When your stove won’t heat up, it’s rarely a power issue—it’s usually a bad stove element, the heating coil inside your oven or hob that wears out over time. Also known as burner element, it’s the part that glows red when your oven turns on. If it’s cracked, discolored, or just won’t heat, you’ve got a classic appliance failure. This isn’t a mystery—it’s a common wear-and-tear problem that happens to most electric ovens and hobs after 5 to 10 years of use.
A bad stove element, a broken heating coil that stops conducting electricity. Also known as bake element, it’s the part that glows red when your oven turns on. If it’s cracked, discolored, or just won’t heat, you’ve got a classic appliance failure. This isn’t a mystery—it’s a common wear-and-tear problem that happens to most electric ovens and hobs after 5 to 10 years of use.
Most people assume they need an electrician, but that’s not right. An appliance technician, a trained specialist who fixes ovens, hobs, and other kitchen appliances. Also known as appliance repair expert, they handle the physical parts—wiring, thermostats, and elements—while electricians focus on your home’s power system. If the element is dead, you don’t need to rewire your kitchen. You need a new coil. The part itself costs under £50. Labor? Often under £100. Replacing it takes less than an hour if you’re handy. Even if you’re not, a local pro can swap it out faster than you can order a takeaway.
Some signs you’ve got a bad stove element: the oven doesn’t heat evenly, the element stays dark when the oven is on, or you smell burning when you turn it on. Sometimes, you’ll see visible damage—cracks, bubbles, or burn marks. If the element looks fine but the oven still won’t heat, the problem might be the thermostat, the control board, or a blown fuse. But 8 out of 10 times, it’s the element. You can test it with a multimeter if you’re comfortable, but most people skip the tools and just call someone who’s seen this before.
Replacing a stove element isn’t risky if you turn off the power first. No need to call an electrician to flip the breaker—you can do that yourself. Then you unscrew the old one, unplug the connectors, and snap in the new one. No soldering. No wiring. No guesswork. A lot of online guides make it sound harder than it is. The real challenge? Finding the right part. Ovens come in dozens of models, and elements aren’t universal. You need the exact match. That’s where local repair services win—they carry the parts and know which ones fit your make and model.
And here’s the thing: if your oven is over 10 years old, replacing the element might be a smart short-term fix. But if you’re already replacing the thermostat, the fan, and the element all in one year, it’s time to think about a new oven. Energy efficiency has improved a lot since 2015. A new model could cut your cooking bills by 30%. But if you’re not ready to spend £500+ on a replacement, fixing the element is the smartest move.
The posts below cover everything from how to test a broken element to when to walk away from an old oven. You’ll find real fixes from people who’ve been there—not theory, not ads, not guesswork. Whether you’re trying to save money, avoid a kitchen disaster, or just want to know if your stove is worth fixing, you’ll find answers here.
Learn how to tell if your electric stove element is bad with simple visual checks and a multimeter test. Discover common signs, how to replace it yourself, and when to call a pro.
