--- title: "Stove Knob Broken or Loose: Causes and Fixes" description: "A knob spins without doing anything, wobbles, falls off in your hand, has cracked, or will not turn at all, so you cannot set a burner or the oven properly." url: "https://stoverepair.center/problems/stove-knob-broken-or-loose/" --- # Stove Knob Broken or Loose A knob spins without doing anything, wobbles, falls off in your hand, has cracked, or will not turn at all, so you cannot set a burner or the oven properly. ## What it usually means. Each knob on a stove fits onto a metal shaft that turns a switch or a gas valve behind the control panel. Most knobs grip the shaft with a flat side and a small plastic insert, and that insert is what cracks first, especially on knobs pulled off often for cleaning or turned by small children. A knob that spins freely may be split, or the shaft behind it may have worn round. A knob that will not turn at all can be jammed by a spill that dried inside, or stuck because the switch or valve behind it has failed. On gas stoves the knob has to be pushed in before it will turn, which is a safety feature, not a problem. The 6 causes, cheapest first Answer these first 01 Is the knob cracked, loose on its shaft, or missing? 02 Does the knob spin all the way around without clicking into positions? 03 On a gas stove, do you push the knob in before turning it? 04 Does the burner or oven still work if you turn the shaft carefully with the knob fitted? 05 Do children in the house play with the stove knobs? ## Check these before you book. Stove knob broken: 5 checks, and none of them costs anything. 01 Do not use pliers on the shaft to turn a burner on while the knob is broken; it is easy to leave it partly on. 02 If a broken knob leaves a gas burner partly on and you smell gas, turn it off with care; if the smell stays, leave the house and call the gas utility from outside. 03 Pull the knob straight off and look at the insert and the shaft for cracks or a worn flat side. ### Also worth checking - Note the model number of your stove, usually on a plate behind the oven drawer or inside the door frame, so the right knob can be ordered. - If small children can reach the stove, use knob covers made for your stove, or take the knobs off when the stove is not in use. ### How soon does it need a visit? A broken knob is not an emergency, but do not use that burner until the knob grips properly, because you cannot be sure it is off. Treat any gas smell as urgent. ## The causes, cheapest first. 6 things stove knob broken or loose turns out to be, from knob not pushed in on a gas stove to gas valve damaged. [The cost guide](https://stoverepair.center/cost/) 1. 01 no repair ### Knob not pushed in on a gas stove Gas knobs must be pressed in before they turn, so a knob cannot be bumped to on by accident. If yours will not turn, try pressing firmly first. No repair: check it yourself 2. 02 no repair ### Wrong replacement knob Generic knobs sold to fit many stoves often slip on the shaft or point at the wrong setting. Use the knob made for your model so the markings line up. No repair: check it yourself 3. 03 lowest ### Cracked knob or insert A cracked knob or split insert can no longer grip the shaft. A new knob for your stove slides straight on. [Fixed by knob and switch replacement](https://stoverepair.center/services/knob-and-switch-replacement/) 4. 04 low ### Shaft worn round or bent Years of use, or a knob forced by a small child, can wear or bend the shaft so no knob will grip. The switch or valve it belongs to is replaced. [Fixed by knob and switch replacement](https://stoverepair.center/services/knob-and-switch-replacement/) 5. 05 low to moderate ### Burner switch or valve jammed A switch or valve that has seized, or has dried spills inside, can stop the knob turning. Forcing it can break the part, so leave it for the repair. [Fixed by knob and switch replacement](https://stoverepair.center/services/knob-and-switch-replacement/) [See stove burner stays on high](https://stoverepair.center/problems/stove-burner-stays-on-high/) 6. 06 moderate ### Gas valve damaged On a gas stove, a valve that no longer turns smoothly or will not stay in position needs replacing. Gas valves are never repaired at home. [Fixed by stove burner repair](https://stoverepair.center/services/stove-burner-repair/) [On a gas stove](https://stoverepair.center/types/gas-stove-repair/) ## What else it could be. Most often confused with stove burner stays on high, then stove burner not working. [All problems](https://stoverepair.center/problems/) Codes that come with it - [`L` Bertazzoni · Mode, not a failure](https://stoverepair.center/error-codes/bertazzoni-l/) - [`ERR/toP` Bosch · Mode, not a failure](https://stoverepair.center/error-codes/bosch-err-top/) - [`F7` Café · Knobs, keys and display](https://stoverepair.center/error-codes/cafe-f7/) - [`F15` Fulgor Milano · Knobs, keys and display](https://stoverepair.center/error-codes/fulgor-milano-f15/) - [`F17` Fulgor Milano · Knobs, keys and display](https://stoverepair.center/error-codes/fulgor-milano-f17/) - [`L` Fulgor Milano · Mode, not a failure](https://stoverepair.center/error-codes/fulgor-milano-l/) [11 more codes, by make](https://stoverepair.center/error-codes/) Also related - [**Stove Smells Like Gas** 5 causes · gas, fire, sparks or a burner stuck on](https://stoverepair.center/problems/stove-smells-like-gas/) Gas, fire, sparks or a burner stuck on ### Stove Burner Stays on High 5 causes ### Stove Burner Not Working 6 causes ### Stove Clicking 7 causes ## The makes it happens on. 32 makes on this site; stove knob broken or loose can show up on any of them. Each mark opens that make's own page. [All 32 brands](https://stoverepair.center/brands/) ## Stove Knob Broken or Loose, where we come out. 9 metros, each with its own page. [All service areas](https://stoverepair.center/locations/) [Tampa