Why is my gas cooktop not working?

In this article, you can find eight of the most common issues as to why your gas cooktop might not be working properly.

1. The Gas Is Off

If none of your burners will turn on, then the gas may be shut off. While it’s unlikely that the gas suddenly went off, someone in the household may have switched it off as a precaution, or if you just moved in, the previous tenants may have disconnected. Alternatively, the gas network might be damaged.

How To Fix It: To check that the gas is on, look at the supply valve behind the stove. The valve handle should be in line with the gas pipeline. If your gas stove is still not working after moving the valve to the open position, then move to your gas meter outside and check the gas valve handle. This will be on the left hand side of the gas meter box. Failing that, check with Vector on 0800 764 764 and call in a "no gas." 

2.The Stove Is Unplugged

The stove can be unplugged when moved or as a safety precaution, but it’s not likely the stove became unplugged on its own. Check with others in your household to see if there is a reason it may have been unplugged before proceeding to plug it back in.

How To Fix It: Once you ensure there’s no reason the stove is unplugged, check behind the stove to see if it’s plugged in and secure. If unplugged, reach behind and plug it back in snuggly to the outlet.

3. No power to the cooker

If your breaker was recently tripped due to a power outage, surge, or high electric usage, it may be the cause of your gas stove not working, particularly if your igniter is electric. In some homes, breakers trip frequently because of overloaded circuits.

How To Fix It: Reset the breaker by flipping the switch back to the proper position. If your breaker trips often, avoid using multiple high-energy appliances at the same time.

4. Faulty or Wet Igniter

If a burner on your gas stove is taking a little longer than usual to light, or the flame coming from the burner is more orange than blue, it could be the result of a wet or dirty igniter or burner. If you recently cleaned your stovetop, you may have gotten the igniter wet, which will prevent the gas from lighting instantly when you turn on the burner.

How To Fix It: Simply remove the burner cover and allow the igniter to air dry before trying to light the burner again. Once the igniter has dried completely, it should light the burner instantly when you turn it on.

5. The Burner Is Clogged by Food Debris

The flame on your gas stove should always burn blue, but a weak flame may appear yellow or orange. A yellow or orange flame indicates incomplete combustion, which can release carbon monoxide into your home. This happens when a burner is partially clogged, causing the level of the gas flowing into the burners to be reduced. If you haven’t cleaned your stovetop in a while, grease and other cooking residue can build up and clog the burner and reduce the flow of gas. This can prevent the burner from producing a blue flame as soon as you turn it on.

How To Fix It: Remove the burner cover and use some warm water, soap (dish soap that contains a degreaser should break any built-up cooking residue), and a cloth to clean the area in and around the affected burner. If this does not work then you will need your injectors cleaned out, we would recommend calling a gas fitter.

6. The Spark Module Is Broken

The spark module provides power to the igniter, which lights the stove. When it’s broken or not functioning properly, you probably won’t hear the stove clicking and have no spark. The spark module may malfunction for several reasons.

How To Fix It: The spark module will need to be replaced by an appliance service professional. or if the appliance is over 10 years old we would recommend replacing the whole cooker as it is very difficult sourcing parts. 

7. A Burner Cap Is Misaligned

Another possible cause for a burner not lighting is a misaligned burner cap. If the burner cap isn’t properly aligned, the burner will not ignite. This often happens after the stove is cleaned and the burner cap is accidentally put back in the wrong position.

How To Fix It: Check the burner cap alignment after cleaning. If the cap is properly aligned and the burner is clean but it’s still not lighting, then it’s time to call in a professional to diagnose the problem.

8. The Thermocouple Is Defective

The thermocouple is responsible for sensing the flame of a gas stove. When it is defective, the stove may still start like normal but will then go off once you release the knob. The thermocouple may have just worn out over time or been damaged.

How To Fix It: Try cleaning the thermocouple rod if that doesn't work then it’s time to call in a professional to diagnose the problem.

