How Do I Know If My Oven Igniter Is Bad?

Gas ovens: the igniter

On a gas oven, the igniter is what lights the burner. A failing igniter often glows but doesn't get hot enough to ignite the gas, which can mean the burner clicks repeatedly without lighting, or lights only occasionally. A completely dead igniter means the oven won't heat at all, though the broiler (which sometimes uses a separate igniter) may still work fine. If you ever smell gas near the oven, stop using it and call a licensed technician immediately rather than troubleshooting further.

Electric ovens: the heating element

On an electric oven, the bake element (bottom) and broil element (top) are separate components, so it's common for one to fail while the other still works. A visibly bright orange, glowing element that's working normally looks very different from one that's dark, has a visible break, or produces uneven, patchy heat. Uneven baking — food browning more on one side — is a common early sign of a weakening element even before it fails completely.

What we check during a diagnostic visit

• Igniter glow strength and current draw (gas ovens)
• Bake and broil element continuity (electric ovens)
• Control board and temperature sensor ruled in or out
• Gas valve function on gas models

See our igniter & heating element repair page for what the service includes.