Gas Burner Not Lighting: 5 Simple Fixes

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Appliance Express
January 9, 2023
Oven Repair

When a gas burner stops lighting, it’s usually due to a faulty component or your burner not being set up correctly. Thankfully, most of these problems can easily be fixed. In this guide, we cover five simple fixes you can apply if your gas burner has stopped working.

Start by checking the burner cap and then work your way through the guide until you’ve identified the cause of the problem and fixed it.

Fix #1 – Check the burner cap

The burner cap on your gas burner needs to be aligned correctly. When it isn’t, your gas burner might not light. This is due to gas not being able to properly exit the burner.

Follow these steps to check the burner cap:

  1. Before checking the burner cap, make sure your stove isn’t hot.
  2. Remove the burner grate from your gas stove top.
  3. Make sure the gas burner cap is sitting in the center of the burner. If not, realign it. If the burner cap is properly aligned, move on to fix number 2.
  4. Place the grate back on your stove and check if the gas burner can now ignite. If not, move on to fix number 2.

Fix #2 – Clean the burner

The next fix to apply if your gas burner isn’t lighting is to clean the burner. When excess moisture gets into or around the burner unit, the moisture can prevent it from igniting. This problem is usually caused by water overflowing from a pot or pan during cooking.

Follow these steps to clean the burner:

  1. Make sure the burner unit isn’t hot.
  2. Remove the burner grate from your gas stove.
  3. Remove the burner cap.
  4. Check for any food debris around the burner unit. If you find any, remove the debris.
  5. Clean the entire unit well with hot soapy water and a cloth. Make sure the cloth isn’t too wet when you clean the burner to ensure that water doesn’t get into the interior of the unit.
  6. Once clean, wipe the burner unit dry. Leave it to air dry completely for 20 minutes or so before placing the cap and grate back on.
  7. Make sure the burner knob isn’t being obstructed from turning around. If so, remove the offending debris.
  8. Once the burner is clean and dry, try to light it. If it still doesn’t ignite, move on to the next fix.

Fix #3 – Make sure the gas supply is working

The next fix to apply is to check that the gas supply is working correctly. If the gas supply line gets accidentally turned off or becomes obstructed, your gas burner won’t ignite because the gas flow will have stopped or become impeded.

Follow these steps to check the gas supply:

  1. Make sure the burner unit isn’t hot.
  2. Remove the burner grate from your gas stove.
  3. Remove the burner cap.
  4. At the back of the burner, you should find a small hole that the gas goes through. Use a small toothpick or needle to make sure the hole is clear. If anything is blocking the hole, remove it.
  5. Try to ignite your burner. Check if you can smell gas coming out of it. If you can smell gas, move on to the next fix. If you don’t smell gas, make sure all of the valves are turned on. If any of the valves have been switched off, turn them on. Once you ensure that all the valves are on, check if gas now comes out of the burner. If gas still doesn’t come out of the burner, you’ll need to get a technician to come and inspect your gas supply line.
  6. If the gas burner still doesn’t ignite after following all of the steps in this fix, move on to the next fix.

Fix #4 – Check the spark igniter connections

The spark igniter helps ignite the gas. Sometimes the connections on the spark igniter become defective, which prevents your gas burner from being able to light.

Follow these steps to check the spark igniter connections:

  1. Switch the power off to your gas stove.
  2. Switch the gas supply off to your gas stove.
  3. Remove the burner head.
  4. Check the wires that are connected to the burner head for any signs of damage. If the wires are frayed or damaged in any other way, they need to be replaced.
  5. If the wiring is fine, make sure the connections to the spark igniter aren’t frayed, damaged, or loose. If they are, they need to be repaired or replaced. If the wiring is fine, move on to the next fix.
  6. If you’ve repaired or replaced the wiring, attempt to light your gas burner. If it still won’t ignite, move on to the next fix. 

Fix #5 – Replace the igniter unit

The final fix is to replace the entire igniter unit. The igniter provides the spark for your gas burner to light up. When it becomes defective, your gas burner will fail to ignite. Thankfully, replacement igniters aren’t expensive and can be purchased from most hardware and appliance stores (both online and offline).

Follow these steps to replace the igniter:

  1. Switch the power off.
  2. Switch the gas supply off.
  3. Remove the burner head from your stove.
  4. Locate the igniter unit and disconnect the wiring.
  5. Remove the igniter by taking out the screws that hold it in place.
  6. Once removed, attach the new igniter and reattach the screws to secure it in place.
  7. Reattach the wires to the igniter.
  8. Reattach the burner head.
  9. Attempt to ignite your gas burner. If it still doesn’t light, you’ll need to get a technician to come and inspect your gas stove.
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