Is your boat LPG-compliant?

Prior to 2010, any work carried out on a gas installation connected to a cylinder of 15kg or less was not considered as ‘gas fitting’ and therefore not governed by the then NZ Gas Safety & Measurement Act.
In reality, this meant anyone could legally repair a BBQ, install a cooktop on a boat or caravan – or even in a domestic property. In 2010 the Act changed. 

Since 2010 any gas installation or appliance that’s a permanent fixture in a vessel, caravan or building now comes under the NZ 2010 Gas Safety & Measurement Act and any work carried out on such installations has to be carried out by a licensed gas fitter.

• Install a hard-wired gas detector with an audible alarm and solenoid shut off in the gas locker (BEP gas detectors are the current standard that I would recommend.)

• Fit gas detectors into your bilge area with two sensors, one in the vicinity of your gas appliances, and one at the lowest point where gas is likely to accumulate (usually in the bilge away from water damage). 

• Cylinders should always be stored and used upright – definitely not on their side (unless designed to), and secured to prevent movement from the boats' motion. Ideally, secure them in a permanent, dedicated gas locker. 

• The locker should have a sealed door and a 19mm drain hole (minimum) at the bottom so any leaking gas will flow overboard, above waterline, and free from water build up in the drain.

• Gas hoses should not be fitted with jubilee clips – or worm clips as they are sometimes known. All hoses should be permanently crimped to the pipework. Again, the gas hose should be date stamped. Ideally, they should not be more than 7 years old – although this is a recommendation rather than a legal requirement.

• If you have a gas califont on your bat it probably has been installed incorrectly or illegally (as 99 percent of califonts installed inside of boats are), we recommend to most customers to remove the califont from the boat and install a hot water cylinder.

• If you have a rubber hose running through your boat this does not meet current regulations.  The type of pipe material that complies with the current regulations for connecting a regulator to appliances is a plastic-coated annealed copper tube. This coating protects the copper from corrosion and chafing, so it’s ideal for a marine environment.

• Every gas appliance on a boat must have a flame-failure device fitted to every burner. This prevents the uncontrolled release of gas. These devices close down the gas supply in the event of ignition or flame-failure.

• Clearances around a gas cooking appliance should also be in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or the gas code.

• Insist that any gas work is done by a qualified installer

These are some of the main problems people have with their gas installation on their boats.

It is also a legal requirement for any gas work carried out on a boat, (because Energy Safe considers it to be high-risk gas work),  must have a gas safety certificate issued by a Certifying Gas Fitter and the details of the work must be lodged on the Energy Safe website (www.energysafety.govt.nz).

Gas certificates do not expire. As the gas certificate get older they become less relevant as the gas codes and gas Act can get altered. 

I would recommend for boats to get a gas safety certificate every 2-3 years for a domestic vessel and for a commercial vessel you should have a maintenance plan in-place for your specific vessel. 

What are the dangers?

A gas leak on a boat has a greater risk of causing an explosion because liquid propane gas is heavier than air, and if it leaks, will act the same as water and fill the boat from the bilge up. The gas can leak, and you will not smell the gas until it is nose height, and by then you have a major problem on your hands.

If you have gas on board your vessel, treat it with respect, take steps to maintain the equipment just as you would with any other aspect of your boat, and it will serve you well.

Our services during COVID-19 lockdown

Dear Customer,

We are still operational and will remain so during the country’s lockdown.  Our primary role is to look after the needs of essential work that needs to be done eg. broken water mains, leaking roof, gas leaks. 

Our entire business is Cloud-based.  This means that our office staff can all work at home now that the virus alert level is at Level 4, with no disruption to our operations. 

Sign-in and sign-out procedures at your premises will have to change.  We will discourage staff from using public keyboards and ‘sign-in’ documents.  We will text messages or call to customers when staff arrive or depart from your premises.  We are happy to consider adopting whatever non-contact processes you might have in place and we will be demanding strict adherence to the recommended human physical separation of 2 metres minimum.

