A burner that clicks but will not light, or lights and then goes out, is one of the most common cooking range problems in UAE kitchens. Here are safe checks you can do and the warning signs that need a professional.
If you smell gas: stop
Close the gas valve at the cylinder or the wall. Open windows and doors. Do not switch lights or appliances on or off, and do not use a lighter. Leave the area and call your gas supplier, or Civil Defence on 997 for a serious leak. Only when the area is safe should the cause be repaired.
Burner clicks but will not light
- Check the gas supply: is the cylinder empty or the valve closed? Do other burners light?
- Dry the burner: spills and water from cleaning stop ignition. Remove the cap and burner head and let them dry completely.
- Clean the ports: clear food from the burner holes with a soft brush or a straightened paper clip. Avoid toothpicks, which can snap off inside the ports.
- Seat the cap correctly: a cap that is not sitting flat gives a weak, uneven or no flame.
- Check the spark: in a dark room, press the ignition. A weak or no spark at one burner suggests a cracked electrode; no spark anywhere suggests the ignition module.
Flame goes out when you release the knob
Modern cooking ranges have a flame-failure device (thermocouple). You must hold the knob in for 5–10 seconds after lighting so the thermocouple warms up. If the flame still goes out, the thermocouple is dirty, misaligned or faulty. It is a safety part: it should be repaired or replaced, never bypassed.
Yellow, lazy or noisy flame
A healthy gas flame is blue with small, steady tips. A yellow or orange flame means incomplete combustion: blocked ports or injectors, the wrong injector for the gas type, or incorrect regulator pressure. It produces soot and carbon monoxide, so get it checked.
Constant clicking
Moisture in the ignition switch after cleaning, or a faulty switch, causes clicking that will not stop. Leave the hob to dry for a day; if it continues, the switch or module needs replacing.
Our technicians repair gas and electric cooking ranges, built-in hobs and cooker hoods across the UAE, with a leak test after every gas repair. See our cooking range repair service.
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