How to Clean a Malfunctioning Gas Burner

Most of the time, when a gas burner refuses to light or runs poorly when lit, the cause is dirt or grease. Fine particles of dirt or grease spatters can clog the flame openings on the burner, or can plug the pilot light that starts the burner. Here's how to handle both problems.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Scrub Brush
• Straight Pin Or Needle
• Soap
• Soap
• Dish Rack
• Fine Wire

1. Turn off the gas to the stove. Lift the cooktop so you can access the burner parts. On some stoves, you just need to lift the corners to raise the cooktop; on others you have to push the top backward first, then lift. Prop the cooktop open, using the brace that is attached to the inside of it.

2. Remove the burner unit by lifting up the back end of the unit and sliding the front end off the gas-supply lines.

3. Wash the burner unit in warm, soapy water, using a scrub brush to remove any grease that may be blocking the openings. Let the unit dry upside down in a dish rack before moving to step 4.

4. 
    

   Clear the flame openings, using a straight pin or needle to poke out any dirt or debris (see A).

5. Clear the flash tube openings, using a needle or piece of fine wire, such as one strand from a piece of twisted electrical wire.

6. 
    

   Clean the pilot opening, using a straight pin or needle (see B). Take care not to enlarge the opening. If you do, the pilot may not run right.

7. Reinstall the parts, turn on the gas to the stove, and relight the pilot light with a match. Test the burner.

Tips & Warnings

• If your stove hasn't been used in a while, check the orifice tube to the burner. Sometimes spider webs will block the flow of gas.
• If your stove has an electronic igniter instead of a pilot light and the igniter isn't working, call a professional to replace it.

[SeventhSibling]

on 5/27/2008 This is the kind of writeup that should be in the owner's manual. Great detail and easy to follow.

[falconamigo]

on 2/10/2007 This article was really NO help at all. For one thing, I am pretty unfamiliar with stove and oven parts as well as the names of them and this article needs more pictures to be helpful. It would also have been helpful if the article described exactly HOW to turn off the gas to the stove. That is an important step to ensure safety and yet not one bit of "how to". Major let down for me on this whole article.