A gas stove flame that flickers, pulses, clicks without lighting or burns orange is one of the most common problems our technicians see on gas ranges and cooktops. Most of the time the cause is simple: a burner cap that is out of place, ports clogged with food, or a wet igniter after a spill. Sometimes it is a worn igniter, a faulty spark switch or a gas supply problem that needs a licensed technician.
This guide explains what each symptom usually means, the few checks that are safe for you to do, and the point where you should stop and call for help. It starts with gas safety, because a flame problem and a gas leak can look alike at first.
Key Takeaways
- A healthy gas burner flame is mostly blue, steady and even all the way around. Constant flickering, lifting, or large yellow or orange flames are not normal.
- The most common causes are a misaligned or wrong burner cap, clogged burner ports, and moisture after a spill or cleaning. These are the only things a homeowner should check.
- If you smell rotten eggs or hear hissing, do not try to light the stove. Leave the house and call the FortisBC emergency line at 1-800-663-9911 or 911.
- Never adjust gas valves, orifices, regulators or propane conversions yourself. That is work for a licensed gas technician.
- In our service records since January 2024, burner, ignition or flame problems come up on about 28% of range and oven jobs and about half of cooktop jobs (keyword match, estimate).
Gas safety first: when to stop troubleshooting
Before you look at the flame, rule out a leak. Natural gas has an added odourant that smells like rotten eggs or sulphur. FortisBC says that if you smell it or hear a hissing sound from an appliance, you should act fast (FortisBC: Gas leaks and odours):
- Stop what you are doing. Do not use your phone, light a match, smoke or flip any switch inside the house.
- Go outside, leaving the door open behind you.
- Once you are outside, call the FortisBC emergency line at 1-800-663-9911 (24 hours) or dial 911. Stay outside until you are told it is safe.
Also stop using the stove and call a professional if:
- The flame is large, yellow and lazy, or it leaves black soot on pots. That is a sign the gas is not burning cleanly. FortisBC lists a yellow or wavering flame as a reason to call a licensed gas contractor, and notes that incompletely burned fuel produces carbon monoxide (FortisBC: Carbon monoxide safety).
- Anyone in the home has headaches, nausea or drowsiness that improve outdoors. Turn off the appliances, get everyone out and call 911 or FortisBC.
- A burner lights with a loud pop or a flash, or the flame rolls out from under the cap.
- Gas keeps flowing when a burner does not light. Turn the knob off, open a window and wait several minutes before you try again.
What we never recommend you do yourself: take apart the cooktop, adjust or remove a burner orifice, touch a gas valve, regulator or gas line, or convert a stove between natural gas and propane. In BC, gas work is regulated by Technical Safety BC, and you can check a company’s gas licence with its Find a Licensed Contractor guide. Our technicians hold Gas-C tickets.
We also recommend a CSA approved carbon monoxide alarm outside each sleeping area of any home with gas appliances, as FortisBC advises.
What a normal gas burner flame looks like
A burner cap is the round metal disc that sits on top of the burner head. Gas flows out through burner ports, the small slots or holes around the edge of the head, and the cap spreads it into an even ring. The igniter electrode is the small white ceramic post beside the burner that sparks when you turn the knob.
A properly working burner gives a crisp blue flame with a lighter blue inner cone. Each port around the cap should carry a flame of about the same size. A flame that is mostly yellow, uneven or lifting away from the burner is the first sign that something needs attention.
Small, brief orange flecks can appear when dust or a little moisture burns off, such as after cleaning. Those should fade within a minute or two. A flame that keeps flickering, pulses up and down, lifts away from the ports or stays yellow is telling you something.
What each symptom usually means
| What you see or hear | Most likely causes | Safe for you to check? |
|---|---|---|
| Flame flickers or pulses on one burner | Cap not seated flat, wrong cap on that base, clogged or wet ports | Yes, see the checks below |
| Flame flickers on every burner | Kitchen drafts, a range hood on high, or a gas supply or pressure problem | Drafts only; supply problems need a technician |
| Yellow or orange flame, soot on pots | Dirty ports, cap misaligned, wrong gas setup after a propane conversion | Cap and cleaning only; conversion needs a technician |
| Flame lifts off the ports or roars | Cap misaligned or gas pressure or air mix wrong | Cap only |
| Clicking but burner will not light | Clogged ports near the igniter, wet or dirty electrode, cap off position | Yes, after the burner is cool and dry |
| Clicking continues after the flame is lit | Moisture in the spark switch, faulty switch or spark module | Let it dry; if it continues, call a technician |
| Clicking with all burners off | Spill inside the cooktop or a faulty spark switch or harness | Unplug or switch off at the breaker and call a technician |
| No click and no spark | Power supply, failed spark module, broken electrode | No, call a technician |
| Flame goes out on the lowest setting | Clogged ports, cap misaligned, low simmer adjustment | Cap and cleaning only; valve adjustment needs a technician |
Flickering or pulsing flame
When the flame on one burner flickers or pulses while the others are steady, look at the cap first. Manufacturers such as KitchenAid and Maytag say the correct burner cap must sit flush and level on its base, with any alignment pins lined up (KitchenAid: Gas burner flame level incorrect, Maytag: How to position the burner head and cap). A cap that is tilted a few millimetres lets gas escape unevenly, and the flame dances.
