If your glass stove top has cracked, stop using it and switch it off at the breaker. A crack lets spills and cleaning liquid reach live parts under the glass. The fix is a new glass top. Repair kits can only hide small surface chips.
This guide covers what to do first, whether it is safe to keep cooking, why glass cooktops crack, when replacing the glass makes sense and how to avoid a repeat.
What to do right away
- Turn off any burner that is on and let the surface cool. Don’t touch the crack.
- Switch off the circuit breaker for the cooktop or range. Cooktops are often hard-wired, so the breaker may be the only way to cut the power.
- Don’t wipe liquid into the crack or spray cleaner on the glass until it has been checked.
- If the glass has shattered, keep children and pets away until the pieces are cleaned up.
- Note the make and model number. It is usually on a label under the cooktop, or on a range inside the storage drawer or oven door frame. You need it to order the right glass.
Is it safe to use a cracked glass cooktop?
No. The Fisher & Paykel safety instructions say not to cook on a broken or cracked cooktop, and to switch it off at the wall switch and contact a qualified technician if the surface cracks. GE’s owner’s manual gives the same warning and explains why: spills and cleaning solutions can get through the crack to live electrical parts, which creates a risk of electric shock.
Can I use the oven if the glass cooktop is cracked?
Not on a range. The cooktop and oven are one appliance on one power supply. The owner’s guide for AGA’s induction range says that if a crack appears in the surface, the range should be disconnected from the supply right away and repaired. We give the same advice: leave the whole range off until a technician has checked it. A separate wall oven on its own circuit is not affected by a cracked cooktop.
Why glass stove tops crack
The surface on most electric and induction cooktops is a glass ceramic made to take high heat, but it can still break. The common causes are:
- Impact. A dropped pot, lid, jar or spice bottle can crack the glass straight away.
- Overheating. A pan left to boil dry gets far hotter than normal, and GE warns that overheated metal can bond to the glass. Never leave a pan on high heat with nothing in it.
- Melted sugar or plastic. GE warns that sugary spills and melted plastic can pit the surface unless they are removed while still hot. Your manual explains how to do this safely.
- Scratches and chips. Rough or dirty pan bottoms and sliding heavy cookware leave scratches. A deep chip is damage to the glass itself, so have it checked.
- Weight. Standing on the cooktop, leaning on it or putting heavy items on it.
Can a cracked glass cooktop be repaired?
A crack can’t be safely repaired. The glass top is replaced as a part. Glass cooktop repair kits fill or hide small surface chips and scratches, but they don’t seal a crack or make a cracked top safe to cook on.
Whether replacing the glass is worth it depends on a few things:
- Part availability. Replacement glass is made for each model. For older or discontinued models it can be hard to find.
- Condition of the rest of the appliance. If the burners, elements or controls also have problems, a new cooktop or range may make more sense.
- How the top is built. On some models the glass comes as part of a larger top assembly with its frame.
Our technician can find the exact part for your model and fit the new glass, or tell you plainly if replacing the cooktop is the better choice. Once we have thoroughly diagnosed your appliance, we quote the parts and labour for the repair. If you decide not to go ahead, you only pay the $100 diagnostic.
What about a hairline crack?
Treat a hairline crack the same as a bigger one. It is still a break in the glass, and the manufacturer warnings above apply to any crack. Some marks that look like cracks are scratches or stains on the surface. If you are not sure which you have, leave the cooktop off and have it checked.
Can you replace just the glass on an induction cooktop?
On many induction cooktops, yes. The glass top is sold as a replacement part for the model, sometimes together with its frame. It is not a generic hardware store item, and the induction coils and electronics sit right under it, so we recommend having a technician fit it. If the part is no longer made, a new cooktop is the only option.
How to prevent cracks and scratches
- Use pans with flat, smooth, clean bottoms. GE, for example, does not recommend cast iron or stoneware on its glass cooktops unless the pan is made for them, because they can scratch. Check your own manual.
- Lift pots on and off instead of sliding them.
- Don’t store heavy things in the cabinet right above the cooktop, where they can fall onto the glass.
- Clean spills once the surface has cooled, with a cleaner made for glass ceramic cooktops. Sugary spills are the exception: GE says to scrape them off while still hot, wearing an oven mitt.
- Don’t let pans boil dry.
- Never stand on the cooktop or use it as a work surface.
What a repair visit costs
Our diagnostic is $100 for every brand, from Whirlpool, Frigidaire, Samsung, LG and GE to Bosch, Thermador, Wolf, Viking and Fisher & Paykel. It covers the trip and the time spent finding the fault, and it is credited towards your repair labour. Once we have thoroughly diagnosed your appliance, we quote the parts and labour for the repair. If you decide not to go ahead, you only pay the $100 diagnostic. Specialty repairs, such as sealed systems, washing machine transmissions, built in appliances and double wall ovens, are quoted separately after the diagnostic. Repairs carry a 3 month guarantee on parts and labour, with extended guarantee options available. See our rates page for full details.
Book a cooktop repair in Surrey
If your glass stove top has cracked, keep it switched off and call us at 778-488-8751. We serve Surrey, South Surrey, White Rock, Langley and Delta with same day and next day visits. See our cooktop and stove repair in Surrey page for everything else we fix.
