Why Won't My Gas Burner Ignite?

A gas burner lights when three things happen together: gas flows to the burner, a spark jumps across the igniter, and the two meet at the burner port. When it clicks without lighting, the spark is usually firing but something is stopping the flame from catching, most often food debris, moisture, or a misaligned cap. When it does not click at all, the fault is more often electrical.

Most Common Causes

• Fouled or cracked igniter. Spilled food and grease on the spark electrode, or a cracked ceramic, weakens or blocks the spark so the burner will not catch.
• Clogged burner port or misaligned cap. A burner cap seated crooked, or ports blocked by boil-over, keeps gas and spark from meeting. This is the single most common cause of one dead burner.
• Moisture after a spill or cleaning. Water in the burner or under the cap shorts the spark and causes weak lighting or continuous clicking until it dries.
• Failed spark module. The module that generates the spark for all burners can fail, so no burner lights, or clicks nonstop.
• Faulty spark switch. The switch behind a burner knob can stick, causing that burner to click continuously or not spark at all.
• Restricted gas flow. A partly closed shutoff, an air-locked line after service, or a regulator issue can starve a burner even when the spark is good.

Notes by Brand

The four ignition points are the same on every gas range, but the burner design and controls differ. Here is how it tends to present on the brands we service.

• Wolf. Dual-stacked sealed burners where a crooked cap or a fouled electrode is the usual cause of one dead burner; the spark module drives all burners, so nonstop clicking points there.
• Thermador. Star-burner cooktops known for precise low simmer; a clogged center port or a moist igniter after cleaning commonly causes uneven or failed lighting.
• Viking. High-output open and sealed burners where a clogged port or a worn spark electrode is common; the heavy burner caps must sit exactly right to light.
• La Cornue. Handcrafted French ranges with distinctive burners; ignition faults are usually a fouled electrode, a misaligned cap, or a gas-flow issue, and we work carefully around the finish and Genuine OEM Parts.
• Thermador, Bosch, and Miele. These often flag an ignition or sensor fault on a display or via a code, which points us at the module or the specific burner switch.
• Monogram, Dacor, and KitchenAid. Diagnosed by the same igniter, port, module, switch, and gas-flow checks that apply across the roster.

What We Do

We confirm the spark is firing, verify gas is reaching the burner, and check that the cap and ports are clean and aligned. From there we test the igniter, the spark module, and the individual burner switch to isolate the fault. On gas work we verify a clean, safe light on every burner before we leave. You get a named cause and a fixed price before repair, backed by written warranty terms for eligible completed repairs.

What You Can Check First

• Make sure the burner cap sits flat and square on its base, with nothing under it.
• Clean food and grease off the igniter and clear the burner ports with a straightened paperclip when cool.
• After a spill or cleaning, dry the burner and let the cooktop air out before trying again.
• Confirm the gas supply is on and other burners light normally.

When to Call Now

Call right away if you smell gas at any time, following the safety steps above first. Continuous clicking that will not stop after drying, a burner that will not light at all, or gas that flows without igniting all warrant prompt service rather than repeated attempts.

Frequently Asked Questions

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