Glass cooktops have a smooth surface and the heating elements are embedded in the cooktop. Usually, they are a blend of ceramic and glass.
The ceramic glass cooktops have low heat conductivity, thereby keeping the surface cool except for the cooking zones to transfer heat to the pots and pans.
Hence, heat is limited to the cooking zone. These cooktops are generally more preferable as they are very easy to clean as compared to the gas stoves and coil burner electric ranges.
The pros and cons:
The positive aspect is that these glass cooktops are easier to clean if done in time. Besides, they are also quite safe; especially around children.
On the negative side, these cooktops do not support some of the cookware. Plus, they need extra care and attention otherwise they are prone to damage and deterioration.
Some of these damages can be fixed easily but others may be irrevocable.
What are the major problems that you might face while using glass cooktops?
The glass cooktops need to be taken care of quite well in order to maintain their quality.
If the spills are cleaned immediately and the tidying up is done right after the food preparation, fewer problems will occur. However, the following problems may still occur while you use glass cooktops.
- Light and deep scratches:
Glass cooktops can easily get streaks or be scratched. These may appear if you drag the cookware over the cooking surface or place other appliances on the surface when not in use.
These scratches may be repaired easily. The deep or heavy scratches, on the other hand, cannot be repaired.
- Chips and cracks:
The glass cooktops can easily crack or chip if something falls on them. It is very dangerous to use them in this condition as they may pose the threat of an electric shock.
The only way to ensure the safety of using the glass cooktop is to replace the damaged one or to get a new cooktop.
- Heating:
Another problem that may occur in the glass cooktops is heating. They may provide insufficient heat or they may overheat. This may be a result of a faulty switch.
How to repair a glass cooktop?
As mentioned above, there are three problems that we will focus on. Some of these problems can be easily dealt with but some may require tedious solutions and you may need to change the cooktop altogether and get a new one.
- Repairing scratches:
The light scratches and streaks can be buffed out. You can do this by making a paste of baking soda and water or using a polishing cream or simply a toothpaste.
Take a soft cloth and start rubbing on the particular area in a circular pattern. Afterward, take a fresh cloth and rub away the cream. Then observe the surface. If it is fixed, you are ready to use it.
If you still see the scratches, do not rub further as too much rubbing or buffing can make the surface dull. Besides, the scratches may be too deep and may not be repairable.
Also, make sure that you use a soft cloth for rubbing, nothing abrasive, as it may result in producing more scratches rather than fixing it.
- Solution for chips or cracks:
This is a pretty serious issue and you need to be very careful while fixing the cooktop. You need to make sure the power is off before you start the repairs as there is a danger of an electric shock.
There may be 2 methods of removing and replacing the cooktop: In some glass cooktops, the glass is held in place with the screws at the front so you will unscrew them to lift the cooktop.
In others, there may be brackets below the cooktop that will need to be removed to get access to the glass.
- Method of removing or changing the glass surface:
In order to remove and replace the cooktop, you need to be very careful and follow the steps properly.
- Switch off the power. Then remove the circuit breaker or fuse of the cooktop to ensure safety against the electric shock.
- Check the location of the screws. You can take help from the user manual of the cooktop. In case you can’t find the user manual, Google it using the model number of your cooktop.
- Then, remove the screws that are holding the cooktop using a nailer and lift the cooktop. Or you may need to remove brackets below to get access to the glass top.
- Remove the screws of the burner box that are holding the glass cooktop.
- Take the glass surface off and replace it with a new one.
- Place the screws back on. Connect the fuse or circuit breaker and your cooktop is fixed.
- Fixing the heating problem:
One problem regarding the heating issue may be that the cooktop does not provide sufficient heat for cooking. This may be the result of a faulty switch.
A faulty switch may cause the overheating of the cooktop as well. Plus, there is a danger of the whole system collapsing due to bad electric circulation so you need to act quickly if you find any problem in the heating system.
You can get to the bottom of the problem by following the procedure below:
- You need to check the switches by disconnecting the power.
- After that, pull the H1 and H2 wires from the switch that are connected to the unit and are not heating.
- Use an ohmmeter to test the wires. It would check if the electricity is flowing through the switch or if the switch has connectivity.
- In case there is continuity, then the switch is faulty so you need to replace it.
- If there is no continuity, then you need to replace the unit.
How to prevent damage to your glass cooktop
You can prevent the damage by using the cooktop carefully and avoiding certain things that become the reason for damaging the glass cooktops.
- Avoid cast iron cookware: Cast iron cookware is a big no-no. When you place those pots and pans on the smooth cooktop, their rough bottom surface can leave a scratch even with a slight movement. Instead, use appropriate cookware for cooking on a glass cooktop.
- Avoid ceramic and stoneware: Again these should not be used on the glass cooktop as they have unfinished, rough bases. Therefore, the smooth glass surface can easily be scratched by them.
- Avoid skillets or pans with rounded edge bottoms: Such utensils are not suitable for use on a smooth flat surface. Being round-bottomed, they tend to rock and do not provide uniform heat. For better performance and even heat distribution, use pans that have a flat bottom and are more stable.
- Avoid abrasive cleaners or metal pads: For cleaning the glass cooktops, never ever use the abrasive cleaners as they can scratch the surface easily. Instead, use a soft sponge or cloth and cream cleaning solutions.
- Avoid dragging or lifting the cookware: It is quite obvious that you should never drag the pots or pans on the cooktop as it may damage the surface. You should lift the pots or pans to transfer them to another place in order to reduce the risk of scratches or streaks.
- Cleaning the bottom of pans or skillets: Make sure you clean the bottom of the pans or skillets thoroughly and there is no build-up of grease on them. The greasy bottoms can leave rings or marks on the cooktop which are very difficult to clean.
- While cooking sugary substances: When you are boiling or cooking using sugary substances, make sure that you do not spill them on the cooktop as they cause discoloration, leaving behind yellowish areas that are impossible to remove. Such spills need to be cleaned up instantly.
- Avoiding putting weight on the surface: Never place heavy items on the cooktop when not in use – even temporarily. Never stand on the glass cooktop to reach the ceiling or over the cupboards. The glass cooktop may look sturdy and withstand the weight but it may damage when it is heated as it expands on heating.
- Avoid putting utensils on the surface: You should avoid placing stirring utensils on a warm cooktop while you are cooking. Because the food on these utensils will leave traces or it may burn on the cooktop.
- Avoid putting hot glass bakeware on the surface: Hot glass bakeware, straight out of the oven, should never be placed on the cooktop.
So, now you are well aware of the things that you need to avoid in order to protect your glass cooktops. But, you could take all the care in the world and still end up with a damaged cooktop.
Hopefully, this will help you cope easily with the problems regarding your glass cooktop and take care of the damage accordingly.
