A burner that won’t light has a few common, safe-to-check causes — and a few that call for a professional, especially anything involving the gas supply itself.
What usually causes it
- Food debris or spills clogging the burner ports
- A wet igniter (electric ignition) after cleaning
- The burner cap or grate not seated correctly
- Electric coil/radiant ranges: a worn or loose connection at the burner socket
What you can check yourself
- Make sure the burner cap and grate are seated exactly right — misalignment is one of the most common causes of a “won’t light” call
- Clean visible debris from burner ports with a soft brush, not a metal pin that can widen the holes
- If the igniter is clicking but not lighting, let it dry fully if it was recently cleaned or spilled on
- Electric ranges: check the coil element is fully seated in its socket
When to call
⚠️ Anything involving the gas line, a gas smell, or a burner that lights with a large or uneven flame after cleaning is not a DIY situation — turn off the burner and call. We don’t provide gas-line or ignition instructions here for exactly that reason.