Cooker Stopped Working: Top Reasons and Quick Fixes

One minute you’re eyeing a bubbling lasagna, the next your cooker’s as dead as last week’s lettuce. Before you start looking up takeout, let’s cut to the chase—most cooker problems are a lot simpler than they seem.

First, check the obvious. Is the cooker plugged in all the way? Sounds silly, but loose plugs or wobbly sockets are behind more breakdowns than you’d expect. If you have an electric cooker, see if the main switch has tripped on your fuse box—especially after a power surge or if you’ve been running a bunch of appliances at once. Some cookers even have a small reset button hidden near the plug or on the control panel. It’s worth a quick press.

For gas models, double check the gas supply is turned on. Sometimes the tap behind the cooker gets knocked. And if you smell gas or hear a hiss, stop right there—open a window, and call the pros.

Bust out your phone flashlight and do a quick scan for any scorch marks on the plug, signs of melting, or burny smells. That’s a red flag your power supply or wiring isn’t safe, and you shouldn’t mess around. Stop and get a technician in. But if things look normal, keep reading. There's plenty you can fix without breaking a sweat.

• First Things to Check: Power and Plugs
• Common Cooker Faults for Electric Models
• What Goes Wrong with Gas Cookers?
• When the Oven Stops Heating Properly
• Simple Fixes You Can Try Yourself
• Should You Call a Repair Technician?

First Things to Check: Power and Plugs

When your cooker repair needs jump out of nowhere, the first thing you want to do is check the obvious—your power and plug situation. It sounds basic, but this saves a lot of folks an expensive call-out and dinner drama. Faulty plugs and switches are actually the reason for nearly 20% of cooker complaints, according to a well-known UK appliance repair chain.

Here’s a simple step-by-step:

• Check the plug: Is it fully seated? Sometimes a slight tug can knock it loose, especially if someone’s been cleaning or moving the cooker.
• Try a different socket: Just because the plug is in, doesn’t mean the socket works. Plug in something else (like a kettle) to make sure you’ve got power.
• Look at the fuse: Most UK cookers have a fuse in the plug (usually 13A for electric cookers). If it’s blown, you’ll see a dark stain inside or the little window might look cloudy. Swapping out the fuse for a new one can get you going in seconds.
• Main switch and circuit breaker: Head to your fuse box. Cookers have a dedicated breaker, and power can trip if you’ve got too many things running or there’s a short. Flip the switch fully off, then on again. If it trips again, something else is wrong—don’t just keep flipping!
• Check for damage: Look for any scorch marks, frayed wires, or any sign of melting on the plug and cable. If you spot that, don’t touch anything else—the wiring needs checking by a pro.

Spotting electrical faults early not only gets you back to cooking quicker, it keeps your kitchen safe. Here’s a quick look at where things most often go wrong:

If all of these check out and the cooker still doesn’t work, then you know it’s something inside the appliance itself—and that’s worth moving on to next.

Common Cooker Faults for Electric Models

Electric cookers have some classic problems that pop up more than others. Knowing what to look out for can save you a lot of head-scratching and wasted time.

The most common issue? A blown fuse. If your cooker is completely unresponsive—no lights, no heat—there's a good chance the fuse in the plug has given out. Most UK electric cookers use a 13 amp fuse. It’s an easy swap, just remember to unplug before you poke around.

Next up, power supply faults. Sometimes, the issue isn’t in the cooker but with the wiring or the socket itself. Try plugging in something else, like a kettle, to see if the socket’s working. If not, you might need an electrician rather than cooker repair.

• cooker repair tip: Always check the control knobs and settings before assuming the worst. Sticky knobs or worn indicators can fool you into thinking the cooker’s broken, when it’s just not switched to the right setting.
• Heating elements fail more often than you’d expect. If the oven turns on but doesn’t heat up, or only gets lukewarm, the element could be burnt out. You’ll see uneven heating or cold spots inside the oven.
• For cookers with digital displays, glitchy timers or flashing error codes usually point to a faulty control board. Sometimes unplugging for a full minute resets it, like rebooting a phone.

A 2023 survey by UK Home Appliance Repairs found that “more than half of all electric cooker breakdowns are due to small, fixable faults like worn elements, blown fuses, or loose connections.”

“Always rule out basic electrical issues before calling for parts—nine times out of ten, it’s not as serious (or expensive) as people think,” says Nigel Hayes from The Appliance Engineers.

If you hear buzzing, smell burning, or see sparks, though, don’t risk it. Unplug, back away, and get a qualified technician on it. Some faults you can live with for a day or two. Anything with burning smells or live wires? Not worth the risk.

What Goes Wrong with Gas Cookers?

Gas cookers can be tough, but they're not invincible. If your gas cooker won’t light or heat up, don’t rush to replace it right away. Most issues boil down to a handful of common culprits.

One big offender is the ignition system. If you press the knob and nothing clicks or sparks, it’s likely the igniter isn’t working. Sometimes, you’ll hear the clicking, but there’s no flame. That usually means a blocked burner or a failing spark module.

Another common headache is weak or uneven flames. This typically points to blocked burner holes, dirty jets, or low gas pressure. Grimy burners are the top cause—food spills and grease build up fast, especially if you cook all the time.

