GE Range Burner Not Lighting
A burner that clicks but will not catch means the spark is arriving and the gas is not, or not in the right place. Here is what causes that, why most of it needs no new parts, and the one thing not to keep doing while you work it out.
Common Causes
Sea-level orifices that were never converted
Less oxygen for combustion means an unconverted appliance runs rich — yellow-tipping, sooting and slow recovery that all read as a failing valve.
A dirty or misaligned igniter
Debris or grease buildup prevents a clean spark, which is the single most common cause of ignition failure.
A faulty gas valve or regulator
Controls gas flow to the burner and can fail independently of the igniter.
Local conditions that matter here
At this altitude there is materially less oxygen for combustion, and appliances shipped with sea-level orifices run rich until they are converted. That shows up as yellow-tipping burners, sooting and slow recovery — symptoms that look like a failing valve and are usually a conversion that never happened.
What You Can Check Yourself
Parts That Most Likely Need Replacing
Based on symptoms like this, these are the components our technicians check first. The exact part depends on your model and what we find during diagnosis.
In and around Denver
Denver — Brick bungalows, Denver Squares and Tudors from the 1900s-1930s through the central neighborhoods, with heavy scrape-and-rebuild and gut-remodel activity in Cherry Creek, Hilltop and Crestmoor. We also cover Golden, Greenwood Village, Henderson across Central Denver.
ZIP codes we cover in Denver: 80202, 80203, 80204, 80205, 80206, 80207, 80209, 80210
Do not leave this one. Running the appliance in this state is what turns a single-component repair into a larger one, and on anything involving water or gas it is also the point where the cost stops being about the appliance. Our repair service covers same-day diagnosis and a flat-rate quote before any work begins.
Common Questions About Range Burner Not Lighting
Is it safe to keep trying to light it?
Why does it click but not catch?
Is this worth repairing, or should I replace the unit?
Will you have the part, or is this a two-visit job?
How quickly can you get to me?
Is the repair guaranteed?
Still having this issue?
Same-day diagnosis, genuine OEM-compatible parts, warranty of up to 1 year.
*Elite Appliance Repair Denver is an independent repair company. We are not affiliated with, authorized by, endorsed by or sponsored by Sub-Zero, Inc., Wolf Appliance, Inc., Viking Range, LLC, BSH Home Appliances (Thermador, Bosch, Gaggenau) or any other manufacturer named on this site, nor by any of their distributors. All brand names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used here only to describe the appliances we service. We are not a factory service provider and specialize exclusively in out-of-warranty appliance repairs.