Gas ovens are becoming increasingly popular because of the instant heat they provide and the ability to keep using them if the power goes out. But even these cooking appliances come with their fair share of potential damages and fix ups.
But before you call a service provider and pay for a professional to fix your problem, there are a few easy fixes that are worth trying.
Typical fixes for a gas oven that won’t light include:
- Cleaning away old food and dirt
- Fixing an ignitor
- Fixing or replacing a faulty ignitor switch
- Fixing loose wire connections
- Repairing the oven safety valve
- Fixing issues with the circuit breaker
- Checking the supply of gas
How to Fix Broken Gas Ovens
The main causes of gas ovens not lighting up include:
- Excessive food debris
- Faulty ignitor or ignitor switch
- Loose connection to the ignition mechanics
Fortunately, there are solutions to help with almost each one of these issues
Fixing Excessive Food Debris
With being a food appliance it’s no wonder that it becomes clogged with leftover food from spillovers or other cooking mishaps. This one is an easy fix; all it takes is some elbow grease to get rid of the grease.
The steps you can do to fix this problem include:
- Removing any grate over the burner. You can remove it by either gently lifting it off or loosening the screws that keep it in place.
- Scrub off any food messes that are on the grates with a sponge soaked in warm soapy water and set them aside to dry
- Remove the burner cap by either unscrewing the screws attached to it or lifting it off the burner slowly.
- Scrub the surrounding area with a washcloth or dish towel that’s been soaked in warm, soapy water
Another way to clean the burner is by soaking it in a mixture of warm water and vinegar That will help loosen the food debris. Then it will be easier to scrub it off with a brush or a sponge. This is recommended if the burner is completely crusted in food and the prior method didn’t work.
If there’s any tiny food particles left, you can clean them with a toothpick and then throw it in the trash. Reassemble the appliance and it should light up again. If this doesn’t work, then there may a loose connection issue.
Fixing an Ignitor or Ignitor Switch
An ignitor is what makes the oven light up and produce heat. If the ignitor is faulty, the gas might not be getting to the place it needs to be or the sparks aren’t catching and igniting the flames.
A fast way to tell if the ignitor is faulty and needs to be replaced is by turning the lights off and turning the control knob on the oven to the ignite position. The ignitor should spark a bright blue or bluish-white color. If it sparks a yellowish-orange color, then it needs to be replaced.
To fix an ignitor, cut the power to the oven first. Use a screwdriver to disconnect the base from the burner, then the wires from the ignitor. You won’t have to worry about slicing any wires since most ignitors come with a quick disconnect system.
Then discard the ignitor or the switch. Find the right ignitor for your oven by finding the brand and model number of your appliance. Then all you have to do is purchase and install the missing part.
Loose Connection Repairs
The oven gets its power from wires that run through it that connect the ignitor to the control mechanism. If one of those becomes loose during installation or cleaning, the oven won’t be able to light.
The steps to fix this are a bit more complicated:
- First, kill the power to the oven so you don’t have to worry about electrocuting yourself or damaging the oven further. You can do this by unplugging it from the wall or flipping the breaker switch.
- Next, remove the grate and the burner cover as you would when you’re cleaning up food debris. Remove the sealed burner base and inspect the area for any loose wires or connections.
- If there are loose wires or connections, then reconnecting them to the ignition and control mechanism will solve the problem. Then just reinstall everything and turn it on.
If the oven is still not working, then contacting the support for your product is the next option since it might need professional repairs.
Other Potential Malfunctions
While the above issues can definitely be main contributors to your oven having problems, they aren’t the only things that can prevent it from working properly.
Oven Safety Valve Issues
The gas valve, also known as the oven safety valve, is the part of the oven that makes sure the gas isn’t released into the oven until the igniter is at the correct temperature that’s required to ignite the gas. Issues with this can prevent any gas from being released, and that results in no ignition.
This is probably one of the most technical problems a gas oven can have. The steps needed to fix this problem include:
- Cutting off the power to the oven and making sure it’s completely cool before starting the repairs. You can do this by turning it off and unplugging it from the wall.
- Remove the safety valve by first removing the oven racks and the panel at the bottom of the oven. You can do this by either lifting it from the back or unscrewing it.
- Then, remove the flame spreader. It’s usually on top of the oven and can be removed with a screwdriver.
- Next, remove the oven burner. Unscrew the screw at the very front of it and remove it from the gas intake line. These precautions will keep the oven from getting hot while fixing the oven safety valve.
- On the back of the oven, set the access panel to the side.
- Remove the two wires that were attached to the valve and the gas line that connects into the valve.
- Slide the oven safety valve out of the oven very carefully. To see if it needs to be replaced, use a multimeter that’s set onto Rx1 and gently probe the terminals on the valve. If the test produces a reading outside the range of 0-50 ohms of resistance, you need to replace the valve.
- To install a new oven valve, slide the tube that’s called an “orifice” of the safety valve into an opening at the back of the oven where the old valve was previously. Put the gas line into the new safety valve and screw it back onto the oven wall. If you’re still having trouble, then contact the repairs support for your brand and model.
Circuit Breaker Issues
Sometimes the problem doesn’t arise from something gas related. The issue may be that the electrical circuit that gives power to the oven has been damaged or is malfunctioning.
Despite the fact that gas ovens use gas to produce heat, it needs electrical power to make sure the timer is operating properly, as well as other important functions. If the circuit breaker is damaged or isn’t working properly, then the oven won’t light.
To fix a damaged circuit breaker, the steps include:
- Making sure your gas oven is disconnected from its power source to prevent any electrical injuries
- If the fuse breaker trips right after disconnecting the power, then there’s an issue with the wiring in the house or in the breaker box. You’ll have to call an electrician to fix this problem.
- If not, then simply replacing the circuit breaker will do the trick.
- Use a screwdriver to disconnect the wire from the terminal on the bad breaker and set it to the side
- Pry out the old breaker very carefully with either a screwdriver or a small set of pliers
- Replace the new circuit breaker into the panel
Gas Supply Issues
Issues like these with a gas oven are fairly rare, but it is a possibility that the supply of either liquid propane gas or natural gas is either running low or can’t get to the oven correctly.
The most common cause of this is usually when the main gas valve has been turned off to complete some repairs or replace something else that’s broken on the oven.
To fix this, check the main gas valve and any valves that are located on the oven, to make sure they are on and working properly.
However, if you have just recently had your oven repaired or replaced, it’s possible that the gas valve on the supply pipe just hasn’t been turned back on. If the gas supply check turns out to be working fine, then the gas igniter might be having issues.
Final Thoughts
Problems with gas ovens don’t have to lay vacant until you can get a professional in to fix the issues. Using a few tools and some simple instructions can prevent you from having to stop using your gas oven or having to spend extra time and money.