Thermador cooktops and rangetops we work on
Thermador sells gas cooktops, gas rangetops, induction cooktops and electric cooktops. The gas models use the Star Burner. It has five points, like a star. Thermador says that shape spreads flame across more of the pan. The induction line includes the Freedom and Liberty cooktops. We repair all of these. A+ is an independent repair company and is not part of Thermador. Our Thermador appliance repair page lists the other products we fix.
Why a Star Burner clicks and will not light
Most no-light calls start with something small. A pot boils over. Water and food get into the star points. The igniter gets wet and the spark goes weak. Thermador's own guide says to dry damp igniters with a cotton swab. It also says to clear clogged ports with a wire or a paper clip.
If the burner is clean and dry and still fails, a part has gone bad. These are the ones we swap most on gas cooktops:
- A cracked igniter. The spark jumps to the wrong spot.
- The spark module. This box fires every igniter, so no burner sparks when it dies.
- The switch behind a knob. It sticks and the cooktop clicks nonstop.
- A burner cap that sits crooked. The flame lifts or burns on one side.
ExtraLow clicking is not always a fault
Some Thermador burners have ExtraLow settings. They are marked XLO on the knob. On those settings the flame turns off and back on by design. Thermador says the cycle runs about every 60 seconds. You will hear a click each time the flame comes back. That sound is normal. It lets you melt butter or hold a sauce without burning it.
Call us if a burner clicks on a normal setting. Call too if the flame goes out on XLO and never comes back. The part that runs the cycle may have failed.
Induction zones that will not heat
Induction heats the pan, not the glass. So the pan matters. Thermador's tip is a fridge magnet on the pan base. A firm grip means the pan will work. Size matters as well. Thermador's guide lists a pan range of 3.5 to 13 inches across. A hum or a fan sound during cooking is normal.
A letter F with a number on the display is different. It means the cooktop found a fault. Write the code down before you cut the power. It tells our tech where to start. Usual repairs here are a power board, a coil under the glass or a cooling fan. Cracked glass can be replaced too.
Five things to check before you book
- Make sure the gas valve is open.
- Check the breaker. Gas igniters need power to spark.
- Seat each cap flat, with its tabs in the notches.
- A soaked Star Burner wants half a day of air.
- On induction, try a second pan on the same zone.
Do you smell gas with every knob off? Shut the main valve and leave the room. Phone your gas company first, then us.
What a Thermador cooktop visit costs
Our tech's trip to your house is billed at $79. Hire us for the fix and that $79 comes back off your bill. You get one fixed price before any work starts. It covers parts and labor. Phones get picked up 6 AM to 9 PM, Sundays included, and the online form takes bookings overnight. Whoever we send holds a license, carries insurance and cleared a background check. A 30-day repair warranty goes with each cooktop repair.
Fixing a cooktop versus buying a new one
A cooktop sits in a hole cut into your counter. A new model may not fit that same hole. So repair is the better choice most of the time. Igniters, switches and spark modules are small jobs. An induction power board costs more. It still costs far less than new stone work. We say so plainly when the numbers point to replacing.
We fix Thermador cooktops all over the Los Angeles area. Our California appliance repair page lists the cities. We also work around Chicago, Houston, Northern Virginia and D.C. Is there an oven under your cooktop? Read about Thermador wall oven repair. For a full stove, see Thermador range repair. One last tip for Star Burner owners. Once the cleaning is done, press each star cap down until it stops rocking. A cap that rocks will spoil the flame.