Hob Burner Not Working? Identify the Cause, Then the Fix in Leamington Spa

'One of the burners isn't working' is how most people describe a hob fault — and the description covers genuinely different problems depending on what kind of hob you own. The first useful question isn't what's wrong; it's what fuel the hob uses, because a gas burner fault and an electric element fault lead to two different trades and two different sets of rules.

If your hob is gas

A gas burner that won't light usually has a cause at or near the burner itself: ports blocked by spillovers, a burner cap that's been knocked askew during cleaning, a dirty or failed igniter electrode, or, less often, a gas-side supply problem affecting one or more burners. The first two are things a homeowner can safely address — with the hob cold, lift off the pan supports and burner caps, clean spillovers from the ports gently, and re-seat the caps so they sit level and firm, exactly as the manufacturer's instructions describe. It's remarkable how often a crooked cap is the entire story.

Beyond that, the work is gas-side: burner bodies, valves, supply and combustion. Maintenance Men is not Gas Safe registered and does not carry out gas work of any kind — we don't repair, adjust, disconnect or reconnect gas appliances or anything on the gas side. Where the fault sits there, we refer you to a trusted Gas Safe registered engineer with whom we work closely, and they diagnose, quote and repair the appliance directly.

The one absolute rule: if you smell gas at any point — while cleaning, testing or simply cooking — treat it as an emergency. Don't operate electrical switches or appliances, ventilate if safe, turn the gas off at the meter only if safely accessible and you know how, leave the property, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 from outside. Don't re-enter until advised safe.

If your hob is electric, ceramic or induction

A dead zone on an electric hob is an electrical fault, and it's within our scope to diagnose and usually repair. Typical causes are a failed heating element, a burnt connector, or a fault in the control path feeding that zone; induction hobs add zone electronics to the list. Our engineer tests the supply and then the hob systematically, finds the failed component and quotes the repair — parts identified for your model and priced separately, fitted only with your approval. If a control board fault on an older hob makes repair uneconomic, we'll say so plainly and can quote fitting a replacement instead.

Choosing the right path

If you're not sure whether your hob is gas or electric — some kitchens have both — tell us when you book, and describe what the burner or zone does: clicks without lighting, lights and dies, or shows no response at all. That description plus the fuel type usually tells us who should attend before we've even left the office, which saves you time and money.

When several burners misbehave together

One dead burner is usually local; several misbehaving together changes the picture and usually points away from simple cleaning. On an electric hob that suggests a shared connection or board fault; on gas, it suggests the supply side and needs a Gas Safe engineer promptly. Mention the pattern when you book — whether it's one zone, a pair, or everything — because it shapes who should attend and what they should bring. It's the kind of detail that takes thirty seconds to give and saves an hour of on-site discovery.

Booking

Contact us by phone or website with the hob's brand, model, fuel type and symptoms. A booking fee is paid when you book, the hourly labour rate depends on how soon you need the visit, and any repair is quoted in full and approved by you before work starts. For gas-side faults, the referral to our trusted Gas Safe partner is straightforward and clearly explained.