The Short Answer
A gas burner lights when a spark igniter fires next to gas flowing from clean ports. The clicking you hear is that spark. When the burner will not catch, the usual culprits are simple: a burner cap that is wet or sitting slightly off, food debris clogging the ports, or an igniter that has grown dirty or weak. If a single burner is affected, look at that burner; if all of them fail, the problem is usually shared, like the spark module or gas supply.
Common Causes in Order
- Wet or misaligned cap: moisture after cleaning or a cap seated off-center interrupts ignition.
- Clogged burner port: spillover blocks the gas holes so the flame cannot form.
- Dirty spark igniter: residue on the igniter weakens the spark.
- Weak spark module: the module that generates the spark for one or all burners is failing.
- Gas-supply issue: a partly closed valve or delivery problem starves the burners.
Notes by Brand
- Wolf: sealed burners keep spills off the igniters, but a wet cap after cleaning is a frequent reason a single Wolf burner will not light; drying and reseating often fixes it.
- Viking: the open-burner design can collect debris in the ports, so cleaning the port and cap is the first step.
- Thermador: the star burner heads benefit from careful port cleaning; a persistent no-light usually means the igniter.
- La Cornue and Monogram: pro ranges may use a spark module serving multiple burners, so an all-burner failure points there.
| What You Notice | Likely Cause | What We Do |
|---|---|---|
| One burner clicks, no flame | Wet cap or clogged port | Dry, reseat, clean port |
| One burner never sparks | Dirty or failed igniter | Clean or replace igniter |
| All burners will not light | Spark module or gas supply | Replace module, verify gas |
| Weak yellow flame | Clogged port or delivery | Clean port, check supply |
Gas Safety
If you smell gas, do not click the igniter or operate switches. Turn off the burner, ventilate the room, and if the odor is strong, leave and call your utility. Only troubleshoot once the area is clear, and book a repair for the underlying fault.
Burner Still Not Lighting?
Book a diagnostic visit. Diagnostic and travel fees, if applicable, are confirmed before the appointment and before repair approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does My Burner Click but Not Light?
The clicking is the spark igniter firing. If the burner does not catch, the cap is often wet or misaligned, the port is clogged, or the igniter is dirty or weak. Dry and reseat the cap and clean the port first; if it still will not light, the igniter or spark module likely needs service.
Why Won't Any of My Burners Light?
If every burner fails to ignite, the issue is usually shared: the spark module, the gas supply to the cooktop, or power to the ignition system. A single dead burner points to that burner's igniter or cap, while all-burner failure points upstream.
Is It Safe to Keep Trying to Light a Burner?
If you smell gas, stop. Turn off the burner, ventilate, and do not use switches. Repeated attempts release unburned gas. Once the smell clears, book a repair rather than continuing to click the igniter.