Induction cooktops bring a lot of convenience in cooking with its superior technology.

And just like any other piece of machinery, it’s also prone to wear and tear.

The good news is that induction cooktops are quite popular and in case yours break down and needs repair, it can easily be fixed.

And please note that it cannot be repaired by people who are not certified in its technical aspects. That is because it involves complex mechanics which cannot be comprehended by consumers.

Yes, that’s right. Even if you have been repairing sockets, gas cooktops, electric cooktops, toasters, fans, etc. you see these have simple mechanics underneath which once grasped can be done repeatedly.

Induction, on the other hand, is far from simple. That is because it is very different from traditional methods of cooking. This method uses electromagnetic energy which turns into a heat source.

What can be damaged in an Induction Cooktop?

Well, there are some main things in that complex machinery which can be damaged.

The parts that usually get damaged are

• Main control board
• Filter board
• Touch user interface control board
• Cooktop glass assembly
• Elements coil
• Terminal box

Well, here is the plain naked truth – The induction cooktop machinery is an unfathomably complex piece of an electronic circuit board for a layman consumer.

How to diagnose what needs to be repaired?

Ever wondered what is the reason why many mechanics and appliance repairers cannot diagnose the fault on-site? Its something of a guessing game.

The process is to take out each part and check if it works or not.

One of the many reasons why the fault cannot be diagnosed is the cost it takes to find out what’s wrong. The mechanic will need a complete circuit diagram for one. Schematic Part specifications and some expensive test pieces of equipment such as oscilloscope, meter, etc.

The manufacturers guard their private designs and don’t make it public often fearing competition. Sometimes the manufacturers themselves do not know the design as the engineer’s sign an exclusive right for their design.

In all such cases, when a company tells you they can repair your cooktop, know for sure that unless they know the stuff inside out, the repair guy will try to find out visually or by checking with gadgets or removing and checking the parts depending on his expertise and how deep knowledge he has of the equipment.

What are error codes

Almost all cooktops come with a manual guide in which there is a table of error codes. There is a column about what the error codes mean and how you can fix the problem.

Sometimes in some cooktops, there are similar error codes for various parts of the cooktop body which can be wrong. In such cases, the technician or appliance professional would need specialized gadgets to check which system has fault inside the cooktop.

What to do once the induction cooktop is broken?

• Take out your original purchase receipt. Take note of the brand and model number. Call concerned customer service.
• Speak to the appliance professional and ask them upfront for the labor and service cost. If your cooktop is under warranty, it's the perfect time for repair.
• Weigh your options before deciding to repair or replace based on what the company is offering
• If the product is outside of warranty, ask them for fixed price repair and replacement and compare the costs.

Do note that glass is the most expensive part of the cooktop.

Let us move on a bit towards how to prevent the cooktop from damage.

Avoiding damage or breakage of the induction cooktop

There are a few simple steps you need to follow.

Do not thump the cookware on the cooktop. And never slide the cookware. Try lifting it instead.

It is a good idea to store heavy materials away from the cooktop zone top surface. Keep light stuff in those drawers. This will avoid falling of any objects on to the induction.

If sugar is spilled, clean immediately before it hardens and causes pitting and permanent marks on the cooktop.

Do not leave any hot lids on the surface of the cooktop. what happens is that as the cooktop cools, air particles get trapped between the lid and the ceramic cooktop surface. Removing the lid then causes the ceramic surface to crack.

Use child lock to prevent any untoward accidents. Do not use the induction cooktop surface as a cutting board. keep plastic and aluminum foil away from the heating zone.

Lastly, use the cookware with the same diameter as that of the heating ring on top of the surface of the cooktop. If it goes out of the heating zone ring, make sure the outside part is no more than half an inch bigger.

Clean, wipe dry and store the cooktop with a cover when not in use

As they say, prevention is better than cure. If you treat the cooktop with care, it will take care of you.

Things to note

A thoroughly broken cooktop either cracked or shattered cannot be repaired. It has to be replaced.

Repairing a cooktop is not economical.

Labor cost, replacement of parts can be quite expensive. If you are under warranty then all good but you are not, you will have to shell out a lot of cash.

I would recommend you to compare the repair cost (including service and labor cost) with new inductions available online or in the store. If it comes to the same, go for a new induction instead of going for repair.

A new one can come with extended life and guarantee as it is fresh from the factory. The old repaired one probably will not come with much guarantee.

Summary

Good things don’t come cheap mate. And if by luck you happen to break it, be ready to pay handsomely to repair or replace according to your preference.