Why Are My Cooker Knobs Loose?
If your control knobs are loose or keep falling off your cooker, it can be really difficult to adjust the temperature or the functions of your cooker. If you have had enough of this inconvenience, and want to get back to being able to use the control knobs on your cooker with some confidence again, then then this article should really help.
So if you’ve been planning that Sunday roast to impress your family, we can help get your issue of loose cooker knobs sorted for you - so you can be on your way to using your cooker to showcase your cooking talents!
Whatever the reason for your control knob being loose, It's bound to be a simple fix which you can do yourself - you'll soon be on your way to getting control over your cooking once again.
Here we have the possible causes for why your control knob may be loose.
Control Knob
If the control knob is loose then the first thing to check is to see if it can be turned - as it may be broken.
There are two types of cooker knobs - depending on your model number:
Safety First! Please make sure that you've switched off your appliance and disconnected it from the mains before beginning any repair.
- The first is held with a metal clip inside a “D” shaped recess - which keeps the pressure on the shaft to stop the control knob from falling off.
- To remove this type of cooker knob turn it to the “off” position and pull it off.
- The second is a “pop-in, pop-out”, which sits flush with the control panel fascia.
- To remove this type it may be necessary to dismantle the control panel to access and remove it.
eSpares Top Tip: If you spill something on the fascia panel or the control knobs give it a good clean as soon as possible to stop it from hardening. Most cooker knobs are designed to be removed for cleaning so don’t be afraid to remove them!
If you’re in need of a replacement control knob have a look at the large selection we have to offer within our cooker spares on the eSpares website.
To replace the faulty control see our easy to follow video guide.
Selector Switch
If you’ve checked the control knob and all seems fine, then turn your attention to the function switch (may also be known as the selector switch). This can be accidentally damaged, or on rare occasions when you turn or pull the control knob it can actually be pulled out too.
Safety First! Please make sure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before beginning any repair.
Check if any of the terminals or connectors on the function switch are damaged, possibly by heat or charring, then it will also need to be replaced - but don't worry about this as we can help you get it fixed.
The good news is you can get a replacement selector switch right here on our website, as they are part of our wide range of cooker related spares.
Once you have obtained the correct part for your model, you can replace the selector switch yourself - with help from our useful video.
Energy Regulator
If you suspect the energy regulator to be defective on your cooker (located behind the cooker’s control knob on the fascia panel) - follow our guide to help you diagnose and fix the problem swiftly:
- Some models use this small device to adjust the power being sent to the hotplates or cooking rings and even to grill elements.
- Occasionally water from your pots and pans may boil over and find its way into the energy regulator causing damage.
Safety First! Please make sure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before beginning any repair.
- A faulty regulator may either turn to full power or not turn on the power to regulate at the selected setting.
- Examine the energy regulator for any signs of burning or damage to the wires and replace if required.
If you conclude that a replacement is needed then you can browse our catalogue of replacement energy regulators.
For help with fitting your new energy regulator see our easy to follow step by step guide.
Thermostat
The thermostat is usually located behind the temperature control knob on the fascia plate. If your control knob is loose or suddenly falls off, and it has the metal shaft from the thermostat still attached, the thermostat may the likely offender.
Depending on your model a thermostat may be used to cycle the power sent to the oven element to provide the selected temperature.
- If someone in your household has heavy hands they may accidentally pull the control knob off, causing the shaft on the thermostat to break off.
- Spilt liquids can seep behind the control knob and damage the thermostat.
To inspect the thermostat:
Safety First! Please make sure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before beginning any repair.
- A faulty thermostat may either turn to full power or not turn on the power and will not regulate at the selected setting.
- Examine the thermostat for any signs of burning or damage to the wires and replace if required.
If you're still unsure, you can also use a multimeter to test whether or not your thermostat is faulty. Check out our guide on testing an oven thermostat with a multimeter to learn more.
If you have performed the steps above and come to realise that a replacement is needed, then you can check out our range of cookers and hobs spares on the eSpares website - where you will find our selection of thermostats
Not only that, we are also able to help you replace the thermostat yourself with a helpful video guide.