You should get very worried if your electric stove makes a popping sound regularly. Although it is considered normal, too much popping points to an underlying problem that has to be fixed. The electric stove popping sound is also heard in other electric appliances such as range tops, gas ovens, boilers, and water heaters. But have you ever wondered what could be the cause of the popping? Possible causes of a cooking stove popping sound and possible remedies will be discussed in this article. Note that the real problem could only be addressed by the manufacturer and the remedies herein are to ensure your safety.
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Possible Reasons for the Electric Stove Popping Sound
Users have reported different versions of the popping sound in their stoves. However, all the devices could be having the following issues.
1)Expansion of Stove Parts
As you may be aware, stove parts are metallic and undergo thermal expansion when exposed to heat. Although most stoves are designed to confine the heat to the center, some allow the heat to dissipate to other parts of the appliance. Additionally, old stoves tend to release more heat to the rest of the parts due to wear and tear. A popping sound is produced as the parts expand and break apart. Such expansion is an indication that your stove has outlived its purpose and needs to be replaced.
2)A Power Surge
A sudden increase in power can overwhelm your stove, thus causing the release of a cracking or popping sound. Like the case of heat, too much power causes the metal to overheat and expand. Power surges are particularly dangerous because the stove might explode and burn everything around it. To prevent a sudden increase in power, ensure electricity flow is smooth. Also, ensure there are enough circuit breakers to regulate power.
3)Faulty Burners
Faulty burners could delay ignition, thus causing a build-up that results in the cooking stove popping sound. In some cases, the burners refuse to turn on and that could only mean trouble. Calling the technician would be the wise thing to do but it won’t guarantee your safety in the meantime. To be completely safe, turn off the power from the main source before considering any other option. You can always change the stove but not until you’re sure the problem is not with the power.
4)Presence of Liquid Elements
Electric stove made popping sound during ignition if you cleaned it recently with a liquid and not dried well. The stove may not ignite at all if there is a huge amount of liquid in the ignition area. Such a case is usually easy to detect and remedy but it might take time before the stove can ignite well. You can choose to either leave the stove to dry on its own or wipe the liquid off gently. Otherwise, the presence of liquids like water is not as dangerous.
5)Dirt In The Openings
It is normal for the electric stove making crackling noise or scary popping sound when the burner’s orifices are blocked. The electric stove popping sound is a result of a build-up under the openings and only small amounts of the fuel are released at a go. To overcome this little problem, use a small stick to remove the dirt from the orifices. Alternatively, take off the burner ring and lightly hit it against a hard surface. Loose dirt and particles will easily come off.
6)A Torn/Cracked Top
Stoves have different types of tops which get torn under high pressure. For instance, stoves with a glass top produce a popping sound when the glass cracks. Most of the time, the top cracks when it gets old but it could also be as a result of a hit. There is no other way this can be remedied except by buying a new stovetop.
7)Problem With The Ignitor
A faulty ignitor is another reason your stove is giving that annoying sound. Like every other part of the stove, an ignitor gets old and starts misbehaving. It may be hard to notice when the ignitor has a problem but make sure to replace it immediately when you do. Alternatively, ensure to buy quality products from a reputable supplier to avoid such problems.
8)Unnecessary Interference
Don’t form a habit of interfering with the stove’s internal components unless you’re cleaning it. But if you must clean it, ensure to rearrange the burners properly to avoid any loosening. Most importantly, always put each burner in its original place to avoid compatibility issues.
9)Rusting
It is a hygiene issue that poses a danger to items “made of iron”. Rusting occurs when water on the surface of the metal interacts with atmospheric air. That means you only need to eliminate either or both of those things. Since we can’t eliminate air because we can’t live in a vacuum, the only thing we can deal with is water. Keep the stove away from water and wipe it well after cleaning. Most importantly, avoid leaving it outside because avoiding rust becomes difficult when left there.
10)Flashback Extinction
When you switch off the stove, some gas remains around the burner. Sudden withdrawal of the gas creates low pressure around the burner and cold air rushes to fill the vacuum. The air then mixes with the leftover gas and attempts to ignite, thus the popping sound. You can do very little to remedy this but you can always ensure the stove is tightened.
Conclusion
As mentioned earlier, the electric stove popping sound is normal but we must always stay alert. Kitchen appliances, especially those that use electricity have caused dozens of deaths before. To be safe, never take anything out of the ordinary for granted because it might cost a loss of property and life, eventually. Most importantly, make a habit of replacing electric appliances after a certain period when their lifespan is about to end. You could only repair those you think will continue serving you like before but don’t try to repair very old ones. That being said, always check your electric stove when the popping becomes frequent.
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A sudden increase in power can overwhelm your stove, thus causing the release of a cracking or popping sound. Like the case of heat, too much power causes the metal to overheat and expand. Power surges are particularly dangerous because the stove might explode and burn everything around it. To prevent a sudden increase in power, ensure electricity flow is smooth. Also, ensure there are enough circuit breakers to regulate power.
