When a gas burner clicks but won't catch — or won't even click — it's usually a simple blockage or something knocked out of place, often right after the stovetop was cleaned. A few of these you can safely sort out yourself. But gas comes first: if you ever smell gas, this stops being a DIY job.
The most common cause: after wiping the stovetop, the burner cap gets put back crooked or water is trapped under it, so the flame can't travel. The clicking igniter is fine — the burner just can't catch.
Check it: Make sure the burner is off, let everything dry fully, then reseat the burner cap squarely on the base — the slots must line up. This fixes a large share of "won't light after cleaning" calls.
Food and grease clog the tiny igniter tip or the burner ports, so the spark can't reach gas. You'll often see it clicking but not lighting, or lighting only on one side.
Check it: With the burner off and cool, gently clean the igniter tip and clear the burner ports with a toothpick or a straightened pin — never a match or metal that could damage it.
If a burner doesn't click at all (while others do), that igniter or the spark module has failed and won't generate a spark.
Check it: Confirm it's totally silent vs the working burners. A dead igniter is a straightforward tech replacement.
The switch behind the control knob tells the igniter to spark. A failed switch or a loose connection can stop one or all burners from clicking.
Check it: This is inside the control area — a tech diagnosis and repair.
If the range was just moved, or the gas was off, the line may need to be on and purged. All burners dead at once points at supply.
Check it: Check that the gas shutoff behind the range is fully open. If you smell gas at any point, stop and call your gas company.
Repair — most no-light causes are free (reseat the cap, clean the ports) or an affordable igniter. Gas ranges are worth keeping; the important part is doing it safely, which is why the spark module and gas-side work go to a tech.
In Middle Tennessee or the Baton Rouge area? We'll come to you, same-day. Anywhere else in the U.S.? Send a 10-second video, a real technician tells you exactly what's wrong for $50 (credited toward the repair), and we ship you the exact part. 24/7 — text, call, or upload anytime.
Usually a burner cap put back crooked or wet after cleaning, or a clogged igniter/ports. Dry everything, reseat the cap squarely, and clear the igniter tip and ports with a toothpick — that fixes most cases.
A burner that's silent while others click has a failed igniter, switch, or spark module — a tech replacement. Don't keep turning the gas on trying to light it manually if it won't spark.
Turn the burner off if it doesn't catch quickly so gas doesn't build up, and never troubleshoot if you smell gas — leave and call your gas company. Once it's safe, the fix is usually simple. Your $50 Quick Check credits toward any repair.