Gas burner does not burn well: popular faults and recommendations for eliminating them

Your gas stove has never let you down, but suddenly you have problems with the burners burning? The situation is, to put it mildly, unpleasant, don’t you agree? Do you want to try to restore the functionality of your equipment on your own, but don’t know where to start diagnosing?

We will help you figure out why the gas burner does not burn well, we will tell you how to find the breakdown and fix it yourself. We will also talk about the most common malfunctions that lead to problems with the combustion of a gas burner. Moreover, many of the reasons leading to abnormal operation of gas stoves can be eliminated quickly and without significant costs. Here are some illustrative photos and thematic videos.

Why do burners work poorly?

The most common cause of problems with the performance of a gas stove is dirt clogged in the nozzle nozzle. These structural elements are located directly under the burners. Therefore, particles of food and detergents often get into the channel intended for gas dosing.

They burn out under the influence of high temperatures, but the residues still accumulate and over time interfere with the gas supply to the burners. Which leads to partial and sometimes complete loss of their performance and poor combustion.

The described procedure occurs unevenly, so combustion problems arise for each burner separately.

A high-quality flame is homogeneous, blue, does not smoke, and its tongues do not try to come off the burner. In this case, gas must be supplied from all holes of the burner. And if at least one point listed above is not observed, then this indicates a malfunction

The situation with nozzle contamination is one of those that you can solve yourself. Since this does not require special knowledge and skills, nor a rare tool. Before starting repair work, we recommend that you first familiarize yourself with gas stove device.

In addition, to resolve the problem you need to perform a number of actions:

1. Remove the lid from the burner.
2. Remove the burner. This is easy to do - it is simply removed from its seat with one movement of the hand.
3. Remove the gas stove table to gain access to the nozzle. Why sometimes you need to unscrew several screws.
4. Clean the nozzle channel.

The last procedure is performed using a pre-prepared needle or a piece of thin wire. Which, for convenience, must be bent at an angle of 90°, and this will also prevent the homemade device from falling into the nozzle channel.

To clean, a needle or wire is inserted into the nozzle channel and a reciprocating movement is performed.

It is no coincidence that a dirty gas stove is shown in the photo - it is the burnt, melted remains of food and detergents that often cause malfunction of the burners. Since they, getting under the table of the cooking appliance, clog the nozzles of the nozzles, cover the surfaces of candles, temperature sensors of the gas control system, which leads to improper operation of the latter or even breakdown

You can remove loose dirt by opening the gas tap for a few seconds.In this case, there is no need to ignite the “blue” fuel.

It is possible to check the quality of the work performed without installing a gas stove table.

What is the burner for:

• installed at the workplace;
• cover with a lid.

And then the usual procedure for igniting the flame is performed. If its parameters are not inferior to similar values ​​of other burners, then the troubleshooting procedure is considered successful. After that all that remains is to mount the table and install the burners.

The photo shows jets, the nozzles of which often become dirty, and then cause unstable operation of the burner and the stove as a whole. They are easy to clean, since such products are similar to an ordinary bolt with a longitudinal hole. Where you just need to insert a needle and use it as a brush. But with replacement, not everything is so simple, as evidenced by the mass of troubles that the jets caused. Therefore, you should only change these parts yourself if there is an understanding that an incorrectly made hole will lead to a gas leak

It is rare, but it happens that it is not possible to clear the nozzle of contamination in the installed position. As a result, it will have to be dismantled. But there is no need to be afraid of this, since the whole procedure, if you have the necessary key, will take a few minutes. This will make cleaning easier.

In addition, after its completion, it is recommended to wash the jet with any ordinary detergent. Next, the device must be wiped dry and you can begin assembly.

Other causes of unstable combustion

Unstable burning of burners can be caused by a number of reasons. Sometimes it happens that the holes in the burners that cut the flame become clogged with combustion products.Which is the reason for the loss of partial loss of burner performance.

The problem is resolved by cleaning the holes. Which in some cases can be done using improvised means and without even dismantling the dirty burner.

