Symptoms
- Igniter clicks and sparks normally
- Only a tiny flame or none appears even with the knob fully open
- Other burners work at full strength
- May have followed a spill or long period of disuse
Likely causes
- CommonClogged burner orificeThis small brass fitting can get blocked by debris, especially after spills reach it.
- CommonBurner cap or head not seated correctly over the orificeMisalignment can prevent gas from reaching the flame ports properly.
- PossibleClosed or partially closed shutoff valve behind the rangeIf the range was recently moved, its dedicated valve may not be fully open.
- Less commonFailed valve for that burner positionThe valve itself can fail to open properly.
What to do
- Turn off the burner and check that the cap and head are seated correctly, reseating them if needed.
- Try lighting again to rule out a simple alignment issue.
- If still no flame, turn off the burner and check behind or under the range for a dedicated gas shutoff valve, making sure it's fully open (only if you know how to safely check this).
- Do not attempt to remove or clean the orifice yourself, since it requires disassembly near the gas line.
- If other burners work fine and this one doesn't, note that as a useful detail for the technician.
- Have a technician inspect and clear or replace the clogged orifice.
Tools and parts
Gas range burner orificeSearch: “gas range burner orifice replacement”
When to call a pro
Call an appliance technician to inspect and clear or replace the clogged orifice.
Safety
Use caution
Do not attempt to disassemble parts of the gas line or orifice yourself; leave that to a licensed technician.