Electric hobs don’t last forever. Most people expect them to work smoothly for years, but the reality isn’t always so kind. You’re probably wondering if it’s normal when your hob starts acting up after five or ten years.
Here’s a straightforward answer: electric hobs usually last 7 to 12 years, depending on how you treat them. Some keep going strong for longer, but others can pack up much sooner—usually thanks to rough use, dodgy electrics, or plain old bad luck.
If you’re keen to stretch that lifespan, it’s all about regular cleaning and not letting burnt food pile up under the burners. Letting spills sit isn’t just gross, it can mess with the elements and the wiring underneath. A quick wipe after cooking is worth it in the long run.
Noticing that your hob heats slower or lights up unevenly? Those aren’t just annoyances—they’re early warning signs. If you pick up on these early, you’ve got a better shot at fixing small problems before they turn into expensive headaches.
- Average Lifespan of an Electric Hob
- What Makes Electric Hobs Breakdown Early?
- Common Signs Your Hob Is Near the End
- Repair or Replace: Which Makes Sense?
- How to Make Your Hob Last Longer
- When It's Time for a New Hob
Average Lifespan of an Electric Hob
The big question: how many years will your electric hob actually keep working? For most standard models you’ll find in regular homes, the expected range is 7 to 12 years. That’s not just random guesswork—major appliance surveys from the UK and Europe regularly put the average somewhere in that ballpark.
If you’re getting close to a decade with the same hob, you’re basically right in the middle of what the manufacturers expect. Some brands even offer warranties up to 5 or 7 years, which should give you an early hint about their own confidence level.
| Brand | Average Lifespan (years) | Warranty (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch | 10-12 | 2-5 |
| Indesit | 8-10 | 1-5 |
| Hotpoint | 8-11 | 1-10 (with paid plans) |
| Neff | 10-13 | 2-5 |
Usage makes a difference too. If you cook a couple times a day, your hob’s going to wear out faster than the one in your neighbour’s rarely-used guest flat. Families who love big, greasy fry-ups might see elements giving up after just 5-6 years. On the other hand, careful, moderate use—like boiling pasta a few times a week—can let a hob last past the ten-year mark.
One often-overlooked factor? Hard water. If you’re in a hard water area and spills build up minerals under the glass, it might speed up wear on certain parts. Not a deal-breaker, but worth knowing when you’re keeping tabs on your kitchen appliances.
If you’re thinking about repairs or a new model, look at both age and usage. Is it five years old but only used a handful of times each week? Still has some life left. Over ten and used daily? Time to keep a close eye for trouble.
What Makes Electric Hobs Breakdown Early?
Plenty of folks are surprised when their electric hob starts acting up way before they planned on replacing it. Turns out, most hobs don’t give out randomly—they wear down thanks to a handful of bad habits and sneaky issues.
First off, spills are a silent killer. When sauces and soups bubble over, the liquid can seep through the edges and damage the burners or the connections underneath. Grease left on the surface? That can bake in and mess with the sensors or even fry the electronics.
Another big enemy: power surges. Most modern kitchens have stable electrical systems, but a sudden jolt—like during a thunderstorm—can fry a circuit board in seconds. Think of the circuit board as the brains of your electric hob; if it’s toast, the whole thing is useless.
Lots of users pile heavy pots and pans on the hob when it’s off. Those glass tops aren’t indestructible. A tiny crack might not seem like a big deal, but moisture can sneak in over time and cause hidden damage that’s tough (and pricey) to fix.
- Poor cleaning habits—letting food build up over weeks
- Using the wrong pots—like ones with rough or damaged bottoms that scratch the glass or ceramic
- Leaving the hob running when it’s empty, which overheats elements fast
- Poor ventilation, so the hob can’t cool down after use
It’s not just user error though. Sometimes, wiring in your home creates issues. Loose connections or dodgy sockets create heat and can burn out the terminals on your electric hob faster than you’d think.
| Reason | Impact on Lifespan |
|---|---|
| Frequent Heavy Spills | Corrodes wiring, damages sensors |
| Power Surges | Frys electronics and circuit board |
| Overloading with Heavy Pans | Cracks glass top, allows moisture in |
| Poor Cleaning | Short-circuits elements over time |
| Bad Electrical Connections | Burns out terminals, causes failure |
Bottom line: how you use and maintain your hob is a huge deal. Treat your electric hob well, and you’ll get those extra years. Ignore it, and you could be shopping for a replacement before you’re ready.
