My gas oven clicks but won't ignite. I can smell a faint gas odor. Is this dangerous and how do I fix it?
A gas oven that clicks but does not ignite means the igniter is activating but not getting hot enough to open the gas valve, or the gas valve itself is faulty. The faint gas smell is normal during the ignition attempt — the valve opens briefly and releases a small amount of gas. However, if you smell gas strongly or continuously, turn off the oven, open windows, and call your gas company. For the ignition issue: the most common cause is a weak igniter. Gas oven igniters wear out over time and need to reach a specific temperature to trigger the gas valve. A new igniter costs 15 to 35 dollars and takes about 30 minutes to replace. Turn off the gas supply, remove the oven floor panel, unscrew the old igniter, disconnect the wire connector, connect the new one, and reassemble. If the igniter glows bright white-orange but gas still does not flow, the gas valve solenoid may need replacement.
