How Do You Replace the Igniter on a Gas Stove?

Many modern homeowners are bucking the old habit of calling up a costly professional to help them with their appliance needs every time something goes wrong. In this economy, homeowners are having to take simple repair matters into their own hands more than ever. If you’re faced with an inoperable stove and you’re wondering how to replace the igniter, this guide can help you. Read on for more information or call us at (800)657-0765.

How to Replace the Igniter on a Gas Stove

This guide will assist you in replacing the spark igniter electrode for the top surface burners on a gas or gas-electric stove range. If you have a built-in range, the steps in this guide can still help you understand the problem but may need to be modified for your specific needs.

Time: 45 minutes
Parts: spark igniter electrode
Tools:
1/4″ nut driver
Phillips screwdriver
Flathead screwdriver
Protective gloves

Replacing the Igniter

Before beginning, make sure that you feel comfortable working on a gas stove. Working with any appliance will usually involve working with either natural gas, electrical lines, plumbing, or a combination of the three. If you don’t feel comfortable or safe working with these elements of your home, contact a qualified stove repair professional.

Step 1: Turn off power supply and gas supply

Don’t take any steps to replace an igniter on a gas stove before making sure that you’ve unplugged the appliance from its wall outlet, and turned gas supply off. In most areas, appliances are required to have individual gas shut-offs. Be sure to turn off the gas either at the appliance or at your main.

Step 2: Remove grates, burner caps, and burner heads

To access the igniter, you will need to open the up appliance. First, remove all of the cooktop grates, as well as the gas burner caps from the burner heads. They should lift off freely. Keep them in a safe place until you’re done.

The burner heads themselves will be attached by ¼ inch nuts. Use your nut driver to remove any nuts or fasteners that hold the burner heads to the appliance. When done, remove the burner heads and keep them in a safe location.

Step 3: Remove the cooktop

The cooktop of most appliance is attached with screws. Remove the screws that keep the cooktop secured to the top of the burner holders. Most cooktops are also help in place by two mounting clips, which you will have to remove with a flathead screwdriver or similar tool. Use the tool to feel inside the gap at the side of the range, and push the tool up into the gap to release the clip that holds down the cooktop.

With the screws and clips undone, check to see if there is anything else fastening the cooktop to the appliance. If the cooktop appears to be free, lift the front of the cooktop and carefully move it aside without hitting, knocking, or damaging the burner orifice holders. Put the cooktop in a safe location. Call us for help at (800)657-0765.

Step 4: Remove the spark igniter electrode

The spark igniter electrode will be located under the cooktop. Identify the exact location using your appliance manual, and carefully detach the wire that is connected to the bottom of the spark igniter electrode.

The igniter electrode will probably be held in by a mechanical clip. Release this metal clip from the bottom of the gas burner officer holder and remove it. This will allow you to remove the spark igniter electrode from the burner orifice holder assembly. You will no longer need this part, so it can be discarded.

Step 5: Install new spark igniter electrode

Using the previous installation as a reference point, push the new igniter electrode into the burner orifice holder assembly where the old one was located. Fasten it with the metal clip, as the previous igniter was fastened. Finally, reattach the wire you removed from the old electrode by pushing it onto the connection spade at the bottom of the new electrode.

Step 6: Reattach the cooktop

Reattach the cooktop next. Place the cooktop on top of the range and ease it down while listening for the “snap” of the mounting clips you previously undid. Make sure the cooktop snaps in correctly on the front lip of the appliance.

Reinsert the screws that secure the cooktop to the gas burner tube orifice holders. It is okay to make slight adjustments to the burner tube orifice holders if they don’t line up with the holes where you’ll insert the screws. Don’t move them too much, and be sure to tighten all the screws firmly.  may need to move the burner tube orifice holders around slightly to line up the holes and insert the screws.

Step 7: Reinstall the burner heads, burner caps and grates

Using your masking tape guides, reposition the burner heads in the proper spots, and screw or bolt them back into place. Firmly hand tighten the screws or bolts. Recover the burner heads with the burner caps, and set the grates back into their position on the cooktop. Be sure that all of these components are in place properly before proceeding.

Step 8: Restore gas and power to the appliance

Plug your appliance back into the appropriate outlet, and reconnect any gas lines that you had to remove before servicing. Turn any gas valves back to the “open” position, and move your appliance back into place if you had to move it out for servicing.

Call us at (800)657-0765.