If you notice the smell of gas, that’s serious—shut everything off, open the windows, and call a gas technician. Gas leaks can come from worn-out seals, loose connections, or cracked pipes. Always treat this as urgent. Safety first.

Check out the stats below. These numbers come from a 2023 UK survey of appliance repair technicians who handle gas cooker repairs:

That thermocouple thing in the table? It’s a small safety part that shuts off the gas if the flame goes out. When it wears out, your cooker just won’t stay lit—it’s annoying but fixable.

So what can you do yourself? Here’s a quick list:

• Clean burner heads and rings with a soft brush.
• Check and clear blocked jets with a pin (but gently—don’t damage the hole).
• Make sure the control knobs aren’t loose or cracked.
• Test the cooker after cleaning to see if you get a steady, blue flame.

If you’ve got a modern cooker with electric ignition, check the battery or wiring under the panel. Some people forget their cooker uses a battery for sparks!

When it comes to cooker repair, always call a trained pro if you have any doubt about gas leaks or connections. Gas repairs aren’t a place to wing it—better safe than sorry.

When the Oven Stops Heating Properly

So, you set your oven to 200°C but your pizza comes out barely melted. That’s classic oven trouble, and it’s more common than you think. It usually boils down to an issue with the heating element, thermostat, or sometimes a dodgy door seal.

The heating element is the real workhorse in electric ovens. If it stops glowing red or looks broken or blistered, it probably needs replacing. In fact, a study by Which? found over 40% of electric oven breakdowns are due to failed heating elements.

A thermostat’s job is to tell the oven when to stop or start heating. If your food is always undercooked, even on long bakes, your thermostat could be out of whack. Simple test? Try a cheap oven thermometer: if your oven and the thermometer never match, then it’s likely the thermostat’s fault.

• cooker repair tip: Worn door seals let heat escape—run your fingers around the seal to check for gaps or flat spots. You can buy replacement seals online and fit them yourself.
• Look for broken knobs or control settings stuck in one place. Sometimes the controls themselves get loose and stop sending the right signals to the heating system.

If you’re a numbers person, here’s a handy table showing the top causes of cold ovens and how often they come up:

Don’t forget: safety first! If you ever spot sparks or burning smells, or the oven’s tripping your electrics every time you turn it on, it’s best to unplug it and call in a professional. But for wonky temps or a saggy door seal, a little DIY can often save the day—and your dinner.

Simple Fixes You Can Try Yourself

Sometimes, the answer is right in front of you. Before you spend a fortune on repairs, try these basic cooker repair steps. You might save yourself a lot of hassle—and money.

• Check the timer and settings: Accidentally set your oven to 'auto' instead of 'manual'? It won’t heat up, even if everything else is fine. Flip it back to manual or check if the timer’s counting down by mistake.
• Inspect the hob rings and oven elements: For electric models, if one ring or the oven isn’t heating, it could just be a dodgy connection. Gently wiggle the hob ring or remove and re-insert it if your model allows. If the oven's out, quickly scan the element for any bulges or bright patches; those are signs it's burnt out.
• Swap out the fuse: The plug fuse blows pretty often, especially if your cooker’s working overtime. Switch off the mains first, then swap the plug fuse for a new one of the same amp rating (usually 13A for cookers). This fixes things surprisingly often.
• Reset circuit breakers: Found the switch flipped off on your fuse box? Snap it back to 'on.' But if it keeps tripping, there might be a deeper problem—stop here and call in a pro.
• Gas cookers—relight the pilot: On older models, the pilot light sometimes goes out. Follow the manual for relighting instructions, usually just holding in a button and using a match. Newer models just spark automatically.

Here's a quick breakdown of how often these simple fixes come up, based on real-life service reports:

Most cooker hiccups come down to something small. No special tools needed, just a bit of patience and common sense. If your cooker repair efforts don’t pan out after this, that’s when it’s time to bring in the experts.

Should You Call a Repair Technician?

Alright, you’ve checked the plug, flipped the switches, and given the cooker a once-over. Still no luck? Not everything can be fixed with a reset or a new fuse. Here’s when it’s better to get a pro on board instead of poking around yourself.

• Electric cooker not turning on, even after you’ve tested other sockets and reset the breakers.
• Burning smell, scorch marks, sparks, or any sign of melted wires—that’s trouble, and not the good kind.
• Cooker trips the main fuse whenever you switch it on. This can mean a short inside the appliance that needs proper diagnosis.
• Controls, digital displays, or timers are dead or show weird error codes. Modern cookers hide their brains under circuit boards—a tech can run a quick test with their tools.
• Gas cooker won’t light at all, or the flame goes out when you let go of the knob. Gas leaks, faulty regulators, or broken igniters aren’t safe DIY jobs.

If your cooker is still under warranty, don’t touch a thing—call the service number on your paperwork. Most companies cover both parts and labor for up to two years.

How much do repairs usually run? Here’s a quick look at typical costs:

One last tip: If your cooker is over 10 years old and the repair bill creeps over £200, it’s usually smarter to upgrade than throw more money at it.

Bottom line: Don’t mess with anything that could risk you, your home, or your warranty. That’s when calling a qualified repair technician isn’t just smart—it’s safe.