Gas, Coil, Radiant Glass or Induction: Which Cooktop Do You Have?
The surface decides the repair, so it's the first thing to say on the phone. Gas cooktops light each burner with a spark igniter fed by a spark module, and a switch behind every knob tells the module when to fire. Water from a boil-over or a wet sponge is the classic reason they misbehave.
Electric coil tops are the simplest of the four. Each coil plugs into a receptacle and is controlled by an infinite switch, and a scorched receptacle can fail just as a coil can. Radiant glass tops put similar elements under a sheet of ceramic glass, which makes them easy to wipe and expensive to crack.
Induction cooktops don't heat the glass at all. A coil under each zone creates a magnetic field that heats a magnetic pan directly, driven by power electronics and cooled by a fan. When an induction zone quits, the cause usually traces to the pan, a sensor or a power board, since there's no heating element to burn out.
If the cooktop sits on top of a freestanding range, oven faults such as igniters, bake elements and sensors are covered on the oven and stove repair page.
Cooktop Symptoms and the Parts Behind Them
- Every gas burner clicks, and the clicking will not stop
- Moisture around the igniters after cleaning or a spill, or a spark switch inside one knob that's stuck closed. On cooktops where all the igniters share one module, a single wet or failed switch can make every burner spark. Pull the burner caps and heads and let everything air-dry for a few hours before booking a visit.
- One gas burner sparks but never catches
- A burner cap sitting off-center, clogged burner ports, or a cracked igniter on that burner only.
- Coil or radiant element stays cold
- A burned-out element, a scorched coil receptacle, or a failed infinite switch for that position. On radiant tops a loose or burned wire connection under the glass can do the same. On a coil top, swap the dead coil into a working receptacle of the same size. If it heats there, the coil is fine and the receptacle or switch is the problem.
- Element glows full blast on every setting
- An infinite switch whose contacts have welded shut, or a stuck relay on an electronic control. Leave that burner off until it has been checked.
- Induction zone flashes or refuses to heat the pan
- Start with the pan. GE's rule is simple: if a magnet sticks to the bottom, the cookware works on induction. Aluminum, copper, glass and some stainless steel don't, and GE wants a flat bottom at least 5 inches across. A magnetic, flat pan that still won't register points to a sensor, the zone's coil or a power board. Keep a fridge magnet in the drawer. It settles the pan question in two seconds.
Glass Cooktop and Microwave Repair Costs
National typical ranges, parts and labor, from HomeGuide unless marked. Angi's figures were read from a search summary rather than the page itself. None of these are Houston prices; use them to sense-check a quote.
| Repair | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gas burner igniter | $100 to $200 | |
| Coil element | $90 to $175 | Installed |
| Radiant element under glass | $120 to $330 | |
| Glass cooktop replacement, basic electric | $200 to $600 | |
| Glass cooktop replacement, induction | $300 to $1,000 | |
| Cooktop repair overall (Angi) | $100 to $400 | Angi lists induction repairs at $200 to $800 |
| Over-the-range or built-in microwave repair | $130 to $330 | Removal and reinstall takes two people |
| Countertop microwave repair | $80 to $180 | |
| Magnetron | $100 to $300 | |
| High-voltage diode | $80 to $170 | |
| Microwave door switch | $80 to $170 | |
| Microwave control board | $120 to $380 | |
| Exhaust fan motor (over-the-range) | $130 to $330 |
For every other appliance, see the appliance repair cost guide.
Sources: HomeGuide: Oven repair cost (cooktop parts) · HomeGuide: Microwave repair cost · Angi: Repair or replace a cooktop
Over-the-Range Microwave Repair in Houston Kitchens
An over-the-range microwave is two appliances bolted to the wall: a microwave oven, and the range hood for the cooktop below. That second job adds an exhaust fan, a cooktop light and filters to the list of things that can fail, and it's why HomeGuide prices built-in and over-the-range repairs above countertop ones. It usually takes two people to lift the unit off its mounting plate and hang it back up.
