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Fix a cooktop that will not ignite

We'll rule out gas smell first, then help you fix a gas cooktop that will not ignite—gas supply, power, burner ports, igniter, electrode—or tell you when to call a pro.

Troubleshooting · Home appliances
10–30 min
What you'll need
  • Pin or paper clip (for cleaning ports)
  • Soft cloth
  • Long match or lighter (for manual lighting if igniter fails)
Step 1 of 11

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Quick triage — pick your path

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Steps

Goal: Rule out gas smell, then fix a gas cooktop burner that will not ignite.

  • Step back and sniff. If you smell gas, evacuate and call 911 or your gas utility from outside. Do not troubleshoot.
  • Turn the burner knob to ignite. If there is no spark and no flame, the burner will not ignite.
  • Good: You have ruled out gas smell and confirmed the symptom. Proceed to Gas supply and power.
  • Bad: Gas smell—evacuate. Burner lights—different problem.

Gas smell check

Goal: Confirm there is no gas leak before troubleshooting.

  • Step back from the cooktop and sniff. Gas has a rotten egg odor.
  • Good: No gas smell. Proceed to Gas supply and power.
  • Bad: You smell gas. Evacuate everyone. Do not turn anything on or off. Call 911 or your gas utility from outside.

Gas supply and power

Goal: Rule out gas valve and power issues.

  • Confirm the gas supply valve behind or under the cooktop is fully open (handle parallel to the pipe). If closed, open it and wait a minute.
  • Check that other gas appliances (furnace, water heater) work. If they do not, the gas may be off at the meter.
  • Confirm the range is plugged in and the circuit breaker has not tripped. Gas cooktops need 120 volts for the igniter. Reset the breaker if tripped.
  • Good: Gas valve open, power on, control panel responds. Proceed to Burner and igniter path.
  • Bad: Valve closed—open and retest. Breaker tripped—reset and retest. If breaker trips again, call a technician.

Burner and igniter path

Goal: Clean the burner and fix the igniter.

  • Remove the burner cap and base. Use a pin or paper clip to clear any clogged burner ports. Wipe away food residue and grease. Confirm the cap is dry and seated correctly.
  • Turn the burner knob to ignite. Listen for a click and look for a spark at the burner. If no click, the spark module may have failed—call a technician.
  • If there is a click but no spark, clean the electrode with a soft cloth and check that it is close to the burner port (about 1/8 inch).
  • If the igniter sparks but no flame appears, the gas valve has failed—call a pro. Do not work on gas valves yourself.
  • If the igniter fails but gas flow is confirmed, light manually with a long match or lighter at the burner port. If it lights, the igniter is the fault.
  • Good: Burner lights. The cooktop works.
  • Bad: Igniter sparks but no flame—gas valve. Call a pro. All checks done and still no light—call a pro.

When to get help

If you smell gas, evacuate immediately. Do not turn on lights or appliances. Call 911 or your gas utility from outside. Do not troubleshoot an active gas leak.

Call an appliance technician if:

  • The igniter sparks but no flame appears (gas valve issue).
  • You have checked gas, power, ports, and electrode and it still will not light.
  • You are not comfortable working with gas.

Never work on gas valves or gas lines yourself.

Verification

  • The burner lights when you turn the knob and the igniter sparks. Steady blue flame.
  • No gas smell. No hissing from connections.
  • All burners light if you test them one at a time.

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Gas smell check If you smell gas, evacuate and call 911 or gas utility from outside.
  2. Gas supply and power Check gas valve open, circuit breaker on, range plugged in.
  3. Burner ports and cap Clean clogged ports, reseat the burner cap.
  4. Igniter and electrode Confirm spark at burner; clean and align electrode if needed.
  5. Call a pro Gas smell—evacuate, call 911. Igniter sparks but no flame—gas valve; call a pro.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • Whether igniter clicks and sparks
  • Whether burner ports are clear
  • Which burners work and which do not
  • Steps already tried

Do you smell gas?

