Stove & range repair at a glance
- Most common burner fault
- Wet or clogged burner, misaligned cap
- Coil test
- Swap a cool coil into a working same-size socket
- Safety check
- Anti-tip bracket installed and engaged
- Technician-only
- Spark module, switches, gas valve, glass tops
Gas burners
Each burner has a cap that sits on a burner head with small ports around it, and an electrode that sparks when you turn the knob. The spark has to reach gas flowing through clean ports. Spills, cleaning water, and a cap that's slightly off-center are the most common reasons a burner clicks without lighting.
- Turn the burner off and let it cool.
- Make sure the burner is completely dry — wait several hours after a spill or cleaning.
- Seat the cap flat and centered.
- Clean the ports with a soft brush, not a toothpick, which can break off.
How a gas burner lights
- 1Knob + valveReleases gas to one burnerTechnician
- 2Spark moduleSends pulses to every igniterTechnician
- 3IgniterKeep dry and free of food residueYou can check
- 4Burner cap + headMust sit flat and alignedYou can check
- 5FlameSteady and mostly blue
If clicking won't stop or you smell gas
Act now
- Constant clicking with all knobs off usually means moisture or a switch fault — turn off power to the range at the breaker and let it dry.
- Smell gas? Leave and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
- Don't repeatedly click a burner that isn't lighting with gas flowing.
Electric coil and glass tops
On coil ranges, with everything off and cool, you can unplug a coil and plug it into a same-size socket that works. If the coil heats there, the original socket or switch is the problem; if not, the coil is.
| Symptom | Coil range | Smooth glass top |
|---|---|---|
| One burner won't heat | Element, socket, or infinite switch | Radiant element or switch |
| Burner stuck on high | Infinite switch | Switch or control relay |
| Cracked surface | — | Stop using it; the glass top needs replacement |
| All burners dead | Breaker, power supply, wiring | Breaker, control, wiring |
Tip-over safety
Safety
Freestanding ranges can tip forward if weight is placed on an open oven door — a serious hazard to children. Confirm an anti-tip bracket is installed and engaged; your manual explains how to check.
Leave to a technician
Leave this to a professional
- Spark modules, igniters, gas valves, and supply lines
- Switches, wiring, and control boards
- Glass-top replacement
Induction ranges
Induction ranges heat the pan directly with a magnetic field, so the cooktop needs magnetic cookware and the zones won't work with aluminum or most glass pans. A blinking zone with no heat usually means the cooktop doesn't detect a suitable pan. Induction control and power boards are brand-specific parts; repair timing depends on availability.
Have ready
- Brand and model (often behind the storage drawer or on the oven frame)
- Gas or electric, and coil, glass, or induction top
- Which burners are affected and what they do (click, no spark, no heat, stuck on)
What affects range repair cost
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Cooktop type | Coil, radiant glass, induction, and gas tops use entirely different parts. |
| One burner or all | A single element or switch is a small job; a spark module or control affects every burner. |
| Glass tops | Replacing a cracked glass-ceramic top is the most expensive cooktop-side repair. |
| Oven side | If the oven also has problems, see oven repair — those are separate parts. |
| Diagnostic fee | Ask whether it's credited toward the repair. |
Is my range too old to repair?
Burner, igniter, and switch repairs are reasonable on most ranges. A cracked glass top or several failing controls on an older range are the usual reasons to compare against replacement.
Repair or replace?
Igniters, switches, and elements are routine repairs. A cracked glass top on an older range, or multiple failing controls, often makes replacement more sensible.
How a repair request works
- 1Call usTell us the appliance, the brand and what it's doing.
- 2Describe the problemBrand, model, symptoms, and what you've already checked.
- 3Provider reviews itThey contact you to accept and to ask anything they need.
- 4Diagnosis and quoteThe provider confirms any diagnostic fee and the repair price before work starts.
Common questions
Why does my gas stove burner click but not light?
Most often the burner is wet, the ports are clogged, or the cap isn't seated correctly. If it's dry, clean, and seated properly and still won't light, the igniter or spark module may need service.
Is a stove the same as a range?
Yes — 'range' usually refers to a combined cooktop and oven. Built-in cooktops without an oven are covered on our cooktop page.
Local guides
Where local climate, storms, water, or altitude change the advice:
