As with any home appliance, you may experience a problem with your gas stove at some point. The good news is you don’t always have to call a qualified repairman. Here are some common gas stove problems you can fix yourself but be sure to consult your owner’s manual before doing any work on an appliance. Follow the instructions for your model and, even more importantly, be sure to follow any safety recommendations.
1. Weak or Uneven Burner Flame
One of the common causes of weak or uneven burner flames is a dirty burner head. The small slots surrounding it can become blocked by grease and food particles. As more holes become totally or partially blocked, the burner head will be slower to light, and the flames will be weaker.
You can clean the burner slots by first removing the burner cap, and then the burner head by lifting it straight up. For some models you may have to remove two screws first. Scrub the slots with a toothbrush or straightened paper clip. Don’t use a toothpick, or anything that can break off inside the slot.
If the slots still aren’t clean, you’ll need to soak the burner head to loosen the grease and food particles using these steps:
- Turn off the gas to the stove and unplug it.
- Remove the grates, burner caps, and burner head.
- Place the burners and caps in a bowl of dish soap and warm water and soak them for about 30 minutes.
- After soaking, scrub food stains from the burner heads and caps using a non-abrasive scrub pad and toothbrush. For any remaining debris in the slots use a straightened paper clip. Be careful not to damage the burner head.
- For extremely stubborn stains, make a paste with one part baking soda and one part water. Apply it to the burner heads and caps, and scrub as before. You may have to do this several times.
- Rinse all the parts thoroughly under running water, and pat them dry with a towel. Let them completely air dry before reassembling the burners.
2. Surface Burner Fails to Light
This is a common problem, and can be caused by a blockage in the gas flow, or an igniter not working.
If you can only hear clicking and see sparks when you turn on the burner, first make sure the burner cap isn’t on crooked and blocking the gas flow. Then check to see if the burner slots are clogged and clean them as instructed above. Depending on your stove model, be sure to clean either the notch that lines up with the burner outer ring slot, or the pin-sized hole on the side of the burner.
With an igniter that sparks weakly, or not at all, this is sometimes caused by gunk that’s collected around the igniter electrode and the ceramic base. Use a toothbrush, and carefully clean the igniter. Make sure it’s seated correctly. Then test the igniter by turning on the burner. If the igniter is working, it will click and spark.
Wet igniters and burner heads will also prevent a burner from firing up. After cleaning or after any spills, thoroughly dry the burner heads, and wipe the igniter with a paper towel.
Igniter electrodes with cracks or chips in the ceramic casing may be shorting to ground, and unable to ignite the gas flame. Replace them. To do the replacement, you will either need to lift up or remove the stove’s top cover. Consult your manual for instructions — you may want to call in a professional to do the replacement.
3. Gas Oven Won’t Heat Up
If the oven isn’t heating up, you may hear excessive clicking as the igniter tries, but fails to light the gas. The constant clicking means the igniter is faulty and needs to be replaced.
The igniter and burner are located beneath the oven cavity. Usually removing the bottom panel of the oven will give you access. Sometimes there’s even a “flame spreader”, or flat metal plate that also has to be removed. For some models you can access the igniter from below in the broiler or warming drawer.
Once you’ve reached the igniter, unplug the two wires or wire harness. You may have to untwist wire nuts to free the wires. Remove the igniter screws and pull it from the oven.
Carefully install the new ignitor. It’s easily damaged, and if it chips or cracks, it’s no good. If using wire nuts, make sure they’re new ceramic ones, and not plastic — plastic will melt. Now you’re ready to reassemble the oven.
4. Gas Oven Not Heating to the Right Temperature
If your food is taking longer to cook or is often underdone, your gas oven isn’t reaching the correct temperature. This can be caused by a faulty temperature sensor, or one that is touching the oven wall. A temperature sensor is a thin tube a few inches long, located at the upper back of the oven.
When a temperature sensor’s touching the inside wall, it can’t accurately measure the internal oven temperature. To fix this, gently bend the sensor away from the wall.
If the oven’s still not heating properly, use an ohmmeter to test if the sensor is working. The sensor’s resistance should rise with the oven’s internal temperature. Replace the sensor if it’s faulty. It’s a quick, easy fix, and often your owner’s manual will have instructions.
Sometimes the oven just needs to be recalibrated. Here’s how to test the oven’s accuracy:
- Place an oven thermometer in the center of the middle rack, and preheat the oven to 350°F for 20 minutes.
- Check the temperature after 20 minutes.
- Do this every 20 minutes for the next 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
- Add up the temperature readings and divide by the number of readings you took.
- The average reading should be close to the original set temperature of 350°F.
- If the average is off by 35°F or less, you can calibrate the thermostat yourself to make it more accurate.
- Your manual will tell you how to do this. For digital ovens, the keypads are used. With older models you turn a set screw inside the temperature knob to lower or raise the temperature.
5. Gas Oven Door Won’t Close Properly
An oven door that won’t close properly lets heat out and results in uneven cooking. To fix it, do the following:
- Remove the door from your oven to examine the hinges. Usually pulling straight up and out works, but verify with your owner’s manual.
- If the door doesn’t pull up, look inside the oven for screws holding the hinges in place, and unscrew them.
- Replace the hinges with identical ones if necessary, and insert them back into the oven hinge holes.
- Lock the hinges in place by pushing the door down or replace the screws.
- Next, check for broken door springs by sliding out the bottom drawer and looking under the oven for the springs between the door and oven.
- Remove any broken ones with pliers by opening the ends around the bolts. Remember which bolts the springs were connected to. Use identical springs for replacements.
- Remove the rubber or silicone gasket around the door and replace it with an identical one.
If a simple fix doesn’t seem to do the trick, or if you’re not comfortable with DIY repairs, call a qualified service technician.
C&W Appliance Service has been a trusted name since 1957. For prompt, professional service that you can always count on, call us at 855-358-1496 or complete our online service request form.
