If your gas stove igniter keeps clicking after the burner is lit — or clicks constantly even when you're not using the stove — the most likely cause is moisture from a boilover or recent cleaning that has soaked into the igniter. Dry it out and clean the burner area, and it will almost always stop. If clicking continues after everything is dry and clean, a faulty igniter switch or spark module needs replacement.
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Quick Diagnosis
- All burners clicking after a spill: Moisture — dry the stove top thoroughly.
- One burner clicking constantly: Food debris or misaligned burner cap.
- Clicking but no flame: Clogged burner ports or cracked igniter ceramic.
- Clicking with knob in OFF position: Stuck switch contact or faulty spark module.
- Clicking after cleaning: Water from cleaning spray — leave it to dry 2–4 hours.
Cause 1: Wet or Damp Igniter (Most Common)
The igniter tip needs to stay dry to work properly. When liquid from a boilover or from cleaning sprays gets on the igniter or into the recessed igniter well, the moisture creates a conduction path for the spark — and the igniter fires continuously.
This is by far the most common cause of clicking that starts suddenly. The stove may have been working perfectly, then you cleaned the stovetop or had a pot boil over, and now one or all igniters won't stop clicking.
Fix: Use a hair dryer on low heat to dry the igniter area, or simply leave the stove unused for 2–4 hours with the burners open to air-dry. Do not pour or spray any liquid near the igniter during this time. Once fully dry, test each burner.
Cause 2: Food Debris Under the Burner Cap
Cooking splatters, boilovers, and grease accumulate under the burner cap over time. If a large piece of debris — baked-on sauce, a piece of pasta, a chunk of food — gets lodged between the igniter tip and the burner cap, it can conduct electricity and trigger continuous clicking. Fine grease buildup on the igniter tip itself can do the same thing.
How to Clean the Igniter Safely
- Turn all burner knobs to OFF and unplug the stove.
- Lift off the grate and remove the burner cap (it lifts straight up, no tools needed on most models).
- Inspect the igniter tip — the small white ceramic electrode in the centre of the burner base.
- Use a dry toothbrush to gently scrub the igniter tip and the area around it. Never use a metal brush.
- Use a toothpick to remove food jammed in the igniter port or burner ports.
- Wipe the burner base area with a damp cloth, then dry thoroughly with a paper towel.
- Reinstall the burner cap and grate, plug in the stove, and test.
Cause 3: Cracked Igniter Ceramic
The white ceramic casing around the igniter electrode acts as an insulator that directs the spark to the exact right point to ignite the gas. If the ceramic cracks — from impact, thermal stress, or an aggressive cleaning tool — the electrical current can arc to the wrong location, causing continuous or erratic clicking that doesn't stop even after drying and cleaning.
Inspect the igniter tip closely. Use your phone camera to zoom in. Any chip, crack, or discolouration on the ceramic surface is a sign the igniter needs replacement. A replacement igniter for most gas stove brands costs $15–$45 in parts, but installation requires accessing the wiring under the cooktop and is best handled by a certified technician.
Cause 4: Stuck or Misaligned Burner Cap
The burner cap must sit perfectly flat and centred on the burner base. If it's tilted, cocked to one side, or has a chunk of food debris underneath one edge, it creates an uneven gap between the cap and the igniter. This can cause the igniter to fire continuously because the spark never quite reaches its intended target and the spark module keeps trying.
Fix: Remove the burner cap, clean the burner base thoroughly, and replace the cap by pressing it straight down and rotating slightly until it seats flat. It should not wobble or rock when pressed. If the cap is warped from heat, it may need replacement.
Cause 5: Faulty Igniter Switch
Each burner knob on a gas stove is connected to an igniter switch. When you turn the knob to start position, the switch closes and sends a signal to the spark module to fire that burner's igniter. If the switch is stuck in the closed position — from physical damage, food contamination inside the switch body, or worn contacts — the igniter fires continuously even with the knob at OFF.
Symptoms of a faulty igniter switch:
- Clicking continues when the knob is turned to OFF or the stove is in standby.
- Clicking is isolated to one specific burner regardless of what you do.
- The clicking started after a large spill went into the burner knob area.
A faulty igniter switch requires disassembling the control panel to access and replace. This is not a safe DIY repair due to proximity to gas line connections inside the stove body.
Cause 6: Faulty Spark Module (Control Module)
The spark module is the central controller that receives signals from each igniter switch and sends power to each igniter electrode. If the spark module itself is faulty — typically from moisture damage, age, or a power surge — it may send continuous signals to one or all igniters, causing persistent clicking across multiple burners.
A spark module failure is diagnosed by first ruling out all local causes (moisture, debris, cracked ceramic, faulty switch). If two or more burners click continuously and cleaning doesn't help, the spark module is the likely culprit. Replacement costs $150–$280 depending on the brand and model.
Frequently Asked Questions
When an appliance is not working in the Greater Toronto Area, the usual culprits are a worn part, a failed motor or pump, a faulty sensor or control board, or normal wear after years of use. Our technician pinpoints the exact cause during the $89 diagnostic and gives you a clear repair quote — most appliance repairs are finished the same day.
Yes. Nick's offers same-day appliance repair across the Greater Toronto Area and the wider GTA, Monday to Saturday 8am–8pm and Sunday 9am–6pm, with no travel surcharge.
As a rule of thumb, repair is worth it when the fix costs less than half the price of a comparable new appliance. Our technician gives you an honest recommendation during the diagnostic so you can decide with no pressure.
In most cases we can book your appliance repair the same day or the next day in the Greater Toronto Area, and the majority of repairs are completed in that single visit.