How To Fix Stove Knobs

Our stoves and ovens are made up of many different pieces that collectively make cooking food a rather easy task. Part of the routine stove cleaning process should be removing the control knobs and thoroughly cleaning behind them as well. The knobs are usually ignored and left alone until the day comes when you go to ignite your range and the gas stove knob won't turn. Fear not, as it should be relatively easy to fix the stove knob and even remove it directly from the range.

Whether you are looking to remove the knobs for deep cleaning purposes or because you need to fix a broken stove knob, the removal process is easier than it appears. Simply pull on the knob and it should slide off into your hand. The majority of range knobs are made to fit snugly onto the metal prong hidden behind it, making the removal process extremely simple.

It may happen that your gas stove knob is stuck and will not come off by pulling on it. This sometimes happens due to food or grease buildup behind the knob sealing it in place. Logically, pulling harder should result in a successful knob removal, however, be warned that this may also lead to the knob breaking and no longer holding onto the prong. You can also try wrapping a bit of flexible wire around the metal shaft behind the knob and pulling upward to try and dislodge the stuck stove knob.

Sometimes, instead of the knob getting stuck and not turning, it will actually break. You will know the knob is broken if the knob is turning loosely without any traction. If this is the case, then you should remove the knob as mentioned above by pulling it away from the stove. Upon inspection of the broken knob, you may notice that one of the plastic parts behind the knob that held it in place may have broken.

You will need to find a gas stove knob replacement at this point, which could be easier than anticipated. Start by finding the model number for your stove to find a replacement knob that fits properly. If you still have your owner's manual, check it for this information. Other places you might find the model number include:

• Inside the oven door along the frame
• Behind the rear control panel
• Under the cooktop if it lifts
• On an electric stove, under the left front burner
• Inside the drawer
• On the side panel inside the oven

Check with the manufacturer first to see if they offer replacement knob. If not, there are many online retailers that specialize in old appliance parts, such AppliancePartsPros.com or PartSelect. Often, these retailers carry original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts as well as aftermarket parts. Replacement kits for all the knobs may cost anywhere between $40 to $100 depending on the make and model of the stove. Prices can also vary depending on the place you wish to purchase from. It could be beneficial to purchase the entire kit, rather than just one knob, so that all of the knobs are new and have the same look.

It's tempting to try a work-around without the knob, but this can be dangerous. Without a knob, you can't quickly adjust the stove if something is burning or boiling over, and it's difficult to tell what temperature setting you're on for an electric stove. On a gas stove, you can't shut off the gas quickly or tell if the gas is shut off just by looking at the knob. Even if there's no flame, the gas could still be on, which poses a major risk. You can also damage the knob shaft if you try to turn it using pliers.