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A close view of the front of a white freestanding stove in a US home kitchen, one knob missing to show the bare metal shaft, the cracked knob resting in an open palm held beside it, and the other knobs in place.

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.

(844) 415-7620

Mon–Sat, 8am–8pm

  • 5 checks before you book
  • 5 questions that narrow it
  • 6 causes, cheapest first

Book a visit

Three short steps, about a minute.

or call (844) 415-7620

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.

A technician slides a new black knob onto a stem on the front of a freestanding stove in a US home kitchen, the other knobs lined up on a towel on the counter. 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
  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
  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
  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 See 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 On a gas stove

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

Stove Knob Broken or Loose,
where we come out.

9 metros, each with its own page.

All service areas

Tampa BayFL · 31 areas

OrlandoFL · 30 areas

Miami / South FloridaFL · 47 areas

New York MetroNY · 75 areas

HoustonTX · 36 areas

ChicagoIL · 50 areas

Los AngelesCA · 95 areas

San DiegoCA · 31 areas

San Francisco Bay AreaCA · 74 areas

A grandparent and a child stirring a pot together on a white gas stove in a lived-in family kitchen
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.

Back to your everyday

Still seeing stove knob broken or loose?

Book with what you checked above — 5 answers save the technician the first part of the visit.

Schedule a repair Call (844) 415-7620
(844) 415-7620 Schedule a repair