Hob Repair & Maintenance: Get Cooking Again Quickly with We.repair

Common Problems with Hobs 🍳

Hobs are complex devices with a lot of electronics. These are the problems our technicians encounter most often:

• The hob does not turn on: Always check first if a fuse has blown in your fuse box. If the power supply is fine, the problem often lies with the internal power supply or the control module.

• One or more cooking zones do not heat up: With induction, this is often due to a fault in the control board or the coil. With ceramic hobs, the heating element itself may have burned out.

• The touch controls do not respond: This can be caused by moisture or dirt on the glass surface, but also by a faulty display module. Sometimes it helps to completely disconnect the hob from power.

• The hob clicks or makes a strange noise: With induction, a slight hum or click is normal (this is due to the pans), but loud clicking or a fan that keeps running often indicates a problem with the cooling or electronics.

• The hob switches off by itself: This is often a safety mechanism against overheating or a sign of an electronic fault.

Solve it yourself or call a We.repair technician? 🧑‍🔧

Not every problem requires an immediate technician. You can try this yourself:

1. The Hard Reset: Turn off the circuit breaker for the hob in the fuse box. Wait at least 5 to 10 minutes and turn the power back on. Many temporary electronic "hiccups" can be resolved this way.

2. Cleaning: Ensure that the glass plate and the touch controls are completely clean, grease-free, and dry.

3. Pan check (for induction): Make sure you are using pans that are suitable for induction (test this with a magnet).

When should you call We.repair?

• If the hob trips the circuit breaker in the house or the residual current device (RCD) (short circuit).

• If the error code returns immediately after a reset.

• If there is a crack in the glass plate (this can allow moisture to reach the life-threatening electronics).

• In case of problems with gas hobs where you smell gas or the flame does not ignite properly (safety first!).

Working on hobs, especially with 2- or 3-phase connections (Perilex/high current), is life-threatening for those who are not trained for it. Do not take risks with electricity.

Sometimes you can solve it yourself!

Not every problem requires an immediate technician. You can try this yourself:

1. The Hard Reset: Turn off the circuit breaker for the hob in the fuse box. Wait at least 5 to 10 minutes and turn the power back on. Many temporary electronic "hiccups" can be resolved this way.

2. Cleaning: Ensure that the glass plate and the touch controls are completely clean, grease-free, and dry.

3. Pan check (for induction): Make sure you are using pans that are suitable for induction (test this with a magnet).

When should you call We.repair?🧑‍🔧

• If the hob trips the circuit breaker in the house or the residual current device (RCD) (short circuit).

• If the error code returns immediately after a reset.

• If there is a crack in the glass plate (this can allow moisture to reach the life-threatening electronics).

• In case of problems with gas hobs where you smell gas or the flame does not ignite properly (safety first!).

Working on hobs, especially with 2- or 3-phase connections (Perilex/high current), is life-threatening for those who are not trained for it. Do not take risks with electricity.

How does an induction hob work exactly? 🧲

Induction is now the standard in modern kitchens, but how does it actually work? The secret lies in magnetism.

Under the glass hob are copper coils. As soon as you turn on the hob, an alternating current flows through these coils. This creates a powerful, alternating magnetic field. When you place a pan with a magnetic base (such as cast iron or specially designed stainless steel) on the cooking zone, this magnetic field generates 'eddy currents' in the bottom of the pan.

The resistance of the pan against these currents generates the heat. Note:The hob does not heat the glass, but directly the pan! Therefore, an induction hob cools down much faster when you remove the pan and is one of the safest ways to cook.

Practical tips for a longer lifespan of your hob ✨

Prevention is always better (and cheaper) than cure. With these simple habits, you can keep your hob in top condition and delay a repair by We.repair for as long as possible:

• Lift pans, do not slide them: Never slide heavy pans (especially cast iron roasting pans) across the glass surface. Even a tiny grain of sand under the pan can cause deep, irreparable scratches.

• Clean the surface immediately after cooking: Sugary liquids (such as boiled-over jam or sauce) can burn onto the surface and permanently damage the glass. Remove this immediately with a special glass scraper once the surface has cooled down.

• Avoid aggressive scouring pads: Only use a soft cloth, a mild cleaner, or a special hob cleaner. Cif or scouring pads can dull the surface.

• Check the bottom of your pans: A pan with a warped bottom does not make even contact everywhere. This causes your food to cook unevenly and makes the appliance work harder, which can wear out the electronics more quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Hobs ❓

There is a crack in my hob. Can this be repaired? Yes and no. The crack itself cannot be "glued" or filled. What is possible is replacing the entire top glass plate. Since the glass plate is often one of the most expensive parts, our technicians need to assess whether this is cost-effective compared to a completely new hob. In any case, do not continue to cook on it; moisture can enter the electronics through the crack and cause a short circuit.

My hob makes a buzzing or ticking sound, is that normal? With an induction hob, this is completely normal. The buzzing sound is caused by the magnetic field interacting with the base of your pan (especially with lighter pans or pans made of multiple layers). The ticking sound is often the power switch turning the zones on and off to regulate the temperature. You may also hear a fan blowing; this cools the internal electronics and may continue to run for a while after cooking.

Do I need a special connection for an induction hob? Usually yes. Because hobs require a lot of power (often more than 7000 watts), they typically cannot be plugged into a standard socket. They require a special cooking circuit (2-phase or 3-phase connection) in your electrical cabinet and a special socket (such as a Perilex plug). Never connect a hob yourself if you are not familiar with the correct wiring, as this can lead to fire hazards or the immediate burning out of the new control board!

Induction vs. Ceramic Hob: What is the difference? ⚡

Although induction and ceramic hobs often look exactly the same on the outside (a sleek, black glass surface), the technology underneath is completely different. This has a significant impact on how you cook, energy consumption, and where faults may occur. Here is a clear comparison:

Speed of heating up ⏱️

• Induction: Heats up incredibly quickly. The speed is comparable to cooking with gas. As soon as you adjust the power, the temperature in the pan responds almost immediately.

• Ceramic: Takes more time. The heating elements under the glass plate need to get hot themselves before they can transfer heat to the pan. This also makes it more difficult to quickly lower the temperature if something is about to boil over.

The method of heating 🔥

• Induction: Works via a magnetic field that generates eddy currents in the bottom of the pan. The heat is thereforein the pan itself. The glass plate is not actively heated.

• Ceramic: Uses metal heating coils or halogen lamps under the glass. These heat the glass plate, and the glass plate then transfers that heat to the bottom of the pan.

Safety in the kitchen 🛡️

• Induction: Very safe. Because the hob does not generate heat itself, the glass only gets warm from the residual heat given off by the pan. If you remove the pan, the heating stops immediately and the plate cools down relatively quickly.

• Ceramic: The cooking zones become glowing hot themselves (often visible by a red glow) and remain dangerously warm for a long time after being switched off. Be very careful with this, especially with small children in the house.

Energy consumption 🔌

• Induction: Very energy-efficient. Because all energy is directly converted into heat in the pan, very little heat is lost to the environment or to warming the glass.

• Ceramic: Less efficient. Relatively more electricity is lost to heating the thick glass and more heat radiates away along the sides of the pan.

What pans do you need? 🍳

• Induction: Requires specific pans with a magnetic base (such as cast iron or pans with a special steel base layer). You can easily test this yourself: does a magnet stick to the bottom of your pan? If so, it is suitable!

• Ceramic: Works in principle with all types and materials of pans (copper, aluminium, etc.). It is important that the bottom of the pan is perfectly flat; otherwise, there is insufficient contact with the glass plate to heat properly.