Written by
Elena Marsh Appliance Care EditorPublished October 29, 2026
VERIFIED
Error codeH
ApplianceCooktop
The short version
You see: an H on an element that is off and cold.
It means: the element temperature sensor is defective.
Cooktops: Kenmore induction models numbered 790, which otherwise use numeric codes.
Why a letter on a cold surface
The H can appear when nothing is cooking, because the fault is in the sensor rather than in anything heating up.
Remedy listed
Disconnect power to the cooktop. After that, a technician measures the resistance of the element temperature sensor with a volt/ohm meter; about 1000 ohms at room temperature is the expected figure. Where the sensor is defective, the surface element is replaced, because the sensor is part of it. A normal reading moves the replacement to the power generator control board.
When more than one code is on screen
Multiple codes at once send the list toward disconnected wires between the control boards and components. That inspection, too, is done with the power disconnected.
An H that shows up on a cold cooktop is worth a technician visit. Kenmore cooktop repair covers San Francisco and the Bay Area, and (415) 825-6393 reaches us directly. Give the model number and say whether H appears alone or with other codes.
Model compatibility: Kenmore reuses codes across series and model years, so H may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
Plain language
What this code means
Element temperature sensor is defective (H shown when element is off and cold).
Important safety warning. Do not attempt repairs involving electrical components, gas, water lines, refrigerant or sealed systems. Unplug the appliance if it is safe to reach the outlet, and leave internal diagnostics to a qualified technician.
Seeing this code on your Kenmore appliance?
Book a specialist visit for a clear estimate and approval before any repair.
You submit a request with your appliance model and symptom, we confirm an appointment window, and a technician performs an on-site diagnosis. You then receive a clear estimate and decide whether to proceed before any repair begins.
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Replacement parts are selected for the exact model and confirmed with you before ordering or installation.
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