How to Fix a Gas Stove that’s Not Lighting

When your gas stove or cooktop won’t light it’s super annoying. This is a common problem many homeowners face; it can be fixed with a quick fix or a pro. Keep reading to learn how to troubleshoot a gas stove that won’t light. Gas stove repair services may be needed when things go beyond troubleshooting.

1. Common Problems with Gas Stoves or Cooktops

It can be annoying when a cooktop won’t light and sometimes calling for cooktop repair service is recommended. But there are a few things you can do by yourself to fix it!

There are two straightforward causes for a gas stove not to light:

• Not enough gas is available to fire the burner.
• The burner isn’t lit by a spark.

Let’s discuss further.

Gas Stove not Lighting

No Gas

Make sure the gas supply valve behind the stove is turned on if none of the burners ignite. The gas line and the gas valve handle should be lined up. Make sure the gas is on and do the following:

How to Fix it

• Remove the burner cap and place it somewhere.
• Find a brass-colored object with a tiny hole in the middle by using a flashlight. We call this the gas orifice.
• Get a metal paper clip straight and as long as you can.
• Insert the end of the paperclip that’s been straightened into the small hole in the middle of the brass part. Within the gas burner the hole is usually less than an inch deep but can be up to 4 inches deep.
• Turn the paperclip in the hole 4 full rotations to remove any obstruction.
• Pull out the paperclip.
• Replace the burner cap. Make sure it’s flat. It might need to be moved around to sit flat against the stove.
• Check the burner on your gas stove. It should be stronger and light instantly.

No Spark

If your burner doesn’t spark, do the following:

How to Fix It?

• Check the oven to see if your gas burner is getting power. If you don’t have power, you might need to plug in your stove or turn on the stove’s breaker. You can probably do it yourself if your gas oven isn’t working.

When your burner turns on and makes a clicking sound but doesn’t light up:

• Use an alcohol-soaked cotton swab to wipe the white porcelain igniter clean. Also wipe the metal burner cap with a cotton swab.
• Try again. If you still hear clicking but no spark, try option three which is to clean the metal burner head parts.

Clicking but no Spark

Even after cleaning the igniter and checking the gas is on, if there’s no spark and you hear clicking:

How to Fix it?

• Remove the burner cap. Make sure to clean the burner cap’s underside completely with your wire brush.
• To thoroughly clean the burner cap, use an electrical cleaner or alcohol.
• The burner head is the next component of the burner assembly to be lifted off. It might be secured with big nuts or screws. Take out all the bolts and raise it off.
• Any holes in the burner head can be cleaned out with the straightened paperclip. Sometimes the holes are quite small, so be sure to look closely.
• You can use an electrical cleaner or a wire brush to clean the burner cap.
• Find out where the burner cap is and clean with an electrical cleaner or wire brush until it’s spotless.
• Check and make sure the metal burner assembly is properly cleaned. The burner’s metal components all fit together perfectly. When the burner is clean, it establishes a solid electrical ground connection, allowing sparks to leap from the igniter’s tip to the burner.
• A filthy or loose burner component can weaken the ground connection, preventing sparks from jumping.
• Burner elements often fall out of place or get covered in grease and food during cooking. Misaligned parts or debris during cooking can cause a weak spark.
• You should get a good spark to light the burner after all parts are aligned and clean.

Reasons Why Your Gas Stove is Not Lighting

Because the burner is damp or dusty, the electrode is not set properly, or the burner head and cap are unmatched, gas surface burners often are slow to ignite or will not ignite at all. If the appliance is on but the burners will not light, check the following:

1. Burner Holes Clogged

It is possible for grease, food bits, grime etc., accumulate gradually and obstruct the minuscule holes which allow gas to pass through, thereby leading to blockage that may prevent right mixture of gas and air from being present thus causing weak or non-burning flame. Lift burners carefully and softly use a toothbrush or soft brush to clean away these obstructions. Anything fishy besides this, contact us right away!

2. Ignitor not Working

The igniter needs to be positioned correctly in order to produce the spark required to ignite the gas. The igniter will not provide the required spark if it is not properly oriented, necessitating correction.

If your stove isn’t igniting and you’re sure the igniter is the cause—but it’s clean and positioned correctly—search for indications of wear and/or damage, such cracks, discolouration, or a worn-out tip. By the time cooking stoves’ ignitors go bad they burn out and request for replacement. Look online or in a local store near you for a suitable stove igniter. Follow manufacturer’s directions for installations when changing it.

3. Gas Leaking or Pressure Issues

If there is a lack of gas pressure, it shall prevent the gas from getting to the burner on your stove so that it can start burning. Similarly, any disturbance of your gas pressure could possibly affect the access of gas into your stove’s burner. These are dangerous situations, and they require immediate attention to avoid any accidents that may be caused by leaving the valve open even after using it.

If you think there’s a gas leak, it is extremely important for you to turn off the gas supply and contact a technician as soon as possible. For your gas range to operate correctly without causing any harm to you or other people around you, you should ask a specialist to inspect it and detect presence of any cracks or other damages on the valve so that necessary measures can be taken.

4. Gas Supply Issues

If the gas line has a leak or obstruction, the gas valve might not open at all. Check if the gas valve is open or not and also check if something is blocking it. Your stove’s gas supply could have just been turned off accidentally and you will only need to turn it back on.

5. Dirty or Wet Burner

Besides the burner holes, dirt, grease, and debris can fill the igniter of your stove, making the ignition difficult. To improve it also uses a soft cloth or a small brush to clean. Before igniting the stove, ensure that you dry the igniter after removing the accumulation.

6. Faulty Stove Knob

You should check that your cooker’s knob isn’t defective or out of order because it can prevent the gas flow to the burner resulting in failure of ignition. Make sure the knob is well-secured and spins freely to ascertain if that’s really the case.

If it moves loosely or does not spin well, it may need to be replaced. The other thing is to ensure that the control knob is suitably positioned for lighting up. In case nothing changes or improves whatsoever you should contact stove repair services near you.

Gas Stove Repair Services Near Me

Although we have tried our best to cover everything that can go wrong with a cooktop and ways to fix it, still if we have missed out anything or you think your gas stove is acting strange then give us a call. Appliance Medic excels in cooktop/gas stove repair services. Let us help diagnose the problem and fix your appliance in no time.

Our local repair technicians receive ongoing training and specialize in repairing and maintaining range. We’re just a call or click away! Schedule your repair service appointment online or contact us at 845 617 1111 or 201 589 2399 today. We cover all top models of ranges, no matter from where you bought them.