Troubleshoot electric stove elements

Test electrical stove elements

Summary: Check stove elements for shorts or opens to find out if it is working properly.

If your stove or oven element has suddenly stopped heating up, then follow this simple check to see if it's just the burner or a more complex issue.

First thing to do is make sure power is disconnected and then remove the burner from it's socket. To do this just pull it straight out with a little force. This is the common way to do this, but always consult your owners manual before dismantling anything.

Depending on what size element you are testing, the resistance should be around 25 to 50 Ohms. Oven heating elements should be around 20 to 40 Ohms.

electric stove element and leads

To troubleshoot electric burner elements, you only need to set your meter to the Ohms setting, then put a meter lead on each burner contact. If you get any resistance, then the burner is probably ok. If you get no movement or infinity Ohms, then the element is open and needs replaced.

To check for a dead short, place one meter lead on either contact, then the other meter lead on the coil part of the burner. If you get continuity, or around zero Ohms, then you have a short and the element needs replaced.

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