one burner is out on your electric cooktop, remove the heating element and try it in a different burner’s port. This will tell you if the issue is the element or the port. If you have a gas cooktop, check to make sure the burner ports are not clogged with food or debris, as this could also be behind your non-functioning burner problem. If you still can’t figure it out, call American Appliance Repair for expert assistance.
