One zone dead, others fine
That pattern usually belongs to one burner, one radiant element, or one induction coil/inverter — not the whole mains. Say which zone (front left, etc.) and whether it is gas, ceramic or induction.
Appliance help
Hob help
A hob is only the cooking surface: gas burners, ceramic radiant zones, or induction coils under glass. It is not the oven underneath (if you have a separate cooker, use the oven page for the cavity). The useful question is which zone failed, whether it clicks, and whether the glass is intact.
Reading this page does not start a chat. If you already have a diagnosis in progress, we will ask before replacing it.
Common problems
Short, honest explanations — not a parts catalogue. If it matches what you are seeing, you can take that wording into a diagnosis.
Induction will not detect a pan
The pan must be ferrous and roughly the size of the zone. A small pan on a large zone, or aluminium/copper without a steel base, looks like a broken hob. Try a magnet on the pan base. If a known-good pan fails on every zone, that is the hob.
Gas clicks but will not light
Ignition can click while the gas valve is closed, a jet is blocked with overboil, or the burner cap is sat crooked. If you smell gas while it is clicking, stop — that is not a “keep clicking” situation.
Cracked ceramic or induction glass
A cracked hob top is a stop-using-it fault. Liquids can reach live parts. Do not “make do” with foil over the crack.
Touch controls dead or locked
A child lock, a wet control panel, or a power cut that left the hob in lock can look like a total failure. Dry the glass and look for an ‘L’ or key symbol before assuming a control board.
Safe checks you can make
Switch the appliance off at the wall first unless the check is only looking at a display. Stop if anything in Stop and get help applies.
Cookware (induction)
Magnet sticks to the base: probably suitable. Very warped bases sit badly. This check avoids a false “hob is dead” on a new pan.
Burner caps sat flat (gas)
When the hob is cold, lift the pan support and check the cap is centred. Overboil debris in the spark ignitor can be brushed off gently — machine off, no solvents in the jet.
Isolation switch
Many hobs have a fused spur nearby. Confirm it is on. Do not open the spur.
Stop and get help
These are the points where another cycle, another click, or a screwdriver makes things worse. ApplianceClinic is not a repair company and will not send an engineer to you.
Gas smell
Same as cookers: no switches, ventilate, out if strong, 0800 111 999. Do not keep sparking a burner that is flooding gas.
Cracked glass
Switch off at the isolation point. Do not cook on a cracked ceramic or induction surface.
Burning under the glass or trips
Isolate. Residual heat warnings can stay on after a fault — still treat trips as electrical, not as a pan problem.
Know your appliance
Names you may hear in a diagnosis, in plain language. This is identification, not a strip-down guide.
Radiant element / induction coil
Under the glass. Identification diagrams are not a licence to lift a glued ceramic top. That work is a repair.
Ignition generator (gas)
Produces the click. If every burner is silent, the generator or its supply is a suspect. If only one is silent, look at that ignitor first.
Touch control / child lock
A software lock is not a failed board. Mention any key or padlock symbol on the display.
Find your model number
Often on the underside of the hob (you would only see it when the hob is out) or on the original paperwork. Some have a line on the rim under a pan stand. If you cannot see it without lifting a built-in hob, do not lift it — describe the brand from the glass and photograph any visible strip.
- Never lever a sealed hob out to read a sticker; that is how you crack the worktop or the glass.
- A photo of the control panel plus brand is still useful if the plate is inaccessible.
When you start a diagnosis, use the camera button on the composer to photograph the plate. Conversations stay in your browser — they are not published as web pages.
Safety recalls and notices
UK Office for Product Safety and Standards notices that may affect hobs. ApplianceClinic does not issue recalls — check the official record before you act.
Start a diagnosis
The assistant is the same conversation as the homepage. Describe what you have already checked. It will not run in the background, and it needs a network connection.