Bay](https://stoverepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/) FL · 31 areas - [Hyde Park](https://stoverepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/hyde-park/) - [Davis Islands](https://stoverepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/davis-islands/) - [Palma Ceia](https://stoverepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/palma-ceia/) - [Westchase](https://stoverepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/westchase/) - [Carrollwood](https://stoverepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/carrollwood/) - [Belleair](https://stoverepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/belleair/) - [St. Pete Beach](https://stoverepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/st-pete-beach/) - [Palm Harbor](https://stoverepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/palm-harbor/) [Orlando](https://stoverepair.center/locations/orlando/) FL · 30 areas - [Winter Park](https://stoverepair.center/locations/orlando/winter-park/) - [Windermere](https://stoverepair.center/locations/orlando/windermere/) - [Dr. Phillips](https://stoverepair.center/locations/orlando/dr-phillips/) - 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[Park Slope](https://stoverepair.center/locations/new-york/park-slope/) - [DUMBO](https://stoverepair.center/locations/new-york/dumbo/) - [Forest Hills](https://stoverepair.center/locations/new-york/forest-hills/) - [Great Neck](https://stoverepair.center/locations/new-york/great-neck/) - [Southampton](https://stoverepair.center/locations/new-york/southampton/) - [Scarsdale](https://stoverepair.center/locations/new-york/scarsdale/) [Houston](https://stoverepair.center/locations/houston/) TX · 36 areas - [River Oaks](https://stoverepair.center/locations/houston/river-oaks/) - [Memorial](https://stoverepair.center/locations/houston/memorial/) - [Tanglewood](https://stoverepair.center/locations/houston/tanglewood/) - [Greater Heights](https://stoverepair.center/locations/houston/greater-heights/) - [Kingwood](https://stoverepair.center/locations/houston/kingwood/) - [Bellaire](https://stoverepair.center/locations/houston/bellaire/) - [Bunker Hill Village](https://stoverepair.center/locations/houston/bunker-hill-village/) - 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[River Forest](https://stoverepair.center/locations/chicagoland/river-forest/) - [Oak Park](https://stoverepair.center/locations/chicagoland/oak-park/) - [Hinsdale](https://stoverepair.center/locations/chicagoland/hinsdale/) - [Lake Forest](https://stoverepair.center/locations/chicagoland/lake-forest/) - [Highland Park](https://stoverepair.center/locations/chicagoland/highland-park/) - [Gold Coast](https://stoverepair.center/locations/chicagoland/gold-coast/) - [Lakeview](https://stoverepair.center/locations/chicagoland/lakeview/) [Los Angeles](https://stoverepair.center/locations/los-angeles/) CA · 95 areas - [Beverly Hills](https://stoverepair.center/locations/los-angeles/beverly-hills/) - [Bel Air](https://stoverepair.center/locations/los-angeles/bel-air/) - [Holmby Hills](https://stoverepair.center/locations/los-angeles/holmby-hills/) - [Brentwood](https://stoverepair.center/locations/los-angeles/brentwood/) - [Pacific Palisades](https://stoverepair.center/locations/los-angeles/pacific-palisades/) - [Santa Monica](https://stoverepair.center/locations/los-angeles/santa-monica/) - [Hancock Park](https://stoverepair.center/locations/los-angeles/hancock-park/) - [Studio City](https://stoverepair.center/locations/los-angeles/studio-city/) - [Calabasas](https://stoverepair.center/locations/los-angeles/calabasas/) - [Manhattan Beach](https://stoverepair.center/locations/los-angeles/manhattan-beach/) - [Palos Verdes Estates](https://stoverepair.center/locations/los-angeles/palos-verdes-estates/) - [Pasadena](https://stoverepair.center/locations/los-angeles/pasadena/) - [San Marino](https://stoverepair.center/locations/los-angeles/san-marino/) - [Malibu](https://stoverepair.center/locations/los-angeles/malibu/) [San Diego](https://stoverepair.center/locations/san-diego/) CA · 31 areas - [La Jolla](https://stoverepair.center/locations/san-diego/la-jolla/) - [Carmel Valley](https://stoverepair.center/locations/san-diego/carmel-valley/) - [Point Loma](https://stoverepair.center/locations/san-diego/point-loma/) - 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[Woodside](https://stoverepair.center/locations/bay-area/woodside/) - [Palo Alto](https://stoverepair.center/locations/bay-area/palo-alto/) - [Los Altos Hills](https://stoverepair.center/locations/bay-area/los-altos-hills/) - [Tiburon](https://stoverepair.center/locations/bay-area/tiburon/) - [Piedmont](https://stoverepair.center/locations/bay-area/piedmont/) - [Marina](https://stoverepair.center/locations/bay-area/marina/) For the heart of your home. ## Questions about stove knob broken or loose. ### How do I keep a toddler from turning the stove knobs? Use knob covers made for your stove, or remove the knobs when the stove is not in use and keep them out of reach. Many stoves with touch controls also have a lock mode. ### Can I buy stove knobs myself? Yes, for your exact model. A knob made for the stove lines up with the markings; a generic one may not show off in the right place. ### My knob came off and there is a flat metal stem left. Is it safe to turn? Only with the correct knob back on. Turning the bare stem by hand or with a tool makes it easy to leave a burner partly on. ### The knob turns but the burner does nothing. Which part has failed? If the knob spins freely, it is usually the knob. If it clicks through the settings but the burner stays cold, the switch or valve behind it is more likely. --- **[Read on the site: Stove Knob Broken or Loose: Causes and Fixes](https://stoverepair.center/problems/stove-knob-broken-or-loose/)** **[Book a visit with StoveRepair.center](https://stoverepair.center/schedule/)**