Gas Stove Clicking? Here’s 6 Easy Steps To Solve It

Gas Stove Clicking Non-Stop

Stuck trying to figure out why your gas stove is clicking?

Don’t worry, I’ve been there too. I know how annoying it can be to have this happen, especially when you’re hungry and want to cook.

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place for answers.

If your gas stove is clicking, chances are the burner cap is not aligned, there’s food debris, or the burner is wet. Having a faulty igniter could also explain the issue.

Keep reading to learn how to stop your stove from clicking!

A Word on Gas Leaks

If you’re wondering “why is my stove clicking even when it’s turned off?”, there’s a good chance the gas is probably not flowing to the stove.

However, you should always approach the stove with caution. You always need to smell carefully for any sign of gas. If you are having a difficult time detecting the smell, you may want to ask for help.

If you smell gas, it is important to call the gas company as quickly as possible. Since this is an emergency, you should not use the stove.

But, if you do not smell any gas coming from your stove, it is time to take a closer look at what you should do. 

Address a Clicking Gas Stove in 5 Easy Steps

If you find that your gas stove is clicking non-stop, there are 5 steps you need to follow in order to solve the issue.

Bear in mind that you’ll need a dry cloth or a paperclip at some point, but this is about everything you will require. It is a good idea to get the manual to your stove, and you could need a multimeter down the road.

#1 Turn the Burner Away from the “Light” When Clicking

First, you should make sure you are using the gas stove correctly. There’s nothing wrong with this, and even people who have used a gas stove their entire life will have issues from time to time. When you start to hear the clicking noise, the burner is probably in the “light” section.

After you hear the clicking noise, you need to turn the burner to one of the heat settings. This is how you get the gas to turn to flames.

You may want to try this a couple of times, but if you are having trouble getting the burner to light, then turn it to the off setting. 

#2 Realign the Burner Cap

The next step you may want to try is realigning the burner cap. This is one of the most common reasons why your stove is clicking even if you’re cooking.

If you try to mess with the stove when it is still hot, you are going to burn yourself, so you should wait until the stove has cooled completely to remove the grate. That way, you can access the burner cap. 

Finally, remove the cap and recenter it on the base. Once you have done this, try to light the burner again and see if it does so without causing any issues. If you can light the burner and the clicking noise goes away, you have solved the problem. 

#3 Dry the Burner

Moving on, I’d like us to dry the burner. If there is excess moisture, the flames might be extinguished before they have a chance to light. This could explain why your stove is clicking and refusing to light.

Using a cloth to wipe and dry the burner
Use a piece of cloth to dry the burner

There are numerous reasons why the burner might be wet. For example, you might have a pot or a pan that boiled over recently. Or, someone may have spilled grease on the stove. Even something as simple as cleaning the stove can cause the burner to get wet, making it difficult to light.

If you need to dry the burner, there are several options available. For example, you may want to uncover the burner and give it a few minutes to dry. If you need the burner to dry faster, you may want to consider using a cloth to wipe it down. Again, you need to make sure the burner is completely cool before you try to touch it. This is an important safety measure. 

If you are looking for other ideas to try the burner quickly, you may want to direct a fan to the burner itself. If your range sits on top of the oven, you may even want to turn up the oven to generate heat from the other side. 

#4 Remove Debris from the Burner

If you have done all of this, and you are still noticing a clicking noise, there could be burned food that might be obstructing the igniter.

What this means is that there may be food debris that is blocking the stove from lighting itself. To solve this issue, you will need to remove the food debris to get the stove to behave properly. 

Again, you need to make sure the stove has completely cooled before you try to do anything with it. Then, you have several options. For example, you may want to use a paperclip to remove the food debris away from the burner. Try not to use a toothpick because it snaps easily, and might lodge inside the stove burner, thus can lead to serious problems. 

#5 Use a Multimeter To Check the Igniter

If you have removed food debris from the burner, and your stove is still clicking, it is time to check to make sure the igniter is working properly.

To do this, you will need to take a look at the manual to see where the igniter is located. Again, you always need to make sure you put safety first. Do not try to mess with the stove if you are not comfortable. 

Once you locate the igniter, you may need a few tools to disassemble the stove, depending on the model you have. Then, use a Multimeter to see if there is still power and resistance flowing to the igniter. You should be getting a number that is not zero. 

multimeter
Use a multimeter to check if there is power to the igniter

If the number you get is zero (or close to it), then this is a sign that the igniter is not working properly. Even though you may think you can replace the igniter on your own, this is probably not the case.

It is better to reach out to a professional who can help you figure out if it is worth it to replace the igniter or if you need to get a new stove. You should also rely on a professional to do this because you might void your warranty if you mess around with the stove on your own.

FAQ About Clicking and Gas Stoves

There are several common questions people ask about clicking noises they hear from a gas stove. These include: 

#1 Why do I hear a clicking noise coming from my gas stove when I turn it on? 

This is the sound of the igniter doing its job. You need the gas stove to click because this is a sign that the igniter is going to bring the flames in your stove to life.

#2 How can I tell if I have a gas leak coming from my stove?

The telltale sign that you may have a gas leak is the smell of gas. Sometimes, this will be very obvious. Other times, it can be difficult to detect.

The most important thing to remember is that if you feel like you had a gas leak, you should not use the stove. You need to call the gas company as quickly as possible. This is an emergency, so they should send someone out right away.

#3 Is a clicking noise coming from my stove dangerous?

Not necessarily. If you hear a clicking noise and the gas is not igniting, then there is probably no gas flowing to the stove. At the same time, you need to address this quickly. 

Conclusion

If you hear a clicking noise coming from the stove, and it is not working properly, pay attention to the burner cap, make sure the burner is dry, and remove food debris. You may also want to check the igniter to make sure it still has power. 

Remember that if you have any questions or concerns about this process, you should reach out to a professional for help. Safety should always come first and never work on a stove if you feel like there might be a gas leak present.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this article. If you found it helpful, please check out our other related posts below.

I've been helping homeowners with appliance repair since 2016. Starting out as an enthusiastic amateur, I've since worked with many Appliance, HVAC, and DIY experts over the last 7+ years. My mission is to help fix your appliances and prevent future issues - saving you stress, time, and money. Visit my author page to learn more! Read more
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