If every burner flickers at once, think about airflow before parts. A range hood on full power, an open window or a fan blowing across the cooktop can push the flames around.
Beko’s support guide lists air currents as a common reason for flickering (Beko: How to fix cooktop flames that flicker or go out). If the flicker stays with the hood off and the windows shut, the gas supply may be the issue. Low pressure, a failing regulator or a problem with the gas line is not something to investigate yourself.
Yellow or orange flames
Yellow tips that come and go are usually dust or cleaning residue. A flame that is mostly yellow or orange and leaves soot means the gas is not mixing with enough air. The most common reasons we see are clogged ports and a cap that is not seated correctly.
If your stove runs on propane, a yellow flame can also mean it was not converted properly. KitchenAid’s help page says to call for service in that case. A conversion changes the orifices and the regulator setting, so it must be done by a licensed technician.
Clicking but the burner will not light
The igniter clicks to make a spark at the electrode. If the spark is fine but the burner does not catch, gas is not reaching the spark in the right place. Food in the ports nearest the electrode, a cap that is off position, or a wet burner after a boil over are the usual reasons.
Look closely at the spark too. If you can see that it is weak, jumps to the wrong spot or there is no spark at all on one burner while others work, the electrode may be cracked or dirty. A cracked electrode needs a replacement part.
Clicking that will not stop
A burner that keeps clicking after it lights, or clicks when every knob is off, almost always points to moisture or a fault in the ignition circuit. Water from cleaning or a spill can get into the spark switches behind the knobs. The clicking may stop once the parts dry out completely.
If the clicking continues once things are dry, or it started without any spill, the spark switch, wiring harness or spark module may need replacing. Turn the stove off at the breaker if the clicking will not stop, and book a repair.
What our technicians find on real service calls
We searched the job notes in our group’s service records from January 2024 for burner, ignition and flame keywords. They appear on 578 range and oven jobs (28.1%) and on 62 cooktop jobs (49.6%). This is a keyword match on technician notes, so treat it as an estimate rather than an exact count. It still shows how often this problem comes up.
The repairs behind those notes repeat. These are the patterns our technicians write about most:
- Ports blocked by grease and food. Some burners we open have never been cleaned underneath, even when the cooktop looks clean from above.
- Caps or burner heads not seated. After cleaning, a cap goes back slightly off its pins, or a burner head is not seated in its base. The flame then lights slowly, flickers or burns unevenly.
- Broken or dirty igniter electrodes. A cracked ceramic electrode can still click but will not spark where it should.
- Spills reaching the ignition system. Liquid under the cooktop can cause sparking with the burners off.
- Spark switch and harness faults. These cause clicking that never stops, even on a dry cooktop.
- Slow oven igniters on gas ranges. The oven burner takes a long time to light or does not light at all, which usually means the igniter needs testing.
Several of these causes are things you can check at home in a few minutes. The rest need a technician.
Safe checks you can do before you call
Only do these checks if there is no gas smell. Every step involves parts your owner’s manual tells you to remove for cleaning. Nothing here goes beneath the cooktop surface.
- Turn every burner off and let the cooktop cool completely. If the clicking will not stop, switch the stove off at the breaker first.
- Lift off the grate, then the burner cap. Check the underside of the cap and the base for matching marks. Large, medium and small caps are easy to mix up.
- Look at the ports. These are the slots or holes around the edge of the burner head. If they are packed with food or grease, clean them as your manual describes. KitchenAid suggests a straight pin or small wire for clogged ports and warns against wooden toothpicks, which can break off. Do not make the holes bigger. Do not put burner parts in the dishwasher unless your manual says you can.
- Dry everything completely. A wet burner pops and lights unevenly. KitchenAid suggests a hair dryer on a cool setting to speed this up.
- Wipe the igniter electrode gently with a dry cloth or soft brush. Do not scrape or bend it.
- Reseat the cap. Line up the pins and make sure it sits flat with almost no wobble.