Before any troubleshooting, step back and sniff. Gas has a rotten egg odor. If you smell it, evacuate and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.

Step back and sniff. Good: No gas smell—proceed to check gas supply and power. Bad: You smell gas—evacuate immediately. Do not turn anything on or off. Call 911 or your gas utility from outside. Do not troubleshoot.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Evacuate and call 911

Evacuate everyone from the area. Do not turn on lights or appliances. Call 911 or your gas utility from outside. Do not return until the leak is resolved.

Done

Is the gas supply valve open?

The gas valve is behind or under the cooktop. The handle should be parallel to the pipe (on).

Check the gas supply valve behind or under the cooktop. Turn it so the handle is parallel to the pipe. If closed, open it and wait a minute. Check that other gas appliances work. Good: valve open, gas reaching other appliances. Bad: valve was closed—open and retest. If other appliances do not work, gas may be off at meter—call gas utility.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Open gas valve and retest

Open the gas supply valve. Wait a minute for gas to reach the burners. Try to light. If it lights, you are done. If not, proceed to check power and burner.

Done

Is power on and the circuit breaker not tripped?

Gas cooktops need 120 volts for the igniter. Check the plug and circuit breaker.

Confirm the range is plugged in and the circuit breaker is on. Reset if tripped. Good: power on, control panel responds. Bad: breaker tripped or outlet dead—fix and retest. If breaker trips again when using cooktop, call a technician.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Are burner ports clean and the cap seated?

Clogged ports or a loose cap can prevent ignition.

Lift the burner cap and base. Use a pin or paper clip to clear clogged burner ports. Wipe away food residue. Confirm the cap is dry and seated correctly. Turn the burner on again. Good: ports clear, cap seated—proceed to igniter. Bad: still no light—proceed to igniter anyway.
Question

Are the ports clean and the cap seated?

Continue

You can change your answer later.

Does the igniter click and spark?

Turn the knob to ignite. Listen for click, look for spark at burner. No click may mean failed spark module.

Turn the burner knob to ignite. Click and spark: igniter works—if no flame, gas valve failed; call a pro. No click: spark module may have failed—call a technician. Click but no spark: clean the electrode and check it is close to the burner port (about 1/8 inch). Retest. If igniter sparks but no flame, call a pro—do not work on gas valves.

Yes (sparks) No

You can change your answer later.

Clean electrode or call for spark module

If click but no spark: clean the electrode with a soft cloth, align it close to the burner port (about 1/8 inch). Retest. If no click at all, the spark module has failed—call a technician. If you can light with a match, the igniter is the fault.

Done

Igniter sparks but no flame?

If the igniter sparks but no flame appears, the gas valve has failed. Call a pro.

Sparks and flame: fix complete. Sparks but no flame: gas valve has failed. Call an appliance technician. Do not work on gas valves yourself.

No flame Flame lights

You can change your answer later.

Burner lights

The fix worked. The burner should light when you turn the knob.

Done

Call a technician

If you smell gas, evacuate and call 911 or your gas utility from outside. Call an appliance technician if: the igniter sparks but no flame (gas valve); you have checked gas, power, ports, and electrode and it still will not light; or you are not comfortable working with gas. Never work on gas valves or gas lines yourself.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

Why would a gas cooktop burner not ignite?
Common causes: gas supply valve closed, tripped circuit breaker (igniters need power), clogged burner ports, dirty or misaligned electrode, or failed spark module. If the igniter sparks but no flame appears, the gas valve has failed—call a pro.
Can I fix a gas cooktop that will not ignite myself?
Yes. You can check the gas valve, power, clean burner ports, reseat the burner cap, and clean or align the electrode. Gas valve or spark module replacement may require a technician.
When should I call a pro for a cooktop that will not ignite?
If you smell gas, evacuate and call 911 or your gas utility from outside. Call a pro if the igniter sparks but no flame appears (gas valve), if you have checked gas, power, ports, and electrode and it still will not light, or if you are not comfortable working with gas.

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