Common Signs Your Hob Is Near the End
No one wants to get caught with a broken electric hob right before dinner. But hobs usually give you warning before they fully quit. Spotting the signs early can help you decide if it’s time for repair, or if you should start looking at replacements.
Here are the clearest signs your electric hob might be on its last legs:
- Uneven heating: Maybe the front left ring gets red-hot but the others are just lukewarm. If one or more burners heat slower, or not at all, it’s a classic signal things are wearin out under the surface.
- Knobs or touch controls stop working: When it takes extra fiddling to get your hob to react—or it ignores you completely—it’s usually more than just a sticky button. This can point to deeper electrical or control board issues.
- Cracks or damage on the surface: Hairline cracks in the glass or ceramic top look small, but they can get worse fast. Chips and big scratches make it unsafe and reduce efficiency.
- Strange smells or odd noises: A burnt, electrical smell or popping noises aren’t normal. That could mean wiring is failing, and it’s time to switch the hob off until a pro checks it out.
- Random shut-offs: If your hob cuts out while you’re cooking (especially when you turn up the heat), a worn-out thermal fuse or control unit could be the culprit.
- Error codes: Some modern hobs show error codes on the display. If you keep seeing the same error after resetting, the internal components are probably on the way out.
If you’re curious how common these issues are, check out this breakdown taken from a recent appliance survey:
| Common Problem | Reported by Users (%) |
|---|---|
| Uneven Heating | 37 |
| Non-responsive Controls | 22 |
| Surface Cracks | 17 |
| Random Shut-offs | 14 |
| Smells/Noises | 10 |
Most of these electric hob issues start off as annoyances but can quickly become real safety risks. If you spot more than one of these signs, it might be time to talk to a repair tech—or think about a new hob before you get stuck with a stovetop that won’t cooperate.
Repair or Replace: Which Makes Sense?
It’s tempting to hang onto your trusty electric hob for as long as possible, but at some point, you have to decide: call for a repair, or bite the bullet and buy a new one? Here’s what really matters.
First, check the age. If your hob is older than 10 years and it’s causing trouble, odds are you’re better off replacing it. Repairs might fix a single issue, but older kitchen appliances start developing new problems quickly. Most brands design their electric hobs to last around a decade, and parts for older models get harder to find (and pricier) over time.
If your hob is on the younger side—say under seven years old—a repair often makes sense. Simple fixes like swapping a broken knob, replacing a faulty burner, or fixing wiring usually don’t cost much. For example, swapping out a faulty heating element can run £30-£60 for parts plus labour. If the glass top cracks, though, you’re looking at £100 or more, which can make replacement more attractive.
Take a look at this quick comparison:
| Problem | Repair Cost | Replace? |
|---|---|---|
| Broken knob | £10-£30 | No |
| Faulty heating element | £30-£80 | Repair |
| Cracked glass | £100-£250 | Maybe |
| Main control board failure | £100-£200 | Replacement often cheaper |
Another thing that tips the scale: safety. If you’re getting shocks, or if you see scorch marks or smell burning plastic, unplug the hob and forget repairs. That’s a sign the wiring or insulation has failed. No cooking convenience is worth risking a house fire.
- If repair costs are more than half the price of a new electric hob, replacement wins.
- Multiple small issues popping up one after another? That’s your hob begging for retirement.
- Still under warranty or covered by an insurance plan? Call in the claim first—don’t pay out of pocket when you don’t have to.