- Test one burner at a time with the hood off. Watch for a quick light and an even blue flame all the way around.
If the flame is still wrong after these steps, or you found something you cannot fix (a cracked cap, a broken electrode, no spark), stop there.
When to call a licensed technician
Book a repair if any of these apply:
- You smelled gas at any point. Call FortisBC first, then book a technician.
- Flames stay yellow, lift off the burner or leave soot after cleaning.
- A burner clicks but will not light after you clean and dry it.
- Clicking continues with every knob off or after the cooktop is dry.
- There is no spark on one or more burners.
- Every burner is weak or flickers, which can point to a supply or regulator problem.
- The oven burner on a gas range is slow to light or will not light.
- You recently switched to propane, or the stove was moved or reconnected.
If your cooktop is glass topped with sealed gas burners and the glass is cracked, stop using it until it is checked. Our guide to glass cooktop crack repair explains your options.
For a visit, our cooktop and stove repair in Surrey covers gas and electric ranges, cooktops and rangetops. We serve Surrey, South Surrey, White Rock, Langley and Delta.
What a burner repair costs with us
We cannot price a repair until a technician has seen the stove, because the fix can be anything from a cleaning to a new spark module. Once we have thoroughly diagnosed your appliance, we quote the parts and labour for the repair. Here is how our published rates work:
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic, every brand (for example Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Frigidaire, Samsung, LG, GE, Jenn Air, Bosch, Thermador, Gaggenau, Wolf, Viking) | $100, credited towards your repair labour |
| Repair (parts and labour) | Quoted once we have thoroughly diagnosed your appliance |
| Specialty repairs (for example sealed systems, built in appliances, double wall ovens) | Quoted separately after the diagnostic |
The diagnostic covers the service trip and the time spent diagnosing your appliance, whether that is 15 minutes or 2 hours. If you decide not to go ahead with the repair, you only pay the $100. Specialty repairs, such as sealed systems, washing machine transmissions, built in appliances and double wall ovens, are quoted separately after the diagnostic. Repairs carry a 3 month guarantee on parts and labour, with extended guarantee options available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my gas stove flame flickering?
The most common reasons are a burner cap that is not sitting flat, clogged burner ports, moisture after cleaning, or a draft from a range hood or window. If every burner flickers with the hood off, the gas supply or regulator may need a technician’s check.
Is a flickering gas stove flame dangerous?
A small, brief flicker is usually not dangerous. A flame that stays yellow, lifts off the burner or leaves soot means poor combustion, which can produce carbon monoxide. Stop using that burner and have it checked. If you smell gas, leave the house and call 1-800-663-9911 or 911.
Why does my gas stove keep clicking after the burner lights?
Usually moisture has reached a spark switch after a spill or cleaning. Let the cooktop dry completely. If the clicking continues, the spark switch, wiring harness or spark module may be faulty and needs a technician.
Can I clean gas stove burner ports myself?
Yes. You can clean the removable caps and burner heads the way your owner’s manual describes, with the stove off and cool. Do not use toothpicks, do not enlarge the holes, and do not take apart anything under the cooktop surface or touch the orifices or valves.
How much does it cost to repair a stove burner?
It depends on the fault. With us, the diagnostic is $100 for every brand, and it is credited towards your repair labour. Once we have thoroughly diagnosed your appliance, we quote the parts and labour for the repair. If you decide not to go ahead, you only pay the $100 diagnostic.
Sources
- FortisBC: Gas leaks and odours (retrieved 2026-11-02)
- FortisBC: Carbon monoxide safety (retrieved 2026-11-02)
- FortisBC: Appliance maintenance and safety (retrieved 2026-11-02)
- Technical Safety BC: Find a Licensed Contractor guide (retrieved 2026-11-02)
- KitchenAid: Gas burner flame level incorrect (retrieved 2026-11-02)
- Maytag: How to position the burner head and cap (retrieved 2026-11-02)
- Beko: How to fix cooktop flames that flicker or go out (retrieved 2026-11-02)
- Surrey Appliance Service Pros group service records, range, oven and cooktop jobs, January 2024 to October 2026 (keyword match, estimate)
- Featured image: “Gas stove burner flame” by Lisafern, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0, cropped and resized.
About the authors
This guide was written by the Surrey Appliance Service Pros team using notes from our technicians’ gas range and cooktop repairs. Our technicians hold Red Seal and Gas-C tickets, and we have repaired appliances in Surrey since 2015. If something here is unclear, contact us.
Need a gas stove repair in Surrey?
If your burner still flickers, clicks or will not light after the safe checks above, we can help. See our cooktop and stove repair service, book online, or call (778) 488-8751. We are open 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week.
