Stoves are fundamental kitchen appliances that play a central role in food preparation. But when a burner won’t light or the oven refuses to heat up, it can bring your meal plans to a screeching halt. Like all appliances, stoves are subject to malfunctions that can interrupt your daily routine.

Whether you have a gas or electric stove, understanding the warning signs and knowing how to tackle common problems can save you from costly service calls and frustrating downtime. This guide provides actionable, step-by-step solutions for the most frequent stove and oven issues, empowering you to make safe and effective DIY repairs.

Key Takeaways

• Electric Burner Issues: A non-working electric burner is often caused by a loose connection or a faulty burner coil, which can be tested and replaced easily.
• Gas Burner Problems: If a gas burner clicks but won’t light, the most common cause is food debris clogging the burner ports, which can be cleaned with simple tools.
• Oven Not Heating: For electric ovens, this usually points to a failed heating element. In gas ovens, a weak igniter is the most frequent culprit, even if it still glows.
• Safety First: For any gas smell, immediately turn off the gas supply, ventilate the area, and call a professional. For all repairs, disconnect power first.
• Preventive Maintenance: Regular cleaning of burners, oven cavities, and door seals is the best way to prevent common issues and ensure your stove operates safely and efficiently.

Electric Stove Burner Not Working

One of the most common stove frustrations is an electric burner that refuses to heat up. The good news is that this is often a simple fix you can do yourself.

Common Causes

• The burner coil is loose or not seated correctly.
• The burner coil itself has failed.
• The burner socket (or block) is damaged or corroded.

Step-by-Step DIY Fix

1. Safety First: Ensure the stove is off and the burner is completely cool. For maximum safety, unplug the stove or turn it off at the circuit breaker.
2. Test the Connection: Gently pull the non-working burner coil straight out from its socket. Take a working burner of the same size from your stove and plug it into the problematic socket.
3. Diagnose the Problem: If the working burner heats up in the new spot, the issue is a faulty burner coil. You’ll need to purchase a replacement. If the working burner *still* doesn’t heat up, the problem is likely the socket (block) or the switch.
4. Inspect the Socket: Look at the burner socket for any signs of charring, blackened metal, or corrosion. If it looks burnt, the socket needs to be replaced. This is a more involved repair that may require a professional.
5. Replace the Coil: If you’ve determined the coil is the problem, simply purchase a new one that matches your stove model and plug it in.

Gas Stove Clicking But Not Lighting

That endless clicking sound without a flame is a classic gas stove issue. It means the igniter is trying to work, but something is preventing the gas from igniting.

Common Causes

• Food debris and grease are clogging the gas ports on the burner head.
• The burner cap is wet or misaligned.
• The igniter is dirty or faulty.

Step-by-Step DIY Fix

1. Let it Cool: Make sure the stovetop and burner are completely cool.
2. Disassemble the Burner: Remove the metal grate, the burner cap (the flat, circular top piece), and the burner head (the piece underneath the cap).
3. Clean the Burner Head: Use a stiff brush and a straightened paperclip or a sewing needle to carefully clean out any food or grease from the small gas ports on the burner head. Do not use a toothpick, as it can break off inside the port.
4. Clean and Dry: Wash the burner cap and head with warm, soapy water. Ensure they are 100% dry before reassembling, as moisture can prevent ignition.
5. Reassemble and Test: Place the burner head and cap back in their correct positions, ensuring they sit flat. Put the grate back on and try to light the burner.



Gas Smell: What to Do Immediately

A gas smell is a serious safety hazard that requires immediate action. Natural gas is odorless, so utility companies add a substance called mercaptan, which smells like sulfur or rotten eggs, to alert you to leaks.

1. Do NOT Ignite Anything: Do not turn on lights, use any electrical appliances, or use your phone inside the house. Any spark could ignite the gas.
2. Turn Off the Gas: If you can do so safely, turn off the main gas supply valve to your stove.
3. Ventilate the Area: Open all windows and doors to air out the room.
4. Evacuate and Call for Help: Get everyone out of the house. Once you are safely outside, call your gas utility company’s emergency line or 911. Do not re-enter your home until a professional has declared it safe.

Oven Not Heating

An oven that won’t heat is a major disruption. The cause depends on whether your oven is gas or electric.

For an Electric Oven

The most common culprit is a faulty heating element. Ovens typically have two: the bake element on the bottom and the broil element on top.

• Visual Check: Turn on the oven and look through the door. A working element should glow bright red. If one of them remains dark, it has likely failed.
• DIY Replacement: Replacing a heating element is a common DIY repair. After unplugging the oven, you can typically unscrew the old element from the back of the oven cavity, disconnect its wires, and install the new one.

