--- title: "Igniter Clicking After a Gas Hookup: Air in the Line or a Wet Cap: Causes and Fixes" description: "An igniter clicking after a gas hookup keeps sparking on a new burner or oven that is slow to light, lights unevenly or does not light at all." url: "https://applianceinstallation.center/problems/igniter-clicking-after-hookup/" --- # Igniter Clicking After a Gas Hookup: Air in the Line or a Wet Cap An igniter clicking after a gas hookup keeps sparking on a new burner or oven that is slow to light, lights unevenly or does not light at all. ## What it usually means. A newly connected gas appliance has a line full of air between the shutoff valve and its burners, and the first attempts to light push that air out before any gas arrives. For the first several tries a burner may click for a few seconds before it catches; that is expected. Clicking that goes on, or a burner that lights only on some attempts, points to something the installation can put right. Burner caps and heads are often packed separately or shift in delivery, and a cap that sits a little off its base leaves gas escaping in the wrong place for the spark to reach. The spark electrode can be wet from cleaning or from a spill test. A valve opened only partway starves the burners, especially several at once. On a propane supply, an appliance still set for natural gas, or one whose conversion was only half done, burns with the wrong mix and can refuse to light or light with a lifting flame. A clicker that sparks on every burner at once while one burner is lit is how many ranges are designed. Clicking that never stops with every knob off is a switch issue for our sister repair site. The 6 causes, cheapest first Answer these first 01 Is this the first day of use, with air still coming out of the new line? 02 Does one burner click and not light, or do all of them? 03 Are the burner caps sitting flat and centered on their bases? 04 Is the house on propane, and was the conversion kit fitted before the first light? 05 Does the clicking stop when the knob is turned off? ## Check these before you book. Igniter clicking after a gas hookup: 5 checks, and none of them costs anything. 01 Light one burner at a time and hold the knob until it catches; give the new line several tries. 02 With every knob off and the surface cool, set each burner cap flat and centered. 03 Wipe the area around each electrode dry, and remove any packing from under the grates. ### Also worth checking - If the house is on propane, confirm the conversion kit was fitted before the first light. - If you smell gas that lingers, stop and follow the gas smell steps: out first, then call. ### How soon does it need a visit? Clicking alone is not an emergency. If a burner clicks without lighting for more than a few seconds, turn it off and wait a minute before trying again, and if a gas smell lingers, leave the house and call from outside. ## The causes, cheapest first. 6 things igniter clicking after a gas hookup: air in the line or a wet cap turns out to be, from air still purging from the new line to a switch that keeps sparking with the knob off. [The cost guide](https://applianceinstallation.center/cost/) 1. 01 no installation ### Air still purging from the new line The first lights after a hookup push air out ahead of the gas. Lighting one burner at a time, holding each until it catches, clears the line within a few tries. No installation: check it yourself 2. 02 no installation ### A burner cap off its seat A cap shifted in delivery or set back crooked leaves the gas escaping away from the spark. With every knob off and the surface cool, each cap is lifted and set flat and centered on its head. No installation: check it yourself 3. 03 lowest ### A wet or packed electrode Water from cleaning or packing residue around the spark electrode stops a clean spark. The area is dried with everything off, and packing material is removed from around the burner heads. [Fixed by gas hookup and leak check](https://applianceinstallation.center/services/gas-hookup-and-leak-check/) [On a cooking appliance](https://applianceinstallation.center/types/cooking-appliance-installation/) 4. 04 lowest ### A shutoff valve only partly open A valve left partway open supplies enough gas for one burner but not several, and the others click. It is opened fully, and the leak check on the joints is repeated. [Fixed by gas hookup and leak check](https://applianceinstallation.center/services/gas-hookup-and-leak-check/) [On a cooking appliance](https://applianceinstallation.center/types/cooking-appliance-installation/) 5. 05 low ### Orifices not set for propane An appliance on propane that still has natural gas orifices, or whose regulator was not set, burns badly and lights poorly. The maker's conversion kit is fitted and each flame is read. [Fixed by gas hookup and leak check](https://applianceinstallation.center/services/gas-hookup-and-leak-check/) [On a cooking appliance](https://applianceinstallation.center/types/cooking-appliance-installation/) 6. 06 moderate ### A switch that keeps sparking with the knob off Clicking with every knob off points to a spark switch or a module, not the installation. On a new unit that is the maker's warranty, and outside it, our sister repair site. [Book a diagnostic visit](https://applianceinstallation.center/services/diagnostic-visit/) ## What else it could be. Most often confused with gas smell after a hookup: leave the house, then call, then burning smell on the first run: when it is normal and when to stop. [All problems](https://applianceinstallation.center/problems/) Codes that come with it - [`GAS` LG · Gas and first light](https://applianceinstallation.center/error-codes/lg-gas/) - [`Burner does not ignite during commissioning` Miele · Gas and first light](https://applianceinstallation.center/error-codes/miele-burner-not-igniting-commissioning/) Also related - [**Appliance Installation Code on a New Unit: Setup Modes and Hookup Messages** 8 causes](https://applianceinstallation.center/problems/appliance-installation-code/) Hazard after a hookup ### Gas Smell After a Hookup: Leave the House, Then Call 6 causes Hazard after a hookup ### Burning Smell on the First Run: When It Is Normal and When to Stop 6 causes ### Hood Not Drawing Smoke: Duct Size, Damper and Makeup Air 6 causes ## The makes it happens on. 37 makes on this site; igniter clicking after a gas hookup: air in the line or a wet cap can show up on any of them. Each mark opens that make's own page. [All 37 brands](https://applianceinstallation.center/brands/) ## Igniter Clicking After a Gas Hookup: Air in the Line or a Wet Cap, where we come out. 9 metros, each with its own page. 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On the first day, a few clicks per burner is normal while air leaves the line. After the first several lights, a burner should catch within a few seconds. ### Is it normal for every igniter to spark while only one burner is being lit? On many cooking appliances all the igniters are wired to spark together whenever any knob is turned to light. It stops once the knob is turned to a flame setting. ### Can I hold a match to a burner that will not light? Makers describe a manual lighting method for a power outage, and it is in the manual. For a burner that clicks without lighting on a new hookup, it is better to find the reason than to light it by hand. ### Could a flame that hovers above its ports come from the hookup? A flame that lifts or roars often means the orifices do not match the fuel, typically natural gas orifices on a propane supply. The conversion kit fixes it, and the burner is not used until it is fitted. --- **[Read on the site: Igniter Clicking After a Gas Hookup: Air in the Line or a Wet Cap: Causes and Fixes](https://applianceinstallation.center/problems/igniter-clicking-after-hookup/)** **[Book a visit with ApplianceInstallation.center](https://applianceinstallation.center/schedule/)**