When one burner stops working while the others are fine, the fault is almost always in that burner's igniter, element or switch — not the whole cooktop.
Why your burner will not light
- Dirty or wet igniter (gas) — spilled food or moisture stops the spark; the burner clicks but will not light.
- Misaligned or clogged burner cap (gas) — a cap knocked out of place blocks ignition.
- Failed igniter switch (gas) — no click at all when you turn the knob.
- Burned-out element or infinite switch (electric) — the coil or the switch controlling it fails.
What you can safely check first
- On a gas burner, make sure it is fully dry, then clean around the igniter and reseat the burner cap squarely.
- On an electric coil, swap the suspect element with a matching working one to see if the problem follows the element or stays with the socket.
When to call a technician
If cleaning and reseating do not help, the igniter, switch or element needs replacing. Our stove repair technicians fit genuine parts and test for safe operation, since burners involve gas and high-current circuits.
Stove Burner Won't Light — FAQs
Why does my gas burner click but not light?
Usually a dirty or wet igniter, or a burner cap that is out of position. Dry and clean around the igniter and reseat the cap; if it still will not light, the igniter likely needs replacing.
One electric burner stopped working — is it the element?
Often, but not always — it can also be the infinite switch or the socket. Swapping the element with a matching one tells us whether the fault follows the element.