For a Gas Oven

The number one reason a gas oven won’t heat is a weak or faulty igniter. Over time, the igniter can become too weak to draw enough electrical current to open the safety valve that releases gas, even if it still glows orange.

• How to Diagnose: If you turn on the oven and the igniter glows for more than 90 seconds without the burner flame igniting, the igniter is almost certainly the problem.
• Technical Test: For those with a multimeter, you can test the igniter for resistance. Disconnect power and remove the igniter. A functional igniter should have a resistance reading between 10 and 2,500 ohms. If it shows no continuity (infinite resistance), it must be replaced.
• DIY Replacement: Like an electric heating element, an oven igniter is held in place by a few screws and has a quick-connect wire plug, making it a manageable DIY fix.

Uneven Heating or Cooking

If your food is burning on one side and raw on the other, you’re likely dealing with an uneven heating problem. This can be caused by several factors.

• Faulty Temperature Sensor: A temperature sensor that is touching the oven wall or has failed will give incorrect readings to the control board. Check to ensure it’s not making contact with the oven wall. If repositioning it doesn’t help, it may need to be replaced.
• Failed Heating Element: In an electric oven, if only one part of the bake element is glowing, it won’t distribute heat evenly. This requires replacing the element.
• Improper Cookware: Warped or low-quality pans don’t make flat contact with burners and don’t heat evenly in the oven. Ensure you’re using flat-bottomed, high-quality cookware.



Door Not Closing Properly

An oven door that doesn’t seal correctly lets heat escape, leading to longer cooking times and wasted energy. This is usually a mechanical issue.

• Check the Seal: Inspect the rubber or mesh gasket around the oven opening. If it’s torn, brittle, or caked with debris, it won’t create a proper seal and should be cleaned or replaced.
• Inspect the Hinges: Look for bent, rusty, or misaligned hinges. Sometimes simply cleaning and lubricating them can fix the problem. In other cases, the hinges may need to be tightened or replaced.
• Look for Obstructions: Make sure no oven racks or stray pieces of bakeware are preventing the door from closing fully.

When to Call a San Diego Stove Repair Professional

While many stove issues are perfect for a confident DIYer, some problems require the expertise and specialized tools of a professional technician. If you’re in the San Diego area and encounter any of the following, it’s best to call for service:

• Any persistent gas smell after you’ve ventilated the home.
• Control panel malfunctions, unresponsive touchpads, or error codes that don’t clear after a power reset.
• You’ve replaced a part (like an igniter or heating element) and the problem persists.
• Repairs that involve complex wiring or disassembling the main body of the stove.
• You simply don’t feel comfortable or safe performing the repair yourself.

Conclusion and Final Tips for Stove Maintenance

Understanding these common stove problems empowers you to troubleshoot effectively and decide when to tackle a repair yourself or call in a pro. Proactive maintenance is the best way to keep your appliance in optimal condition and avoid unexpected breakdowns. Clean burners and oven interiors regularly to prevent buildup, and always refer to your user manual for model-specific advice. By addressing minor concerns promptly, you can ensure your stove serves you reliably for years to come.

If you’re experiencing issues with your stove, you might also find it helpful to read about common problems with dishwashers. Understanding how to diagnose and repair dishwasher issues can enhance your overall appliance maintenance skills. For more information, check out this related article on diagnosing dishwasher problems.

FAQs

What are some common problems that occur with stoves?

Common stove problems include electric burners not working, gas burners clicking but not lighting, ovens not heating correctly, uneven cooking, faulty igniters, and doors not sealing properly.

Why won’t my gas stove burner light?

Most often, a gas burner won’t light because the burner ports are clogged with food debris. Other causes include a wet or misaligned burner cap or a faulty spark igniter.

How can I fix an electric burner that won’t heat up?

First, test if the burner coil is faulty by swapping it with a working one. If the working coil heats up in the same socket, you just need to replace the bad coil. If not, the issue may be the socket or switch.

What should I do if my oven isn’t heating to the right temperature?

This could be a faulty temperature sensor, which may be touching the oven wall or need replacement. In an electric oven, a partially failed bake element can also cause temperature issues. In a gas oven, a weak igniter is a common cause.

How do I know if my oven igniter needs to be replaced?

A key sign of a faulty igniter in a gas oven is when it glows orange for over 90 seconds, but the gas burner never ignites. This indicates it’s too weak to open the safety valve.

Is it safe to repair stove problems myself?

Simple repairs like cleaning burners, replacing electric coils, or swapping an oven igniter can be done safely if you turn off the power/gas first. However, for any gas leaks or complex electrical work, it is essential to call a professional technician.