You’re rushing to get dinner ready on a weeknight. You grab your favorite burner, turn the knob to “Light,” and… nothing. Just endless clicking from the gas stove igniter.
My Gas Stove Igniter Keeps Clicking: What Should I Do?
If you’re like most homeowners, the last sound you want to hear coming from an object that uses gas and gets hot is ticking. What should you do?
This is a common problem, primarily with stoves with a spark ignition system. The most important thing to know is that a clicking stove isn’t dangerous, though you should deal with it promptly.
A normal igniter clicks up to three times before it sparks and lights your stove. However, the igniter will sometimes experience constant clicking, even after the stove is lit. The following are some of the possible causes:
- Problems with the burner
- Problems with the spark ignition switch
Let’s go over these in more detail.
Problems With the Burner
Several burner problems may cause clicking. These issues include poor alignment, dirt and moisture in the burner cap.
How can you troubleshoot burner problems?
Check for malalignment of the burner cap by following these steps:
- Ensure that the cooktop is completely cool.
- Remove the burner grate.
- Remove the burner cap.
- Center the cap on the base. Make sure that it’s not crooked and then secure it into place.
If the cap is on correctly, you might have a moisture problem. You can also check for excess moisture by:
- Removing the burner cap to examine it for moisture.
- Air drying the cap.
- Speeding up the drying by using a dry towel
- Check for food particles beneath the burner cap and clean them out.
Still not working correctly? Try checking for food, dirt and other debris by:
- Closely examining the cap for debris stuck in the burner.
- Use a paper clip or metallic pin to remove debris from the burner grooves.
- Ensure all the burners are dry and free from food particles to prevent continuous clicking.
If the problem is not with the appliance itself, you might have an issue with your switch.
Problems With the Spark Ignition Switch
The spark switch initiates ignition by sending an electric current to the spark module. A damaged ignition switch may begin to send a continuous current to the spark module, causing it to click continuously.
If the spark module is faulty, it may cause the igniter to spark intermittently, even when the stove is off. If you believe this is happening, it’s time to reach out to an appliance repair specialist.
What To Do if Your Gas Oven Won’t Light
One of several issues might hinder the lighting or heating of a gas oven. These include:
- Ignition problems
- Thermostat/thermocouple/thermal sensor problems
- Control panel problems
Let’s dive into these problems in more detail.
Ignition Problems
The pilot flame may fail to ignite the oven burner if it’s poorly adjusted or if the tubes running from the pilot flame to the burners are blocked.
Unlike a gas stove, an electric stove may also produce clicking sounds, indicating electrical issues.
The electric igniter, on the other hand, has two principal functions:
- To open the valve.
- To light up the gas in the burner assembly.
If there’s a problem at any point along this reaction chain, your oven might fail to light.
Ignition problems might include:
- Poorly adjusted pilot light
- Blocked oven gas tubes
- Problem with the power supply to the igniter
- An ignitor that doesn’t get hot enough to open up the valve
- No gas flowing through the valve
- An ignitor that fails to get hot enough to ignite the oven gas
Troubleshooting Ignition Problems
Follow these steps to troubleshoot issues.
Check the Power Supply
The steps to follow to make sure you aren’t experiencing a power problem include:
- Ensuring that the oven is plugged in properly.
- Checking whether there’s power supply to the oven.
As you might imagine, most homeowners may need to enlist the help of an appliance repair specialist to test these types of power supply issues, as dealing with electrical currents can be quite dangerous.
Check The Gas Supply To The Oven
Perhaps it’s not the electricity that’s the issue, but it’s the gas not making its way to your burners. Similar to problems related to your power supply, any issues linked to your gas supply will most likely require the assistance of a professional to avoid any potential health risks.
Check the Ignition Switch
If you have ruled out any malfunction of your power or gas supply, your switch might be broken.
Check the Ignition Generator
What should you do if the ignitor is faulty?
Repairing a faulty ignitor isn’t always possible. Most issues involving defective ignitors are corrected by replacing the ignitor entirely.
Thermostat/Thermocouple/Thermal Sensor Problems
A thermocouple opens up after the pilot gas has been lit and remains open until the oven is turned off. If the thermocouple fails to open accordingly, the oven fails to light.
Modern gas ranges have thermostats and thermal sensors built into them to control their oven temperature. If the thermostat or thermal sensor is faulty or calibrated incorrectly, it may stop your oven from heating up.
Some thermal sensors also have thermal fuses. The thermal fuse may burn out if the oven overheats. Though this is fairly uncommon, it does occur, and when it does, it prevents the oven from lighting.
Troubleshooting Thermal Sensor Problems
How can you troubleshoot thermal sensor problems?
Start by resetting the “time cook” function.
If your oven has a pilot ignition system:
- Check whether the pilot flame is present.
- If there’s no pilot flame, hold a lit matchstick or lighter over the flame opening for about 10 seconds. This heats the thermocouple and opens up the gas valve.
- The pilot flame should come alive.
- If this pilot flame goes off when the lit matchstick or lighter is removed from the flame opening, then the thermocouple is likely faulty.
If your oven has a thermostat, you will need to reach out to a professional who can test and fix it using a multimeter.
If any parts mentioned are defective, they will need a replacement. Additionally, a blown fuse will need to be replaced.
Control Panel Problems
The control panel is like the oven’s brain. It directs the functions of the gas range. An oven that fails to light could have faulty controls. The main culprit in this case is usually a failure of the power output from the controller to the ignition system.
There’s always a risk that comes when troubleshooting control board problems. Because of this, you always want to leave this troubleshooting to expert appliance repair professionals. An experienced pro will check for problems with the output relays at the oven’s control board. They can then advise you on what controls are defective and which of those faulty controls need to be replaced. They can also help if you notice your oven is not heating but the stove works.
ABC Can Get Your Gas Stove Working Again
A malfunctioning gas stove can be a major hassle. Instead of struggling to diagnose the issue yourself, call ABC Home & Commercial Services. Our skilled appliance repair technicians will quickly identify the problem and handle all necessary repairs to get your stove back in working order. They can even help with other appliances, like an icemaker not working.
