Gas ovens last on average, according to InterNACHI data, for 10 to 18 years. Although they may last for a decade or more, this home appliance can often have unexpected problems that can make homeowners think they need to purchase a new oven much sooner. If you're having problems with one burner on your stovetop, or the burner inside of the oven itself, don't call a repair person or your home warranty company just yet! This article helps you to troubleshoot common gas oven problems you may experience. We'll let you know if you should call for a professional or if you can fix things yourself.
(Don’t have a gas oven? Our Troubleshooting for electric ovens is located here.)
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Burner Continues Sparking after Gas is Ignited
How Does a Gas Stovetop Work?
When you turn the dial on your gas stovetop, it opens a valve that lets gas through. This gas is released and mixes with air. It is ignited by a continuous spark which comes from the spark module, and a blue flame is created.
Troubleshooting your Gas Stovetop
Spark Module Continues to Spark After the Gas is Ignited
When the electrode on your gas oven burner continues sparking after the gas has been lit, it usually is a sign of a short in the spark module. This usually happens when liquid (like water from an overflowing pot) gets into the spark module. To fix this, unplug your appliance and let the burner dry out. Turn it on again and test it to see if drying has fixed the problem.
If the module continues to spark, call a service technician to come and replace the module, or call your home warranty company, who can send out a technician to diagnose your appliance.
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Spark Module Doesn’t Spark Continuously
If your spark module sends out a spark intermittently instead of sparking at a continuous pulse, it has probably worn out and most likely needs to be replaced. You can call a service technician or your home warranty company to get this repaired. This is not something that you should attempt to repair or replace yourself. Although the cost of the spark module really depends on the oven model the part can be found for anywhere between $30 to $250 it's a better deal to replace one spark module rather than replacing an entire oven. This is especially true if you have a home warranty plan, as the repair will generally only cost a small service call fee.
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Spark Module Doesn’t Spark
If you turn on your burner and you don’t hear the telltale sign of the electrode sending out a spark, it may be because the electrode is damaged. You can check to see if there is any visible damage by removing the burner and seeing if there are cracks on the top of the electrode.
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If you see any damage, call a registered technician or your home warranty company in order to get the electrode replaced. Sometimes, your electrode's spark is being blocked by the top of the burner being slightly off. Make sure the burner is in the correct place for the electrode to reach the gas and light it before calling a repairman or your home warranty technician.
Just One Burner Doesn’t Spark
If you don’t see any cracks on the actual electrode, you can also turn each burner dial to see if there’s one that doesn’t spark. If all of your burners spark but one, there’s probably a problem with the dial. There are times when the dials can become stripped and won’t turn on the electrode. It’s also possible that the dial has shorted out because food or water has spilled into the burner. You can try to dry out the burner, and if that doesn't work, the igniter wiring harness will need to be replaced. Paying to repair this part is much more cost effective than purchasing a new oven, as the parts range between $30 and $100. With a home warranty, you only pay a small service call fee for parts and labor to repair the igniter wiring harness as long as it's failed from normal wear and tear.
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Burner Doesn’t Light
There’s a chance that food or grease has plugged up the tube that releases gas to be lit by the burner. Turn your oven off and remove the burner from the oven. Clean out the small tube inside of the burner with a toothpick or small brush.
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How Does a Gas Oven Work?
Want to skip to the troubleshooting?
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There are three main parts of your gas oven:
- Oven Control
- Igniter
- Oven Safety Valve
When you turn on your oven to bake (or broil) the dial sends electricity to the igniter, which begins to warm up. As the igniter warms, the safety valve releases gas into the oven burner tube. Once the gas reaches the igniter (which can get up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit) the gas is lit by the extremely hot metal on the igniter, and warms the oven. When the oven reaches the temperature you selected, the burner and igniter will shut off, but will turn on and off while you’re cooking to keep the correct temperature in the oven.
Troubleshooting your Gas Oven
Igniter Glowing, but No Flame
First, remove the shields so you can see the igniter. If the igniter is glowing, but there’s no flame after the igniter has been glowing for a longer period of time, the igniter has probably grown too old and can’t open the safety valve to bring gas into the burner tube. Call your home warranty company for diagnosis for this problem.
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If the igniter isn’t glowing, it probably has outright failed, and needs to be replaced. Call a technician or your home warranty company to repair or replace your igniter.
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Oven problems can happen to any homeowner, but with some troubleshooting and a home warranty plan from Landmark Home Warranty, you can usually fix small issues or repair or replace the oven. If you're interested in covering your oven with a home warranty plan, compare Landmark's home warranty plans here, or download a brochure with our contract for your state here.