Bath Domestic Appliances has a lot of experience fixing freezers in Wiltshire and Somerset. We see the same problems over and over again. Sometimes, freezer problems are caused by simple mistakes. We’ve put together a list of five common freezer faults that you can check for yourself before calling our freezer experts. Please be careful! Don’t try to fix a freezer yourself unless you know what you’re doing. Freezers use very high voltage electricity, even when they’re turned off.
What’s Causing Your Dinner Disaster?
Common Issues with Electric Cookers & How to Fix Them
The humble electric cooker is the mainstay of millions of British kitchens, providing us with a wealth of culinary creations from Sunday roasts to quick mid-week meals.
Our hard-working cookers are dependable on the whole, but nothing is infallible so now and then they will let us down (let’s hope its not on the eve of an important dinner party). Most electric cooker faults can be fixed by a professional repair company, like Bath Domestic Appliances.
Sometimes the problem is simply down to human error or neglect, in which case you could even perhaps put it right yourself. Don’t ever mess around with the workings of a cooker, oven or hob, though without turning off the mains electricity or you could be in for a nasty shock!
We’ve put together this guide to common issues with electric cookers with some advice about how to troubleshoot your cooker and sort out the problem.
Electric Cooker Hob Hassles
Your electric cooker will have one of three different types of cooking plates on the top – either a solid plate, ceramic or induction hob.
All are subject to similar faults, which when they occur are generally best found and fixed by a qualified professional. The most common faults with electric cooker hobs are:
- Electric hob failing to heat
The first thing to do is to check your consumer unit (fuse box) to ensure the circuit breaker for the cooker hasn’t tripped. If it has, reset it, but if the hob is still not heating you’ll need a professional to check things like the element, the wiring or the control switch. - Electric hob plate heating unevenly
This is a problem because it can lead to burnt patches in your cooking. It is often the result of a failing element, which needs to be installed by a qualified electrician or repair technician. - Hob won’t turn off
This is a serious safety hazard for obvious reasons, and usually indicates a problem with the control switch. Unplug the cooker straight away and call a repair expert. - Cracked hob plate
A cracked ceramic hob not only looks unsightly but can also be dangerous. The hob may still work with hairline cracks, but these will gradually get worse and impact on its functionality. Better safe than sorry – call a technician to replace the hob.

Electric Cooker Oven Ailments
When your oven gives you the cold shoulder or starts burning your favourite bakes the most common reasons for it malfunctioning are:
- Electric oven failing to heat
As described with the electric hob (above) first check the circuit breaker. If all is well in that respect, the problem could be a faulty heating element, thermostat or oven control module. A professional diagnosis and repair will be needed. - Electric oven heating unevenly
If you want to avoid the infamous baking “soggy bottom” you need your oven to heat evenly. If you’re noticing a problem this could be down to a malfunctioning element or a faulty fan. The fan is there to circulate hot air for even cooking. If it’s not working professional help is recommended. - Electric oven overheating
An oven that overheats is a recipe for disaster (pun intended!). This usually indicates a faulty thermostat. Continuing to use an overheating oven is dangerous and can lead to fires. Unplug the cooker and call a repair service immediately. - Electric oven tripping the fuse box
If your oven repeatedly trips the circuit breaker this indicates there is a serious electrical fault, possibly a short circuit. Do not attempt to fix this yourself. Unplug the cooker and call a qualified repair professional. - Oven light not working
A non-functioning oven light is usually a simple fix. Try replacing the bulb first. If that doesn’t work, the problem might be with the light fitting or wiring, requiring a professional.
Electric Cooker Grill Grievances
If your electric cooker comes with a built-in grill you’ll no doubt become very dependent on this useful feature. If the grill’s sizzle starts to fizzle, there could be several reasons:
- Grill not heating
Similar to the hob and oven, check the circuit breaker first. If the electrics are fine, the issue is likely a faulty grill element or switch. Rectifying these issues is best left to a professional. - Grill overheating
An overheating grill is a fire hazard. Unplug the cooker and call a repair service immediately.
Electric Cooker Care
To prolong the life of your electric cooker and avoid costly repairs, regular cleaning is essential. Keep the hob clean, remove spills promptly, and clean the oven regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Avoid using abrasive cleaners that can damage the hob’s surface.
If something does go wrong it’s better to get a quote for a repair before deciding to abandon your cooker and spend out on a new one. You’ll be surprised how cost effective it is to repair rather than replace. With proper care your cooker can last you for many years.
If you live in or around the city of Bath, bring your electric cooker problems to Bath Domestic Appliances, and we’ll keep you cooking! We serve Bath, Bradford-on-Avon, Corsham, Frome, Keynsham, Melksham, Peasedown St John, Trowbridge, Saltford, Somerset, Warminster, Westbury and Wiltshire.