Why the burner does not work on the gas stove: common causes and methods for eliminating them

Amir Gumarov
Checked by a specialist: Amir Gumarov
Author: Maxim Fomin
Last update: October 2019

Regardless of the model or manufacturer, the gas hob may stop functioning properly at any time. The flame is not of the same color or not uniform, the ignition does not want to fire as expected, the gas control solenoid valve closes - there are a lot of problems. And, if the burner does not work on the gas stove, then, first of all, there is a desire to contact the company with which you have an agreement on the supply of blue fuel.

However, you must admit that paying a lot of money for calling the master when it is possible to solve the problem yourself does not make much sense either. Why attract gas workers if you can restore the gas equipment to working capacity with your own hands. This is a little off the mark, but with the right approach to repair work is perfectly acceptable.

Finding out the causes of the problem

If the burner on the gas stove burns poorly or does not light, then first you need to disconnect the equipment from gas and electricity. Inspection and repair of the hob is allowed only after the gas supply has been shut off.

It is impossible to neglect basic safety measures here.

Airing the kitchen during repair
Whether or not there is a smell of gas in the kitchen after the burner damps - it doesn’t matter, any manipulations on the maintenance of gas equipment should be performed only with the windows open and good natural ventilation of the room

Many modern gas stoves are equipped with electronics and automatic ignition systems that require power. Often, inexperienced home masters when working with a gas hob forget about this feature of this appliance. As a result, ignition of methane vapors from sparks. Therefore, before starting the repair, it is recommended to disconnect from the mains not only the stove itself, but in general all electrical appliances in the kitchen.

Problems with gas stove burners arise due to:

  • incorrect operation of the electrovalve and / or thermocouple;
  • nozzles clogged with grease and soot;
  • malfunctions of spark plugs;
  • long break in gas equipment maintenance.

Owners of private houses and apartments with a gas stove are required to conclude regular inspection contract the equipment in question with a specialized organization. Without such an agreement, gas will not be supplied to the consumer.

But gas workers should come at least once a year, checking the efficiency of the hob and, if necessary, immediately repairing it. All other calls are paid separately.

Self-repair of a gas stove
If problems with the stove occurred in the period between routine inspections, you will either have to call the master again, or repair yourself

At the same time, if during self-repair of burners and other devices of the hob they will be damaged, then without a gas operator it is forbidden to turn on the faulty device. Even provided that the stove is more or less functional, then at the annual inspection a specialist of the gas company will detect a breakdown and immediately shut off the gas until the defects are corrected. And this is an inevitable additional cost. Plus, they can also impose a fine.

Doing the repair of a gas stove with your own hands is recommended only if you are sure that you will do everything right. There are no particular difficulties in these works, but you can break something by negligence or ignorance.

The problems are as follows:

  1. Flames not laid blue - not enough oxygen or gas enters the nozzle in too large a volume.
  2. The burner does not ignite - the spray holes are clogged with soot or faulty thermocouple or a candle.
  3. The fire goes out - the gas supply is blocked due to faulty gas control or problems with the gas pipe.

You can clean or replace the burner on the gas stove yourself. But if the problem is the meter, directly the gas pipe (cylinder) or an external gas pollution sensor, then it is better to abandon arbitrariness.

In such a situation, you should seek help from the gas workers responsible for the good condition of the HCSC and the VDGO.

DIY repair instructions

By law, only a specialist of a service company with which you must have a contract with you must replace the hot plates and other elements in the gas stove. However, in case of urgent need, minor repairs can be performed independently, but to say that this was done in order to avoid more serious problems.

If after such work, the stove works properly with its own hands, then the gas workers will not be able to make claims.

Disconnecting the stove from gas and electricity
The first step before starting any inspection and / or repair of the gas hob is to disconnect the equipment from gas and electricity

Before starting work, you should remove all sources of open fire from the kitchen and prepare a flashlight so that you can look into the farthest corners of the gas appliance. Also from the tools you will need a wrench, screwdriver and pliers.

If the burner does not ignite, then first check the presence of gas in the pipe (cylinder). Perhaps the problem lies not in the gas equipment at all. Only after a clear determination that the hob is the problem, should we begin to examine and disassemble it.

Situation # 1 - the flame is not blue

If everything is OK, the gas above the burner should rise from all nozzles with an even blue flame. If pink or yellow shades are present in the fire, then methane (propane-butane) does not have enough oxygen for normal combustion.

Air exchange in the kitchen with gas
The state regulations for kitchens with gas stoves set the air exchange at 100 cubic meters per hour - if the inflow or exhaust air is less, then the gas will not completely burn out

If the flame is not blue, then the reason for this must be sought in ventilation. Methane simply does not have the required amount of oxygen for complete combustion.

