A thermocouple is a device on gas stoves that turns off the propane supply to a burner if it isn’t lighted. This is critical to ensure that if a burner fails or if you accidently hit a knob and switch on the burner (without lighting it), propane does not flow or leak, posing a fire or explosion risk.
Consider it a little valve that opens when it’s hot and closes when it’s not (it will fail closed). It’s right next to a flame, and the burner heats it up, causing it to open… and the burner to stay lit. (NOTE: This is a non-technical explanation of how it works… it’s actually a valve relay.)
Okay, when the stove is lighted, that’s terrific. But, while you’re lighting the stove, how do you get it to open in the first place?
Push in the burner knob, light the burner, and hold it in place for 5 to 10 seconds.
Pushing the knob in will open the valve, but you must keep it in for long enough for the burner to heat up the thermocouple and keep it open. If the burner goes out after you release the knob, you’ll need to keep it in longer the following time.
The solenoid is another important safety aspect to be aware of. It’s commonly a switch or a push-button near the stove, with a light to indicate when it’s on. It’s a 12-volt switch that controls a valve in close proximity to the propane tank. When you switch on the electricity to the solenoid, it is ordinarily closed (and it fails closed for safety) and is dragged open by an electromagnet.
A solenoid is found on almost every yacht, and it must be turned on before the stove can be lit. (Also, double-check that the tank is open.) It’s the top-of-the-tank screw handle. To open, turn the knob completely counter-clockwise.)
To light a burner or the oven, follow these six steps:
- Check that the tank is turned on (and that it isn’t empty…).
- If the solenoid isn’t already on, turn it on.
- Turn the burner knob to the start position (or high if the knob isn’t marked and you don’t have an owner’s manual).
- If you’re using a long-nose lighter, make sure it’s lit and held close to the burner.
- Hold the burner knob in place. Propane will begin to flow right away (if using a built in lighter on the stove, start pressing it as soon as you press the knob). The burner should come to life right away.
- Count to ten before releasing the knob. Ensure that the burner remains lighted before turning it to the desired setting.
Push-button lighters are standard on many propane stoves, especially newer models. Some are effective, while others are not. Many of them rely on batteries, which can run out. In other words, don’t be surprised if the stove’s built-in lighter doesn’t work. Of all the excursions I’ve taken on charter boats and friends’ boats, just one has proven to be truly trustworthy.
Using a lighter with a built-in battery. It’s possible that you’ll have to push the button two or three times in a row. If that doesn’t work, remove the stove knob and use a butane lighter to try again. You don’t want to let propane flow for too long without it lighting; it’ll puddle and cause a fire or explosion.
What’s the deal with my propane stove not lighting?
Whether it’s grease buildup or food crumbs, debris restricting gas flow to the igniter is one of the most common causes of a gas burner that won’t light.
Start by removing the grate that covers the faulty burner. Remove the burner cap next, which should come off easily. The sealed burner base will either lift off or require a few screws to be removed before it can be removed. Using a warm, soapy washcloth, clean the surrounding region. Remove any dirt from the sealed burner base by soaking it in vinegar or warm water and brushing it with a stiff brush. Finally, use a toothpick, sewing needle, or compressed air to clean any leftover dirt from the burner holes. Reinstall the burner, cover, and grill, and try again to light the burner.
If this doesn’t work, there could be a kink in the gas supply line or a more serious problem, in which case you should seek professional help.
Problem: There’s a loose connection
Even though there aren’t many moving elements on a stovetop, connections might come loose, especially during cleaning or installation. You won’t get the spark needed to properly ignite the burner if the wires connecting the igniter to the control module aren’t making a solid connection.
First, turn off the electricity to the appliance by disconnecting it from the wall or turning off the breaker. From the faulty burner, remove the grate and burner cover. Remove the sealed burner base and inspect it for any loose connections or wires that have become disconnected. Reinstall the burner base, cap, and grate, securing any loose connections and reconnecting any disconnected wires. Reconnect the stove to the power source and test the connection.
Is it possible to manually ignite an electric-ignition gas stove?
Lighting Electric Ignition Burners on a Gas Range and Cooktop During a Power Outage You can use a match to ignite the surface burners on your electric ignition gas or dual fuel range or gas cooktop if there is a power outage. Turn the knob to the low setting while holding a lit match adjacent to the burner.
Without a match, how do you ignite a gas stove?
Scrape the stainless steel striker (or a knife) along the rod with a slow to moderate stroke and enough pressure to light the Light My Fire Firesteel Scout 2.0.
This will produce a shower of hot sparks that you may direct at either the fuel or the tinder. The sparks can be generated by either moving the rod or the firesteel.
Turn on the gass, stroke the firesteel, and guide the sparks into the gas to light a gas stove without an in-built igniter.
Place the end of the firesteel rod on top of or against your tinder for a campfire. To keep your tinder from blowing away, use the end of the firesteel rod to hold it down. Direct the sparks into the tinder by stoking the firesteel.
Natural tinders that are “fluffy or “wispy” work best with a firesteel, according to Steve of NatureOutside. Sparks can also be caught in fine bark and wood shavings. This fluffy tinder retains oxygen in the air between its particles, allowing for optimal combustion.
We recommend practicing a few times with different strokes and tinder until you find a strategy that works for you.
Instead of using cotton balls and petroleum jelly, which is often recommended, you could use environmentally friendly and petroleum-free fire starting cubes like If You Care Firelighters (made from FSC wood and non-GMO palm oil-free vegetable oil) or NIL Organic Fire Starters to encourage and build your fire quickly (made from beeswax wrap cut offsunbleached cotton and organic beeswax).
How do you start a stove’s pilot light?
