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At a Glance
You're probably concerned about repair rates if you have read our reliability posts.
Electric ranges are the exception. Mostly.
Why?
Well, electric ranges have always been made the same. They are refined technology like microwaves.
Most new electric ranges with smooth ceran glass tops are like those I sold 36 years ago when I started at Yale.
Most of the stovetops are still made by the same manufacturer 36 years later. However, service rates increase when appliances have more features depending on the brand.
In this article, you will learn about the most reliable electric ranges to consider based on our service calls logged last year.
We logged over 40,000 calls last year alone or over 100,000 in less than three years.
First, you will see a breakdown of how we measure reliability. Reliability is a very elusive measurement in our industry. Then you will learn about the most reliable models for 2022.
It is incredibly important to buy a reliable appliance, especially now. The wait time for a repair now averages one month due to a lack of available parts and technicians.
Repair is a giant unspoken problem in this industry, so be careful.
Lastly, this article is about electric ranges only. The most reliable induction ranges are in a separate article. Click here for our most reliable induction ranges.
Let's get started.
How We Calculate Electric Range Reliability
Freestanding Electric Ranges at Yale Appliance in Hanover
We calculate appliance reliability by dividing the products we serviced by the products we sold. For this article, we looked at the number of appliances sold and serviced from December 1, 2020, to October 31, 2021.
You won't find reliable posts like this on the internet. Stores typically do not have service departments or have little service. Thus, they can't deliver or collect significant data. There is no benchmark for initial quality in the appliance business.
Consumer Reports test in a lab and report results. They also rank brands based on predictive analysis. They do this by surveying consumers over ten years. This can be a problem.
Consumer Reports weighs past and current issues similarly, but you are buying now, not ten years ago. However, I am a member, and it's still a good reference, but I don't depend on their results exclusively.
You want to see how these products will work in your home based on actual service calls.
For this reason, we have devised a better formula by determining reliability based on actual in-home repairs. We have more than 30 service technicians performing 8-10 service calls every day.
That amounted to over 40,000 service calls logged in 2021. Our sales are divided by service calls for brands' reliability percentage.
Let's take a look.
Short on time? Get our free Electric Cooking Buying Guide
Most Reliable Electric Ranges for 2022
The average repair rate for electric ranges is 8.9% in the first year. Appliances, in general, are about 9.5%.
Electric Range Reliability December 2020 to October 2021
| Service Rate | |
| Samsung | 2.7% |
| LG | 3.5% |
| GE Appliances | 4.0% |
| Whirlpool | 5.6% |
| Beko | 8.3% |
| JennAir | 14.6% |
| Café Appliances | 21.2% |
| KitchenAid | 25.8% |
| Grand Total | 8.9% |
These figures are based on a minimum of 30 ranges sold and a sample of over 900 total pieces. The basic ranges are all extremely reliable, below 5.6%.
The more featured ranges have more repair depending on the brand, although the issues aren't that bad.
Electric Range Problems
The top three issues are:
- Control panel flashing. That's the only real problem because the panel controls the range.
- Burner not heating is the second. It's an easy enough fix, plus you have three more burners to use when one is not working.
- Electric ranges can trip breakers depending on your breaker and its max amperage.
Why Are Electric Ranges So Reliable?
As I said initially, electric ranges haven't changed much in the last 36 years. You have no direct contact with the heating elements.
With the elements under glass, you have less of a chance of breakage.
You have more direct contact with a gas burner. It doesn't have an additional magnet "driver" like induction. The number one repair in a gas range is the burner ignition on top of the range.
Most companies have a long history of manufacturing electric ranges since the 1920s. Since then, manufacturers have incrementally improved the heating element. When I started at Yale back in 1986, many companies like GE and Whirlpool did not even produce a gas range yet had a full portfolio of electric cooking products.
Read More: Most Reliable Appliances
Short on time? Get our free Electric Cooking Buying Guide
What Are the Best Electric Ranges for 2022?
Finding a reliable electric range is easy. Finding an available electric range is a problem.
Many companies have had issues supplying products since the beginning of the pandemic, now in its second year.
Let's look at the best of what is available now. Depending on when you are reading this, it will probably have changed.
Freestanding Ranges (Controls on the Back)
LG LREL6323S ($1,049) and GE PB935YPFS ($1,249)
These ranges are similar with convection in the oven and five burners on the top, one being a warming burner.
You also have Wi-Fi as a feature with the ability to turn the range on or off remotely. You can also change temperature and receive text alerts right from an app on your phone. GE also has some unique recipes tie-ins right on your GE app.
The Air fry mode is the newest feature available on both. Yet our chef can't get frying to work on either.
Front Control (Controls on the Front)
Most high-end ranges are sold as induction, so the offerings are limited. They are then further limited by the lack of available models.
LG has a reliable front control electric range. Beko is more available. They have a decent repair rate when you consider they only sell more expensive front control ranges.
LG LSEL6337 - $2,399
LG's front control range adds new features like an Air Fry mode and a sous vide mode. You do have the largest oven capacity at 5.7 cubic feet as well.
Beko SLER30530SS - $2,099
At first glance, the Beko is a good option if you want a convection front control with features. It's a model-driven stove with a warming drawer below $400 less than the average front control range. You have seven different modes in a Beko, but it does not have any smart functionality.
Read More: How to Buy an Electric Range
Should You Buy an Extended Warranty for an Electric Range?
Maybe buying an extended warranty for a basic range is a bit of a stretch based on the current service rates.
You may want to consider a warranty on the more expensive ranges depending on the brand.
If you buy an appliance warranty, make sure your store can fix issues. Most warranties are from third parties without actual service agents. They take your money now and then scramble to find a technician when there is an issue.
We offer warranties. If unused, you receive a 50% credit back to the store. You may want to consider a similar program in your area if available. With electric ranges, you will receive that credit after the warranty expires.
Read More: Are Appliance Extended Warranties Worth It?
Which Electric Range Should You Buy?
Electric Ranges at Yale Appliance in Hanover
I am a fan of any reliable product regardless of the brand because we have to fix appliances under warranty.
Most basic electric ranges are reliable. Its old, reliable technology is protected against abuse by a solid glass top.
Buying one will be the tough part. The repair numbers increase as you add options depending on the brand, so be careful.
You may want to consider opting for the reliable stove versus the more featured model.
Additional Resources
Need more information on Electric cooking? Download the Yale Electric Cooking Buying Guide with specs, features, and detailed profiles for all the brands. Well over 1 million people have read a Yale Guide.
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Most Reliable Appliances Series:
- Most Reliable Appliance Brands
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- Most Reliable Dishwashers
- Most Reliable Top Load Washers
- Most Reliable Front Load Washers
- Most Reliable Compact Washers
- Most Reliable Gas Cooktops
- Most Reliable Induction Cooktops
- Most Reliable Induction Ranges
- Most Reliable Freestanding Gas Ranges
- Most Reliable Professional Gas Ranges
- Most Reliable Wall Ovens
Why Should You Trust Us?
It seems that every appliance review has nothing but glowing comments about almost every product, yet you read customer reviews and they are almost universally bad.
We are here to fill in the disconnect. We'll give you the best features, and the drawbacks as well, including reliability based on over 37,000 calls performed by our service team just last year. Our goal is to give you ALL the information so you know what's right for you.
Please consider subscribing or adding to the conversation in the comments below. We appreciate you stopping by.
A Note About Pricing
Pricing on this blog is for reference only and may include time sensitive rebates. We make every attempt to provide accurate pricing at time of publishing. Please call the stores for most accurate price.