Gas Range Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting a gas range when it won't ignite or maintain a flame is a fairly simple process. Take a look at the range before calling a repair person, and determine if you can fix the problem yourself. If the issue is more complicated, you will be able to describe your observations to a repair professional or the gas company. They may be able to better assist you based on your report.

No Burners Light

When a burner on a gas range won't light, the first thing you should do is check to see if any of the other burners have the same issue. If the other burners also won't ignite, check to make sure the gas supply to the stove is working. Call the gas company if you suspect there could be an outage in your area. If the gas range is electrically powered, make sure it is plugged in and that the power supply is operating. A tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse could cause the range to shut off.

Once those issues are ruled out as possibilities, check the pilot light. Only older-model gas ranges have a continuously-burning pilot; newer electric models have ignitors that spark the gas flow when it's turned on. If the pilot light is out on your gas range, relight it. If the range is an electric model, one of the ignitor components is likely broken. Call a repair person to confirm this suspicion and replace any bad parts, as that can be tricky to replace without prior experience.

Some Burners Light

If some of the burners will not light but others are fine, the culprit is likely a clogged burner. To address this problem, first make sure all the burners are turned off. Remove the burner pan and cover and use a small brush or sponge to clean debris off of the burner. Use a toothpick to gently clear out the burner's flame ports. Replace the pan and cover, and try to light the range. Cleaning the burner should clear up the problem. If it does not, there could be something wrong with the mechanism that connects the burner to the pilot light. Contact a service professional if you suspect this is the case.

Burners Don't Remain Lit

If the burners will light, but don't remain lit, you may have a problem with the range's gas flow. If you smell gas coming from the range, make sure that all pilot lights are lit (if applicable) and all of the controls are set to "off." If you can still smell gas, the range could have a leak. Evacuate the home immediately and call the gas company so that they can shut off the gas to your home. After that, call a repair person to inspect the gas range for possible gas delivery issues.

References

• Troubleshooting for Gas Ranges
• Troubleshooting a Gas Range
• Oven and Range Repair