In all cases, we will follow government hygiene guidelines.  We will wipe-down all surfaces on the equipment we have been in contact with. We ask that you have appropriate measures in place to keep our people safe whilst they are on your sites.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, please feel free to contact me if you have any queries regarding our services.

Auckland Gas services team.  

A guide to landlord's duties regarding gas safety.

Gas (safety and measurement) amendment regulations 2014

This leaflet is aimed at landlords and explains some of the main requirements of the Gas (Safety and Measurement) Amendment Regulations 2014. It also gives guidance on how to comply with them. The leaflet will also be of interest to tenants, making them aware of landlords’ duties.

As there has been an incident recently in Christchurch with gas. Auckland gas services is trying to educate the public in their responsibilities as a landlord.

The Gas (Safety and Measurement) Amendment Regulations 2014 specifically deal with the installation, maintenance and use of gas appliances, fittings and flues in domestic and certain commercial premises. They place duties on landlords to ensure that gas appliances, fittings and flues provided for tenants’ use are safe.

These duties to protect tenants’ safety are in addition to the more general ones that landlords have under the health and safety at work act 2015.

Responsibilities of persons hiring or leasing out gas appliances, fittings, or gas installations or property or premises containing them:

“(1)Every person who hires or leases out any gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation or any property or premises containing a gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation must— “(a)take all practicable steps to ensure that the gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation is safe at the commencement of the hire or lease; and “(b)ensure that the gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation is accompanied by instructions for its safe use, including information on any maintenance or ongoing safety inspections that are required.

“(2)For the purpose of subclause (1)(a),— “(a)a gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation is deemed safe for the purposes of hire or lease at the commencement of its hire or lease if it is assessed as not unsafe under NZS 5256: “(b)a gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation contained in property or premises for hire or lease is deemed safe for the purposes of hire or lease at the commencement of the hire or lease if it is assessed as not unsafe under NZS 5255.

“(3)Every person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a level 2 penalty who hires or leases out, or offers to hire or lease out, any gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation or premises or property containing a gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation knowing that this regulation has not been complied with, or being reckless as to that matter.

“(4)This regulation does not apply to the hiring or leasing out by a landlord of residential premises containing a gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation.

75A Responsibilities of landlords for gas appliances, fittings, and gas installations at rented residential premises.

“(1)A landlord of residential premises must not provide any gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation under or in connection with a residential tenancy if the gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation is unsafe.

“(2)A landlord of residential premises must not allow any person to use a gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation provided by the landlord under or in connection with a residential tenancy if the gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation
is unsafe.
“(3)For the purposes of subclauses (1) and (2), a gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation is deemed safe for the purposes of the residential tenancy at the commencement of the tenancy if it is assessed as not unsafe under NZS 5255. “(4)A landlord of residential premises must provide the occupier with adequate instructions for the safe use of any gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation provided under or in connection with a residential tenancy.
“(5)A landlord commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a level 2 penalty who provides a gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation under or in connection with a residential tenancy, or allows another person to use a gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation that is provided under or in connection with a residential tenancy, knowing that, or being reckless as to whether, the gas appliance, fittings, or gas installation is unsafe.
“(6)In this regulation and regulation 75, the landlord has the meaning given to it in section 2(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.”

As a commercial property owner/landlord what’s my duty under HSWA?

Under HSWA, a commercial property owner/landlord is a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU). This means you have a duty of care, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved with or affected by work on or at your property. This includes work that you organise or are responsible for. Those that could be affected include tenants, contractors engaged by you, or members of the public visiting your property.

I’m a property manager. Do I have a duty?

Under HSWA, a property manager is also a PCBU and will also have a duty of care, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure the health and safety of everybody involved with or affected by work on the property that you are responsible for. As the property manager, you will also have responsibility for the management and control of the property with the duty to ensure the property (if it’s a workplace) is without risks to health and safety.