Filters are the owner's part of the job. GE says a charcoal filter belongs in an over-the-range microwave that isn't vented to the outside, and that it's due for replacement once it's loaded with grease, looks shiny or stops holding back cooking odors. The metal grease filters underneath are separate and can be washed. A fan that roars but pulls little air often just needs clean filters.
Inside the cabinet is a different story. Repair Clinic warns that a microwave's high-voltage capacitor may hold a charge even after the cord is unplugged, enough to cause serious injury, which makes a microwave unusually risky to take apart. Changing a bulb or a filter from outside is fine. Anything behind the outer case is the technician's work.
Microwave Checks That Don't Involve Opening the Case
These are safe from the outside and can save a service call fee.
- Close the door and watch it latch. The FDA says not to run a microwave whose door doesn't close firmly or is bent, warped or otherwise damaged, and to contact the manufacturer about damaged hinges, latches or seals.
- Take out anything metal, including foil and twist ties. The FDA notes that metal pans and foil reflect microwaves, cook food unevenly and can damage the oven.
- Reset the breaker and, on a countertop model, try another outlet.
- For an over-the-range unit, clean the grease filters and check the charcoal filter before booking a fan repair.
- Find the model number, often on a label inside the door frame, and photograph any code on the display.
- Clear the counter under an over-the-range microwave so it has somewhere to go when it comes down.
Repair or Replace: Cooktops Versus Microwaves
Consumer Reports' long-standing rule is not to spend more than half the price of a new product fixing an old one. It lands differently on these two appliances.
Cooktops usually justify the repair
- Igniters, coil elements and switches sit near the bottom of the price table
- A built-in cooktop fits a cutout in the counter, so a new model has to match that opening
- NAHB industry estimates give ranges about 13 years (electric) and 15 (gas), far longer than microwaves
- A cracked induction top at the high end of its range is the case that deserves a replacement quote
Microwaves often fail the math
- The same NAHB estimates put a microwave at about 9 years
- A countertop repair runs $80 to $180 nationally, so price a replacement before approving one
- Over-the-range models are closer calls because a replacement also means removal, mounting and venting work
- A door switch on a newer over-the-range unit is usually worth doing; a magnetron on an old one often is not
Cooktop and Microwave Repair Questions
Why does my microwave run but not heat the food?
If the light, turntable and fan all work but food stays cold, the fault is usually on the high-voltage side: the magnetron, the high-voltage diode or the capacitor. HomeGuide's national range is $100 to $300 for a magnetron and $80 to $170 for a diode. Those parts sit behind the case, so this one is for the technician.
My microwave sparks inside. Is it safe to keep using?
Stop using it until you know why. Metal is the first suspect; the FDA advises against foil and metal pans because microwaves reflect off them and can damage the oven. With no metal inside, look at the small cover panel on the cavity wall and for chipped paint inside, and mention either when you call.
Will the technician take down an over-the-range microwave alone?
Ask when you book. HomeGuide notes that removing and reinstalling a mounted microwave usually takes two people, which is part of why these repairs cost more than countertop ones. Clearing the counter and cooktop beneath it, and knowing whether it vents outside or recirculates, helps the visit go faster.
Can I get cooktop repair the same day in Houston?
Possibly, for simpler jobs. Same-day availability depends on the repair company's schedule, so ask when you call (in English). A coil element or burner igniter is a small part, while a glass top or induction board is usually ordered by model number and means a return trip. Have the brand, the model and the cooktop type ready.
Can a damaged microwave leak radiation?
The FDA explains that a federal standard (21 CFR 1030.10) limits leakage over an oven's lifetime to 5 milliwatts per square centimeter at about 2 inches from the surface. The door is the part to watch. If it no longer closes firmly, or the hinges, latches or seals look damaged, follow the FDA steps in the microwave checklist and stop using it.