Activate the valve “This is a pilot. A little button labeled “Valve” can be found near the valve “Restart. Press this button while applying your lit match or butane fireplace lighter to the pilot light valve. Hold the flame steady until the pilot light comes on, then press the button to turn it off.
What happened to my oven’s pilot light?
- Turn off everything: Check to see if your kitchen smells like gas, which it might if you’ve been attempting to light the stove or oven for a while and it won’t light. If it smells like gas, make sure the oven and burners are switched off and the windows are open to ventilate the kitchen before addressing the issue. If you have it, follow the directions in the appliance handbook. If not, keep on.
- The pilot light can be a small hole in the bottom of the oven, front center near the door opening, or in a back corner, and it’s typically branded “pilot light.” It could be in the back of the broiler compartment if you don’t see it inside the oven. Wipe the area down using a microfiber cloth. Hold your lighter or match near the hole and light it. The pilot light should come on right away.
- Examine the oven: Turn on the oven and wait for it to warm up.
- Turn off the oven: If you aren’t going to use it, turn it off.
Why does my stove make clicking noises but does not light?
It’s likely that the gas supply is clogged if you hear clicking and see sparks when you turn the burner knob, and you can smell that gas is flowing normally.
This is a really simple and quick remedy.
Simply peel the grate off the range top (make sure it’s cool to the touch), remove the burner cap, and lift the burner out. You may need to loosen the two screws that keep the burner in place on some models. A simple nut driver or socket wrench will suffice for this.
Examine the back of the burner for a small, virtually pin-sized hole. This is where the gas is fed to the igniter to start the fire, and it is prone to becoming clogged with oil or other debris. Simply clean the burner thoroughly, clearing the hole with a toothpick, needle, or other similarly sized item, and reinstall it on your stovetop. The gas should flow freely and the burner should light normally.
Why isn’t my stove’s igniter clicking?
Before doing any repair or cleaning, unplug this equipment from the power supply to reduce the risk of electric shock.
Check the following if one or more of the surface burners is not attempting to light (not clicking):
Make sure you’re using the correct burner. Connect the burner to the appropriate switch.
Check to see if the burner knob was turned to the Lite position first. Only once a flame is seen surrounding the burner after turning the knob to the Lite position should the knob be turned to the chosen cooking setting.
Check to see if the burner cap is on the right burner. One or more burners of various sizes may be present on your range. If a medium burner cap is used on a small burner, for example, the burner will not function properly.
Check the plug outlet or the home’s circuit breaker or fuse box to see if the range or cooktop has power.
Try turning on the oven on a gas range. If the oven turns on but none of the surface burners function, you should contact customer care.
Please book a service appointment with GE Appliances Factory Service if the igniters do not click when the surface burners are turned on.
Possible Cause: Loose or Disconnected Plug
The power line may be slack or disconnected if the stove does not turn on. A cord can disconnect abruptly due to vibration, temperature changes, or outdated outlets. To test, carefully move the stove so that the outlet is accessible. Remove the cord from the outlet. With a strong push, reconnect the cord to the outlet. The outlet may need to be replaced if the plug wiggles in it.
Possible Cause: Tripped Circuit Breaker
Your stove will not turn on if a circuit breaker has tripped. A circuit breaker or a fuse box is a device that helps manage the safe flow of electricity in most homes. If the circuit to which your stove is attached has tripped, you’ll need to reset it in order for it to turn on properly again. A faulty range has a higher chance of sparking a circuit breaker. Make sure the section for your stove is “On” in your fuse or circuit breaker box. When in doubt, turn the switch off and then back on.
Disconnect the stove from the electricity by disconnecting the unit or turning off the power at the circuit breaker before attempting any of the following troubleshooting steps.
Possible Cause: Disconnected Burner Element
The burner element might get disconnected from the termination socket over time and use. The element will not heat properly, if at all, if it is loose. Remove the burner element from the socket and inspect it for rust or damage. Re-plug the burner, making sure it’s snug. The terminal socket on your burner could be damaged if it wiggles. Swap a working burner into the terminal socket if you’re not sure about the fit. If you can’t get any of the burners to heat, the problem is most likely a broken terminal socket that needs to be replaced.
Possible Cause: Faulty Burner or Socket
Burners can become damaged or malfunctioning over time, causing them to stop heating. If this is the case, replacing the complete burner is a quick and inexpensive way to solve the problem. If a specific burner isn’t working, you can rule out a malfunctioning burner by swapping two burners of the same size to check if the problem persists; if neither burner heats, the issue is most likely your socket. Make sure to look for any evidence of damage on the burner. A warped, uneven burner won’t heat properly, and it won’t heat if the burner isn’t connected to the socket.
Possible Cause: Broken Knob
The stove will not receive the “signal” that it should heat up if the knob on your burner is broken. Examine your knob for signs of wear and tear. Is it shaky or unbalanced? Is it easy to turn or does it get stuck? Remove the knob and use a pair of pliers on the underlying metal switch to see if the knob is working. If this does not work, the knob should be replaced. However, if the knob’s inner wiring to the control panel is destroyed, the repair will likely be more substantial. If your stove still won’t switch on after replacing the knob, call an appliance repair service like It Is Fixed for help.
Possible Cause: Internal Fuse is Blown
Many ovens have their own fuse box, which is distinct from the circuit breaker in your home. The complete unit will not turn on if one of these fuses blows. To find the fuse box for your equipment, consult the owner’s manual. A broken fuse may be indicated by an icon on units with a digital control panel. Make sure the wires are linked to the fuses and circuit by inspecting the wiring. It will be necessary to replace the fuse if it has blown.
If you need stove repair, call It Is Fixed for a same-day* appointment seven days a week.
