What Causes A Glass Top Stove To Crack?

If your glass top stove just cracked and you don’t know what to do next, this guide is for you. It’s common for glass stovetops to break. The extent of damage can be anything from a simple hairline crack to complete shattering!

When this happens, we warn you against using your stove because it poses the risk of electrocution. If a spill occurs and finds its way through the crack, it risks damaging the mechanisms underneath the stove top. And this can attract expensive repairs.

The following guide will answer all your questions about a cracked glass cooktop and give you an idea of how to go about it. You’ll discover what causes the cracking, what to do when the crack occurs, the replacement costs, and so much more.

How easy is it to break a glass top stove?

The glass top is generally sturdy and strong. But it also breaks easily under certain conditions. For instance, impact from heavy pots will easily break it. Putting your weight on the glass will also likely break it. Scratches made by cookware on the surface may also weaken the glass and damage it with time.

This shows how delicate the glass cooktop can be if you’re not careful with it. To avoid this, you should regard your cooktop as a delicate glass of wine. Take great care of it. Don’t put unnecessary weight and items on it. And it will serve you for a long period of time without breaking.

What causes a glass top stove to shatter and crack?

There are many reasons why your glass cooktop can crack or shatter. Knowing these causes will go a long way in helping prevent the damage from happening in the first place.

Here are the most common reasons why glass cooktops crack:

Using the wrong cookware

The type of cookware you use on your cooktop could be the likely culprit behind the cracked cooktop.

Some pots and pans feature irregular surfaces which leave micro scratches (more like score marks) on your cooktop. With time, these marks can weaken your cooktop to the point of breaking.

After all, how is glass cut? They usually make a score line and then break the glass along it.

With this in mind, we advise you to only use cookware with a flat and smooth bottom. These are less likely to cause damage to your cooktop, enabling it to serve you for an extended period.

Consider using cookware made from specific materials, namely heavy-duty aluminum, stainless, high carbon steel, or titanium. These will have little to no impact on your cooktop.

The cookware material may also contribute to the glass top cracking. Avoid using all cookware made using cast iron, ceramic, stone, or porcelain.

Cast iron, in particular, takes long to absorb heat. But once it gets hot, it has high retention capabilities and may transfer the heat back to your cold cooktop, risking cracking due to thermal shock. The material is also prone to having rough patches and burrs, which tend to scratch your stove.

You should also avoid enameled cookware unless it’s approved for use on a glass cooktop. This is because the enamel material may melt and stick to your cooktop, creating a layer of insulation that prevents heat from escaping and increasing the possibility of a crack.

Likewise, all plastic utensils should be kept far from the cooktop. If they stick to the cooktop, they also create hotspots that lead to cracking.

Impact from cookware and other items

Another common culprit behind broken glass cooktops is the impact of cookware and any other items that accidentally drop on the cooktop, e.g., coffee canister, potted plant, etc.

Still, if someone puts their weight on the glass top, the resulting impact will likely break the cooktop.

Avoid putting heaving weight on your glass cooktop as this can cause cracking and prompt you to replace your unit. Avoid standing on the cooktop when reaching something above it. Also, avoid storing heavy items on top of your glass cooktop as they can fall or drop into it and cause a crack.

Confirm the weight limit of your glass cooktop so that you don’t end up placing heavy pots and pans on it. Most of the stovetops have a weight limit of around 50 pounds, and putting anything heavier will likely overwhelm your unit.

Spatter from cooking

Spatters from your food may land on the glass surface when you’re cooking. When these spatters get carbonized, they will act as an insulator that keeps heat escaping through the glass plate from the burner.

This will force it back to the glass, creating stress that may lead to cracking. The damage from the spattering effect can happen pretty fast (in the amount of time it takes to boil water!)

Excessive heat

When the cool cooktop gets exposed to sudden heat, it’s also likely to cause thermal shock that manifests in the form of a crack. A good example is placing a hot pan onto the cold glass cooktop. Keep in mind that damage from thermal shock occurs immediately!

Abrasive cleaners

Rough, granular cleaners may also damage your glass cooktop with continued use. Using an abrasive cleaner on your cooktop, e.g., the scouring powder will likely make fine scratches.

With repeated use, these scratch lines could ultimately weaken the glass plate and cause it to crack. Not to forget, they will cloud the glass and make it unsightly.

What do you do when your glass stove top breaks?

When your glass stovetop breaks, just replace the glass top or replace the cooker as a whole. There’s no other way about it.

DON’T make the mistake of using your glass stovetop breaks. Otherwise, you’re risking electrocution if liquids spill and fall on the cooker elements.

Additionally, these spills can land on the mechanics and burners beneath the cooktop. This will take out the burners and the unit mechanism, leaving you with expensive repairs.

Something else most people down know is that if you continue using the cracked glass cooktop, the heating will increase extend the crack.

With a cracked cooktop, your pot may also tip over and increase the chances of spills or cause mess and cause electrocution and damage to your unit.

Some homeowners may argue that you can still use the cooktop if the crack or hole is tiny. However, we still advise you to avoid using it, no matter the size of the damage. There’s no need to take unnecessary risks that compromise your own safety.

Can a cracked glass cooktop be repaired?

You cannot repair a broken glass cooktop apart from replacing it. Some folks argue that you can use glue to fix the cooktop. However, this is impractical, considering that almost any adhesive available today is sensitive to heat and will not withstand the high cooker temperatures.

It can also be hard to find a replacement if you’re using an old cooker (anything 10plus years older). The replacement parts for such units may have become obsolete, and you’ll just need to get a new unit.

You may get someone who can build a custom glass plate. But then, this path may cost you a lot of money. And this brings us to our next topic, how much will repays cost you?

How much does it cost to replace the glass on a glass top stove?

The cost of replacing the glass on a glass top stove is around $400-500. You just need to get the model number of your cooker and order the replacement glass top for it online.

You can easily find the replacement provided you’re not using an old unit as we have mentioned above.

However, most users agree that these replacement costs are too high that you’ll be left with no choice but to get a brand new cooker. The price range for a decent glass top stove is $500-700, which makes no huge difference with the replacement costs.

Some models, e.g., the GE replacement glass tops, can go as high as $820, leaving you with no option but to get a new brand new model.

Final words

It’s common for glass top stoves to crack. There are many culprits behind this, including thermal shock, using the wrong cookware, impact from heavy cookware, and other heavy items. Abrasive cleaners may also damage the cooktop.

Good care of your glass top will keep it safe from these culprits and enable it to serve you for a long period without breaking.

If your glass plate breaks, you can still get a replacement part for it. However, the cost of replacing the glass top may be too high that you might resolve to get a new cooking appliance instead of replacing the damaged part.

Remember to check the cost of the new glass top and compare it with the price of a new decent cooker. This will enable you to make a more informed decision on whether to replace the cooktop or get a brand new appliance.