I have a Kitchenaid Superba KESC307 ceramic top slide-in range (convection, digital oven controls).
Our family originally used it for 3-4 years and then it ended up in a rental unit. The first renter had no problems for 2 years (related to the stove anyway) and the second renter has now broken 2 of the ceramic tops in less than 2 years (kudos to the renter for replacing it the first time). Also one of the heating elements is burned out.
A repairman said it was possible the bezel around the ceramic top was too tight and during heating/expansion it caused the glass to crack. Is this possible after 8 years that the bezel has become too tight? As it is a slide-in range, it is sliding into a "just big enough" space between two tile counter tops. The same repairman said it was ok to use iron skillets on ceramic tops, but I have heard otherwise. It is possible the renter used iron skillets, but they gave me a somewhat obscure answer to that question.
My main question are, Do you have suggestion for finding a lower-cost replacement for the ceramic top - perhaps a cross-reference to a "lower-end" brand than Kitchenaid that uses the same top.
And should I replace the bezel too?
I would hate to take the $1200 stove to the dump, but I don't want to spend $300+ to fix something that will just break again in a few months. I realize there are no guarantees.
Thank you, Christopher
PS: I posted a question on AR speakers back in 2007, and I never replied to the posts. So, a very belated thank you to William, Ross and Greg.