Wiktor Wise
Lighting a pilot in an electric oven is a simple process, but it's important to be cautious. If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound, you may have a gas leak, so leave the house and call a technician. If not, turn everything off, open windows to ventilate the kitchen, and refer to the appliance manual if you have it. If not, locate the pilot light, usually at the bottom of the oven, and light it with a grill lighter or long match. Some ovens are manually lit at each use, so slowly turn the temperature knob while holding the flame to the pilot light valve.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is a pilot light | A small blue flame that ignites a gas appliance |
| Why does it go off | Older appliances may have drafts, mechanical failures, or debris that cause the pilot light to go off |
| What to do if it smells like gas | Turn off the oven and burners, open windows, and ventilate the kitchen |
| How to locate the pilot light | It may be a small hole in the bottom of the oven, front center near the door opening, or in a back corner. It could also be in the broiler compartment |
| How to light the pilot | Use a grill lighter or long match to light the pilot light valve at the bottom of the oven. Hold the flame to the pilot light valve while slowly turning the temperature knob |
| What to do after lighting | Close the oven door and check if the pilot light stays lit |
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What You'll Learn
Ensure your kitchen doesn't smell like gas
If you have an older gas stove, it may have a pilot light, a small flame that is used to light the bigger flames on your stove's burners and oven. If you've been trying to light your stove or oven and you can smell gas, it's important to take some immediate steps to ensure your safety. Firstly, turn off both the oven and the burners. Then, open the windows in your kitchen to ventilate the area. If you have access to the appliance manual, refer to it for further instructions. If not, you may need to call a technician or your gas company's emergency line, especially if you suspect a gas leak.
To prevent your kitchen from smelling like gas in the first place, it's important to understand the different parts of your gas range oven and how they work together. The basic components include the range or burner, pilot light, pilot gas supply line, thermostat, control panel, and valves. The range or burner is used to heat the space, and an electric fan inside helps distribute the heat. The pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas when you're cooking, and the pilot gas supply line connects the gas source to the pilot light. The thermostat controls the temperature, and the control panel and valves are the knobs that switch the stove and oven on and off, working in conjunction with the pilot light and burner to regulate the heat.
If you notice a gas smell shortly after turning on your oven, it could be due to a failing gas igniter. This means that the igniter is opening slowly and not releasing enough gas for the oven flame to light quickly. It may be necessary to contact your oven manufacturer or a technician to replace the igniter.
In some cases, the pilot light itself may be the source of the gas smell. If the pilot light goes out, it can cause a buildup of gas, resulting in an unpleasant odour. To address this, locate the pilot light, which is often labelled and can be found as a small hole in the bottom of the oven, near the door opening, or in a back corner. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the area, then light a match or lighter and hold it near the hole to relight the pilot light.
It's important to note that if you suspect a gas leak, do not touch any electrical appliances. Leave your home and contact emergency services or your gas company's emergency line. While a faint gas smell may be noticeable when using a pilot light stove, especially if it hasn't been used in a while, a strong or persistent odour indicates a problem that requires attention.
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Locate the pilot light
Locating the pilot light is the first step to lighting an electric oven pilot. The pilot light is a small blue flame that ignites a gas appliance. It is often labelled "pilot light" and can be found at the bottom of the oven, near the front centre or in a back corner. If you don't see it inside the oven, it might be in the back of the broiler compartment.
If you're having trouble locating the pilot light, you can try removing the floor of your oven or the kick plate to get a better view. It might be helpful to refer to the appliance manual for instructions on how to locate and light the pilot.
In some cases, the pilot light may be difficult to access, and you may need to get down on the floor or even kneel to reach it. This is especially true for certain oven models, where lighting the stove-top burner first can help get the gas flowing and make it easier to light the pilot.
Once you've located the pilot light, you can proceed to light it using a grill lighter or a long match.
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Light the pilot light
Lighting an electric oven pilot can be a simple fix. First, ensure your kitchen does not smell like gas, and if it does, make sure the oven and burners are turned off and open the windows to ventilate the kitchen. If you have it, refer to the appliance manual for instructions. If not, continue.
Remove the burners and open up the stovetop. Depending on your oven, the entire top might lift up from a hinge, or your drip trays will be removable to reveal the workings of the stovetop. Locate the pilot port: there will be one gas line connecting the two left-side burners and another connecting the right-side burners.
Locate the pilot light, which is often labelled "pilot light". It can be a small hole in the bottom of the oven, front centre near the door opening, or in a back corner. If you don't see it inside the oven, it could be in the back of the broiler compartment. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the area.
Use a grill lighter or long match to light the pilot light valve. A small blue flame should shoot up. Close the top of the stovetop and replace the burners.
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Replace burners and hardware
If your electric stove burners aren't working, you can fix or replace the heating element in 15 minutes. Before you start, make sure you have the right replacement parts for your stove's model number. You can find the model number on a sticker on the frame when you pull out the bottom broiler drawer.
First, unplug your stove or turn off both stove breakers. Ensure the power is off before you start. Then, look at the burner(s) that didn't heat up and grab the other end, carefully pulling and wiggling the element out. Clean the ends (terminals) of the element using a wire brush or sandpaper.
Next, gently push the new burner element back through the spill plate into the electrical socket. Restore power to the stove and turn the burner knob to high heat. If your burner still won't heat, it's time to call a professional to replace the burner socket or switch.
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Check the burners
To check the burners, first, ensure that your kitchen does not smell like gas. If it does, turn off the oven and burners, open the windows to ventilate the kitchen, and address the problem. If you have it, refer to the appliance manual for instructions. If not, continue reading.
Next, remove the burners from the stovetop. On most electric ranges, this can be done by pulling the burner up and out of its plug-in receptacle. If your burner is directly wired to the cooktop, undo the screw that secures the burner, remove the clips that secure the insulators to the burner terminals, and carefully unscrew the wires from the terminals. Take care not to bend the terminals.
Once the burner is removed, visually inspect it for any signs of damage, such as small holes or bubbles on the surface, warping, or damage to the insulation sheath. Also, check the terminal ends for any rust, dirt, or corrosion.
If you suspect that the burner is defective, you can test it using a volt-ohm meter (VOM). Set the range scale to R x 1 and touch the test leads to the two burner terminals. The VOM should show continuity. Typical burner readings should be somewhere between 19 and 115 ohms, depending on the manufacturer.
If there is no continuity, the burner is defective and should be replaced. To test for a grounded or shorted burner, place one test lead on the outside surface of the burner and the other test lead on each burner terminal. If there is continuity at either terminal, the burner is defective and should be replaced.
If you need to replace the burner, be sure to install the wires on the correct terminals according to the wiring diagram. Remember to exercise extreme caution as you are working with 220 volts.
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Frequently asked questions
If your oven is not igniting, you may need to light the pilot. If you've been trying to ignite your stove or oven for a while, your kitchen may smell like gas. If this is the case, open the windows to ventilate the kitchen before addressing the problem.
The pilot light is often labelled and can be a small hole in the bottom of the oven, front and centre near the door opening, or in a back corner. If you can't find it, refer to the appliance manual for instructions.
Light your lighter or match and hold it near the hole. A small blue flame should shoot up.
Close the top of the stovetop and replace the burners. Turn on one of the burners to make sure it lights properly, then turn it off.