To solve this problem, you must:

  • provide additional airflow by opening a wider window or transom;
  • check hood for clogging;
  • reduce the gas supply to the burner by covering the valve slightly.

If the air exchange is normal, and the fire is still not the right color, then you need to adjust the minimum flame level.

Minimum Flame Settings
The flame level in the gas burner (1) is adjusted using a special adjustment screw (3) on the valve stem (2)

When the screw is turned inside the tap, the plate is shifted, which is responsible for the proportion of mixing gas and oxygen. It is necessary to put it in the right position, and then light the burner to check the color of the flame.

Situation # 2 - the valve opens with difficulty

If the gas control valve on the stove rotates with difficulty, then fat is stuck on the rod inside its mechanism, preventing the free movement of the handle. It is necessary to remove and clean it from dirt.

Gas Adjustment Knobs
Handles are usually located on the front of the gas stove. You don’t even have to lift the top plate to clean, repair or replace them.

The pen is cleared of grease using ordinary soap and water. After it is wiped dry and dried, and then lubricated with a thin layer of grease and put back.

Situation # 3 - burner nozzles clogged

Grease and / or soot accumulated in the nozzle outlets is the most common reason for the gas stove to stop working.

If the gas stove burner stops turning on and off, then the root of the problems must first be sought just in this place.

Dirt on top and inside the burners
Each soup that escapes from the pan to the burner is an extra drop of greasy dirt not only on the top surface of the stove, but also inside the burner

The design of the hob is such that most of the leftover food left on it remains on top of the tile. Only its upper surface and the grill are soiled, on which pots and pans are placed. However, even a small part of this fat still enters the burner holes and under it into the gas supply channel. As a result, at some point, the blue fuel simply ceases to flow for combustion.

To clean the burner nozzle:

  1. Remove the grill, divider and burner, and then lift the top panel of the stove.
  2. Clean and rinse the burner in warm water with soap or detergent.
  3. Clean the gas pipe under the nozzle.

It is recommended to clean the holes in the burner from dirt with wooden toothpicks. If you use metal objects for this, you can expand the holes too much. Then the flame will burn unevenly.

The inner pipe under the burner has a diameter of up to 1 cm. It can be cleaned with a thin metal wire. Toothpicks here will not help. They are too small and fragile. If the nozzle cleaning does not help, you will have to resort to their replacing.

Situation # 4 - Incorrect ignition operation

Each burner has a thermocouple flame sensor and an electric ignition spark (if this function is provided). Both elements are designed for continuous operation in a burning gas at high temperatures. However, over time, even they burn out and fail.

Gas emergency shutdown mechanism
When the flame is extinguished, the thermocouple with the help of an electromagnet shuts off the gas supply to the burner, thereby eliminating its accumulation in the kitchen to explosive concentrations

If gas is released from the burner with the valve open, hissed, but does not light up from automatic ignition, then the problem is in the candle. Check wiring for breakdown. multimeter, as well as the reliability of its connection to the terminals.

If the wiring is damaged in insulation, it is best to replace this cable. Moreover, it should be exclusively in a heat-resistant braid. Do not cover the damage with electrical tape. The metal body of the gas stove is heated to sufficiently high temperatures. Conventional insulation tape will melt sooner or later.

The candle itself can only be cleaned of carbon deposits using sandpaper. If there is no scale, and the wire passes the current as it should, then the candle will have to be changed.

Thermocouple in a gas stove
If, after ignition, the fire over the burner goes out, then the thermocouple responsible for controlling the presence of flame in the burner is the problem point

To restore the thermocouple, it is necessary to clean its burning tip with sandpaper from carbon deposits. Plus, you need to check the wiring contacts and the wiring itself. If this does not help, then only a replacement will help.

If one burner does not work on the gas stove, then the cause of the problems should be sought in it. This may be due to clogging of the burner openings with fat, or to the burning of a thermocouple or a candle. But if all burners do not work, then first you need to check the gas supply to the gas equipment.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

What to do if the burner on the gas hob does not burn:

Why does the burner not burn on the gas stove or go out:

A failed gas stove is not only inconvenience with cooking, but also a possible fire due to gas popping. If a malfunction is detected, the hob should be repaired immediately.

Cleaning and replacing nozzles or a thermocouple can be done on your own, and for more serious problems you will have to call a wizard. And, before calling gas workers, it is worthwhile to carefully examine the equipment for the cause of failure. It is likely that you will not have to pay for a specialist call.

Did you break the gas stove, do you have experience in repairing it with your own hands? Then share your knowledge with our readers. You can leave a comment under this article. Also write below if you need any help on the above topic.

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