How do I know whether the gas engineer is Gas Safe registered?

The gas fitter should be able to provide you with a current ID card. The card contains a photo of the gas fitter, personal licence number, the start and expiry date of the card. You can also call plumbing gas fitting drainage board during normal office hours on 0800 743 262 or (+64) 4 494 2970 or go to the website www.pgdb.co.nz.

What if an appliance fails the safety check?

The safety check record will contain details of any defect identified and remedial action taken. You must ensure that any safety defect is rectified (by a registered gas fitter) before the equipment is used again. It is recommended that you keep copies of work done to rectify defects identified by the safety check. We recommend that you shouldn't reconnect an appliance that you have been told is unsafe, which has either been isolated or disconnected for safety reasons until the fault has been rectified.

What happens if, Offences for actions or omissions likely to cause serious harm or significant property damage:

Failure to do so may result in loss of life. Not only that, you risk being prosecuted, and this could result in you facing imprisonment for a term of not more than 2 years; or (b) A fine of not more than $100,000 in the case of an individual, or $500,000 in the case of a body corporate; or (c) Both.

Every individual or body corporate who commits an offence shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding:

Level 2 offences:$10,000 in the case of an individual $50,000 in the case of a company or other body corporate.

What action do I take in the event of a gas escape?

How often you should service your gas appliances?

Be sure to get all gas appliances in your home serviced regularly. Gas appliance retailers advise doing this at least every year to two years. It is just like owning your car that you get serviced every year it makes certain that they are safe, efficient and working at their full capacity. Once the appliance has been serviced and is safe to use, your gas fitter will supply you with a gas safety certificate to file safely. A natural gas appliance usually runs at about one-third of the price of an equivalent electrical appliance. Not only that, but gas appliances are built to last and generally have a longer lifespan than other alternatives if you keen them maintained.

What to look out for?

If the flames on your stove or water heater are burning yellow instead of blue, then there is too much oxygen in the mix and your appliance may be getting blocked. Or if your appliance is very noisy when you are using with the flames lifting off the burners theses are all signs you need a service. Regular servicing of gas appliances will ensure that your units are connected properly and are free of leaks, corrosion, oxidisation and other debris that can build up and cause problems. Use only an authorised gas fitter to carry out the work. It’s illegal (and dangerous) for anyone else to do it and you could also invalidate your home insurance.

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Contact us if you need assistance:

What do I do when I smell gas in my house?

Natural gas is colourless, odourless and non-toxic. As a safety precaution, to enable the speedy detection of a leak of natural gas, a chemical that smells like rotten eggs are added to it. The unusual smell is immediately noticeable.

If you suspect there is a gas leak indoors.

Evacuate and move at least 20m away, leaving doors and windows open.

• Don’t turn anything electrical on or off.

• Call the fire service on 111.

• Turn off any gas appliances that are on.

• Do not smoke or use an ignition source.

• Do not use your mobile phones, cameras or devices.

• Turn the gas meter off, if you know where the gas meter is.

  Your gas meter is located outside the house. The valve on the service pipe only requires a quarter turn to move from ‘on' to ‘off'. The gas supply is off/closed when it is horizontal to the pipe. Give the valve a 1/4 turn clockwise (i.e. 12 - 3 o'clock) to turn it off.

• Call Vector on 0800 764 764.

If you hit a gas pipe.

Leave all machinery electrical running and remove yourself from the gas cloud and move upwind of the gas. Move at least 20m away and call the fire service on 111.

• Do not smoke.

• Evacuate the immediate area.

• Leave the damaged pipe to vent, keeping it open and free from any materials or equipment.

• Leave any ignited gas fires to burn.

• DO NOT inhale fumes. Move away if you are near fumes.

• Call Vector immediately on 0800 764 764.