One common problem people encounter with their ovens is when the gas igniter glows but no flame. This can be a bit of a nuisance, as it means there is something wrong with the igniter and you need to do some troubleshooting. It’s not as difficult as you may think, and you can complete it in under an hour.
There are many reasons why an oven igniter may glow but not flame: the igniter may be worn out, there may be a problem with the gas valve, or you might have a gas shortage. In most cases, the igniter is the problem; it almost always goes bad first.
Gas Oven Igniter Glows But No Flame – Troubleshoot and Diagnosis
If your gas oven won’t light, there are several possible reasons why. If the igniter is glowing but there’s no flame, it’s likely that the gas isn’t getting to the burners. First, make sure that your pilot light is lit and that you have enough natural gas coming into the home with a test from your local utility company. Next, check your connections to the gas regulator and ensure they are secure. If your oven won’t ignite and has been sparked, there are a few possible explanations.
Faulty Gas Igniter
The gas igniter is an electrical device that is used to ignite the gas burner. The heating of the oven starts when current supplied to the igniter turns on a glowing filament inside it, which burns at high temperature; as a result, the gas is ignited. An oven’s igniter is a critical component. When the igniter glows orange, it means the oven is ready to get fired up. The igniter first verifies that the temperature in the oven is high enough to ignite natural gas, then it allows a steady flow of gas into the oven’s burner, which in turn warms up the room and cooks whatever has been placed inside.
If you notice the smell of natural gas, your igniter might be worn out and causing your oven to malfunction. If the igniter stops working completely, the oven won’t light. In any case, you shouldn’t panic. The gas valve shuts off if the igniter isn’t working, ensuring that you have a reliable solution. If the flame goes out, it automatically shuts off the gas, ensuring safety and preventing minor burns should someone accidentally come into contact with the flame.
When using an oven igniter, the most common issue is a failed igniter. An oven igniter can fail when it’s worn out, causing it not to draw enough current to open the gas valve and ignite the gas. The solution is to replace a worn out igniter — there may be some other issues with your oven system, but you would have found them at this point.
When your oven igniter glows, it’s supposed to ignite the burner in a timely and efficient manner to start heating your home. But if your igniter is losing efficiency due to age and wear and tear, it could take much longer for it to ignite the burner. If a glowing igniter fails to ignite the burner within a few seconds, it’s time to replace it.
To check the igniter, you’ll need to turn off the circuit breaker in your kitchen and make sure that no burners are on. Next, confirm that the igniter is working by checking the front interface panel. If it still works, then check the light bulb on the front interface panel to make sure it’s not burned out. If it is burned out, then you probably have a problem with your igniter.
Remove the racks from your oven and any metal plating on the bottom of your appliance. This will let you access the gas burner and igniter.
Igniters can have a variety of signs indicating they’re nearing the end of their life: discoloration, hot spots, or even visibly damaged portions are all warning signs. Igniters also have a limited lifespan. So if yours passed 10 years last month and you haven’t replaced it yet, it might need to be changed soon.
After checking the igniter, you may want to turn the oven back on to continue heating. When using gas, the ignition must start quickly and burn intensely — as a slow-igniting flame can cause incomplete combustion and incomplete combustion leads to carbon monoxide. So check to make sure the igniter glows bright orange within a few seconds of the igniting process starting. If it doesn’t, the gas won’t ignite and you’ll need to remove any food from your oven. This means that the igniter is faulty and needs to be replaced.
Defective Gas Valve
The gas valve is a component of the oven that is responsible for controlling the flow of gas coming through to the oven’s burner. The valve makes sure that the amount of gas coming out of the pipe connecting the tank to the oven is kept at an appropriate level.
The gas valve on your oven is easily the least likely thing to give you trouble. However, if it does, it’s usually a sign of insufficient voltage at the gas range.
For any electrical issue, hire a qualified professional to do a voltage test. This will allow him to determine whether the oven’s gas valve is getting the proper electrical flow. If your home uses natural gas, the gas company may be able to send someone out to check that the gas line is working properly. If you are experiencing issues with your oven and it is not heating up, it may be due to an electrical problem. One of the first things that should be checked is to see if there is any continuity at the gas valve terminal where electricity enters the valve. A qualified technician can use a multimeter to determine if the oven is getting proper electricity. If there’s no continuity present, they will trace the circuit back to its origin and verify that the problem doesn’t lie with the wall socket. Then, they will be able to fix it with ease.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to your gas oven, you should always be careful. You never know when there is something wrong with it. It can be a gas part that needs to be replaced or sometimes even the gas valve itself will need to be replaced. Also, do not try to repair any faults yourself as that can sometimes fail and it would be more cost-effective to have a professional repair it for you.
When an igniter fails, contact a reputable appliance repair company. Igniters can teeter on the edge of safety issues. When an igniter fails, risk of fire increases dramatically. Igniters are basically electric devices that ignite the gas in your oven. They will wear out over time and need to be repaired or replaced. The moment you suspect a problem, it’s imperative to address it — the risk of a fire is too great to ignore.
Hi there! I’m Sam Hendricks, and I’m a repair technician and expert. I created this website to help people like you save money and time by fixing your own appliances.
Over the years, I’ve seen people spend a lot of money on unnecessary repairs or replacements. That’s why I decided to share my expertise and create easy-to-follow guides for fixing appliances on your own.