How to Light a Gas Stove

If you have a non-electric pilot light on your gas stove, then you know that pilot lights sometimes go out. They can go out because food or liquid has been spilled on them, because of a strong breeze, or they can even go out for unknown reasons. Regardless of the reason, you'll need to get your stove top working normally again.

Things You'll Need

• Small brush (like a toothbrush)
• Bowl of warm soapy water
• Straight pin
• Long matches or fireplace lighter

Instructions

1. Sniff the air around your stove. If you detect a very strong odor of rotting eggs (natural gas), then open windows and call the gas company to check for a major gas leak. If you smell just a faint odor of natural gas, this is normal if the pilot has gone out.

2. Remove all pots and pans from the top of your stove. Grab the front edge of the stove top and lift up. The top of your stove should come up easily. Raise it up until it is out of the way.

3. Locate the openings for the pilot lights. Some stoves will have two pilot lights and some will have just one, centrally located. If there are covers over the tops of the pilot lights which prevent you from accessing the tip of the gas tube where the flame should be, remove the cover (it should pull straight up and off).

4. Visually inspect the tip of the gas tube. Remove any food or other debris which may have accumulated. Dip your brush (a toothbrush works well) in a bowl of warm water with a little bit of dish soap and then clean the tip of the gas line.

5. Use a straight pin to clean out the hole in the tip of the line.

6. Light a long wooden match or use a fireplace lighter and touch the flame to the tip of the gas tube(s). A small flame should appear. Replace any cover that was previously covering the tip of the line and then lower the top of the stove back into place. Try all burners to make sure they are working properly. If one or more burner is not working properly, remove the burner, soak it in hot soapy water, scrub it, dry it thoroughly and replace it.

Tips & Warnings

• As long as there is no break in your gas line, there is no reason to turn off the gas while cleaning and relighting your pilots.

• Do not concentrate the gas fumes while you are working. Keep a window open for ventilation. Use some caution when lighting the gas, although the possibility of an explosion or a large flame is negligible.