In short: minor faults are repairable and usually worth it, but major breakdowns in a tired old hob call for a replacement. No one wants to fork out more money than necessary, but sometimes sinking cash into repairs is just pouring it down the drain.
How to Make Your Hob Last Longer
If you want your electric hob to last the distance, it’s not about luck—it’s about what you do every week. Treating it right can easily add a few extra years before you even think about a replacement.
Start with cleaning. Don’t just wipe the obvious spots—lift off rings or plates when the hob is cool and deal with any gunk underneath. Leaving spills, especially sticky stuff, is a one-way ticket to worn-out burners and dodgy heating.
- After cooking, let the hob cool down before cleaning. Using cold water straight on a hot plate can crack it or mess up the wiring underneath.
- Stick to soft cloths and non-abrasive cleaners. Harsh pads can scratch the surface, making it easier for more grime and spills to stick next time.
- Avoid letting pans boil over. Excess moisture gets into the electrics and can start rot or rust, especially for older hobs.
- Move pots around gently—smacking heavy pans down can crack or bend components, especially with ceramic tops.
If you have a ceramic or glass-top electric hob, don’t use it as an extra worktop. It’s tempting when counter space is tight, but dropping something heavy or sliding a tray can cause hairline cracks. These cracks not only look bad but can let moisture in and kill the thing from the inside out.
Once a month, check the controls and knobs. If any of them feel loose or sticky, fix them right away. A wobbly dial can lead to inconsistent power delivery, which fries internal parts much faster. If you hear odd buzzing or see sparking, don’t wait—switch the power off and get a pro to check it out.
It’s also worth investing in a good plug and surge protector. UK power surges can fry circuits even in newer hobs, so spending a few pounds here often saves a lot later.
| Maintenance Frequency | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| After Every Use | Wipe surfaces, check for spills, and let it cool properly before touching components. |
| Weekly | Deep clean burner rings, check all knobs are tight, look for obvious damage. |
| Monthly | Check wiring underneath if safe (power off), look for cracks or stains, and clear any dust or debris. |
Sounds like a lot, but these habits can double the working years of your electric hob. More years with fewer repairs—who doesn’t want that?
When It's Time for a New Hob
Even with the best care, every electric hob hits a point where repairs just don’t make sense anymore. Sometimes, spending more time and money fixing an old hob is like trying to glue a cracked egg back together—it’s just not worth it.
Here are some clear signals it’s time to start shopping for a replacement:
- Repairs keep stacking up: If you find yourself calling an engineer every few months, that’s money better spent on a new hob.
- Long heat-up times: If your hob takes ages to get hot compared to when it was new, the elements are probably worn out.
- Uneven heating: Burners that only heat on one side or don’t heat at all may not be fixable, especially if it’s a recurring issue.
- Visible damage: Cracks, chips, or burn marks on the surface aren’t just ugly—they’re a safety risk.
- Outdated parts: If it’s getting hard (or expensive) to find the right parts for repairs, you’re running out of options.
The Energy Saving Trust advises:
‘If your hob is ten years old or more, you’ll likely save energy and money by upgrading to a newer, more efficient model. Modern electric hobs use less power and are safer to use.’
Let’s put it in perspective: an average repair for a worn-out electric element can run £60–£120 in the UK. If your current electric hob has already needed a couple of fixes, those costs quickly add up. Compare that to a brand-new entry-level hob starting around £150–£200, and you can see why replacing sometimes makes more sense.
| Age of Hob | Repair Cost (average/year) | Replacement Cost (one-off) |
|---|---|---|
| 7+ years | £100–£200 | £150–£350 |
| 10+ years | £150–£300 | £180–£450 |
Also, safety matters. Persistent electrical faults or tripping breakers are warning signs you shouldn’t ignore. Sometimes the risk of fire or electric shock is just too high to keep rolling the dice with repairs.
If you’re facing two or more of these warning signs, the smart move is to invest in a new electric hob. Not only will you get better performance and efficiency, but you’ll also ditch the worry of surprise breakdowns during dinner.
