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Gas oven · Repair Copilot

Gas oven igniter won't light

A gas oven whose igniter glows or clicks but won't light usually has a worn glow-bar igniter — the single most common gas-oven failure — that no longer gets hot enough to open the safety gas valve. On a gas oven this no-light fault can leave unburned gas building up, so it's a safety matter first. Show SightLine the oven burner and a plumber persona walks you through a gas oven igniter that won't light.

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Steps to fix gas oven igniter won't light

  1. IF YOU SMELL GAS: turn the oven off, open windows, leave the home, and call your gas utility from outside — do NOT try to light it or make any repair until the gas is confirmed safe.
  2. Do NOT try to light the burner manually with a match or lighter — unburned gas from a failed igniter can ignite all at once.
  3. Turn the oven off and confirm the gas supply valve to the range is fully open and your other gas appliances (like the cooktop) are working.
  4. Turn the oven on and watch the igniter under the floor panel: a glow-bar igniter that glows orange but never lights the gas within about 90 seconds is worn out even though it still glows.
  5. A spark igniter that clicks but won't catch can be a blocked burner port or moisture — but never keep cycling it with gas flowing.
  6. A worn igniter or a faulty safety gas valve is not a safe general-DIY job because it's on the live gas burner — call a licensed appliance or gas technician to replace it.

Safety first: if a step calls for gas, a main water or sewer line, a service panel or main breaker, or a sealed refrigerant system, stop and call a licensed pro — Repair Copilot will tell you when you're there.