Why Does My Gas Burner Not Light?

If you have a gas stove then you've likely basked in how convenient and luxurious a gas range can be. For the avid home cook, gas burners are the key to well-cooked meals thanks to the ease with which you can manipulate the heat levels. But if you turn the dials and simply hear endless clicking with no flame to be found, it can be incredibly irritating and a little unnerving. Rest assured this issue is pretty common and that means it's easier to find the solutions.

Unlike electric burners which simply rely on a coil to heat, gas burners need to actually ignite in order to work. It's usually pretty simple, but even minor hiccups can cause the chain reaction to fail and the burner to remain dormant. You should be careful when investigating the problem and be prepared to call a professional with experience working with gas ovens. And if you smell gas in excess or when you're not using the oven, call a professional immediately and do not use the oven.

The most common issue and easiest to solve for a gas burner that won't light is a burner that is clogged. If you don't regularly clean your range after use or have had a particular hefty amount of recent use, the burners can build up with food debris, often crumbs or solidified oil. This blocks the gas flow to the igniter and prevents the burner from catching. To unclog a gas burner, make sure the oven is off and remove the grate covering, then the burner cap. Clean the area with warm water or a vinegar solution.

A working burner does rely on a connection of mechanical parts so a misfire in any one of them could result in a burner that won't light. These can come lose over time or as a result of recent jostling from a move, installation, or hefty cleaning. In order to figure out where the problem is, you should call a professional who has experience and knowledge in taking a look at the electrical and mechanical components of the appliance and can do this work safely. Depending on where the loose connection is, they made need to get deep into the bowels of your oven.

If you've ruled out the above two solutions, then you might have an issue with the igniter itself rather than the processes around it. There's a pretty easy way to tell if your igniter is good, however. Turn off your lights and toggle the control knob on the burner as if you were getting ready to cook. If you see a spark that is yellow or orange instead of the usual blue color, then you'll need to replace the igniter. Call a professional to do this since it involves working carefully with something connected to both electricity and gas.