Burner not working?

One burner won't light or won't heat while the others work. On a gas stove it is usually clogged burner ports or a cap that was put back misaligned after cleaning. On an electric coil or glass-top stove it is usually the coil, its socket, or the element itself.

Not sure which one it is? Snap your range or cooktop and we’ll narrow it down.

Is the oven the part that isn't heating?

That has different causes from a dead burner. Oven not heating

Likely causes

  1. Clogged burner ports or a misaligned cap (gas)

    Most commonEasy DIY

    The burner clicks but won't light, lights unevenly with a weak or yellow flame, or stopped working right after a cleaning. Food or boil-over blocks the small ports, or the cap isn't seated flat on the base.

  2. Wet igniter (gas)

    CommonEasy DIY

    The burner won't spark after a spill, a wipe-down or boiling over, and works again once it dries out.

  3. Failed igniter or spark module (gas)

    CommonCall a pro

    The burner never clicks, clicks constantly without lighting even when clean and dry, or the igniter is cracked or burned. If several burners click with no spark, suspect the module.

    Part: $150–220 for a pro repair

  4. Loose or burned-out coil (electric coil)

    CommonEasy DIY

    The coil stays dark or heats unevenly, has a visible blister, break or burn spot, or wiggles in its socket. Swap it with a working coil of the same size: if the problem moves with the coil, the coil is bad.

    Part: $150–220 for a pro repair

  5. Burned receptacle (electric coil)

    CommonModerate DIY

    A coil that tests fine still won't heat in its own socket. The socket's terminals are blackened, pitted or loose.

  6. Failed element (glass top)

    CommonModerate DIY

    The glowing ring doesn't light, or only part of it glows, while the other elements work.

    Part: $150–220 for a pro repair

  7. Bad infinite switch (glass top)

    Less commonCall a pro

    The element is intact but the knob doesn't control the heat: it stays off, stays on high, or doesn't switch between settings. This switch sits behind the control knob.

Quick checks

If you smell gas, leave the house, then call the gas company or 911 from outside, and don't touch switches. Never use the burners or the oven to heat the home. If a gas burner clicks without lighting, turn it off rather than letting gas flow. Electric ranges are 240-volt: switch off the breaker before you touch an element or open a panel. A cracked glass cooktop can shock or cut, so stop using it. Gas valve and gas line work is for a pro.

  1. Gas: turn the burner off, let it cool, then lift off the cap and check that it sits flat and centered on the base.
  2. Gas: clear the small ports on the burner head with a pin or a stiff brush, and dry the igniter completely before trying again.
  3. Gas: if a burner keeps clicking without lighting, turn it off. Don't let gas run.
  4. Electric coil: with the burner off and cool, push the coil firmly into its socket, then try swapping it with another coil of the same size.
  5. Glass top: look for a crack or a dark spot on the surface and check which ring doesn't glow.
Sharpen the read

Diagnose your burner in seconds, for free

No account, no phone number. Fixology’s AI reads your photo and tells you what’s likely wrong, how worried to be, and whether it’s a DIY fix.

Snap one of these:

  • the burner and its cap, or the coil and its socket
  • the control panel and any error code
  • the model label (inside the oven door frame or the storage drawer)

Add a note or more photos next. Nobody calls you.

When to call a pro

A gas burner won't light after cleaning and drying, you smell gas, several burners fail at once, a coil socket is burned, a glass top is cracked, or the switch behind the knob seems to be the problem. Replace rather than repair when a repair would cost more than half the price of a new range. For lifespan and upkeep, see the range guide. If the oven is the part that won't heat, see oven not heating.

Typical cost: $130–310 for a typical stove repair including the service call (about $200 on average). Stovetop element and gas stove igniter repairs run $150–220. Electric repairs run $100–250 and gas repairs $100–600. Technicians charge $50–200 an hour or a flat fee.

Sources: HomeAdvisor: How much does stove and oven repair cost? (updated June 17, 2026)

After a scan, Fixology can also help you find pros near you.

Related problems

  • Oven not heating?

    Oven

    The oven turns on but stays cold or cool, usually a failed bake element, a weak gas igniter, or a tripped breaker.

  • Furnace won't heat?

    FurnaceFall

    The furnace runs but the house stays cold, which is usually a clogged filter, a thermostat setting, or an ignition fault.

  • Heat pump not heating?

    Heat pumpFall

    The heat pump runs but the house stays cold, which is usually thermostat settings, a clogged filter, or an iced-over outdoor unit.

  • Washer won't drain?

    Washer

    Water is left in the drum after the cycle, which is usually a clogged pump filter or a kinked drain hose.

Fixology helps you understand your home — it isn't a substitute for a licensed pro on serious gas, electrical, or structural work.