But it’s still better to take it out and wash it well with detergents, since this procedure helps prevent the problem from recurring for a longer period.

When a user has not paid attention to his gas stove for years, one should not be surprised if it looks something like what is shown in the photo. In this case, there is no need to talk about the correct operation of the equipment.

If there is an excess amount of lubricant in the tap, then the gas in the required volume does not flow into the burner. This leads to blocking of the channel through which “blue” fuel is supplied to the burner. But this happens when any work has been done on the crane or a new product has been installed.

Problem #1 - the gas stove smokes

This reason is a sign that the energy carrier is not being burned in full. This may lead to a fire hazard. Therefore, the problem should be resolved promptly. And it’s not difficult to do this even yourself, since in most cases the cause can be identified on your own.

And the main ones are:

• clogging of the flame diffuser;
• nozzle contamination.

That is, the same reasons lead to the formation of soot as with simply poor gas combustion. Therefore, they are eliminated in the same ways as indicated in the previous section of the article.

In addition, deformation of the flame diffuser leads to incomplete combustion of the gas.This happens when a gas stove is actively used or the quality of the product itself is poor and cannot be restored. That is, the only way out of the situation is to replace this element.

Most faults can be identified and eliminated after the stove table, which is a protective metal casing, is dismantled. This operation provides access to all structural elements that affect the quality of gas combustion

Sometimes it happens that soot appears due to low quality gas. For the most part, this concerns fuel that is supplied to consumers in cylinders. And in this case, you just need to replace the container with another one.

If gas cylinders are used, an additional cause of soot may be improper adjustment. gearbox fuel supply. The remedy is to make the appropriate settings. For which it is better to call a specialist.

Problem #2 - the flame changes color

This reason for the incorrect operation of the burner indicates that the resulting gas-air mixture contains an insufficient amount of oxygen. for complete combustion of gas.

Moreover flame color change - the malfunction is more dangerous than it seems. The reason is that when gas burns with any flame other than blue (for example, red, white, orange), it leads to mass formation carbon monoxide. And he is deadly. So, even with a small concentration of 0.1%, acute poisoning and even an accident can occur.

The photo shows gas burning in red, which is already a malfunction.Having identified which it is necessary to stop using the gas appliance until the cause is determined

Therefore, having discovered that the gas burner burns poorly, you need to immediately clean it of dirt, as this ensures fire safety use of equipment.

The whole procedure consists of 2 stages:

1. Cleaning the burner, its covers;
2. Cleaning the jet nozzle burners.

Detailed information on how to perform the above operations efficiently is presented in the previous sections of the article.

In the case of an incorrect flame color, even owners of newly purchased gas stoves should not ignore cleaning. Since their structural elements, including jets, burners, and taps, contain a protective lubricant to which dust and dirt particles stick, which can negatively affect the amount of air supplied.

If cleaning does not lead to normal operation of the stove, then the cause of the poor-quality process of formation of the gas-air mixture should be sought in gate settings. That is, a device that regulates the amount of air supplied to the gas. It is better to entrust the setting of the gate to a specialist, who will also check its performance.

Under the table of the gas stove you can clearly see such structural elements as a candle and a temperature sensor of the gas control system. Which today is equipped with almost all stoves. Signs of malfunction of both devices will be the presence of dirt and signs of deformation

If the owner of the stove decides to make the adjustment himself, then you should know that moving the damper towards the nozzle leads to blocking the primary air supply channel. Which will lead to even greater problems with gas combustion. That is, the correct solution would be to move the damper away from the nozzle.And exactly how much is determined experimentally.

Signs of normal combustion are:

• blue flame color;
• the length of the flames is within 2-2.5 cm;
• no noise, no flames.

It is rare, but it happens that the cause of an incorrect combustion process is poor quality gas in the pipeline. This reason can be identified using a comparison method: if neighbors have the same problem, then we can conclude that the energy source being supplied is of poor quality. In this case, you need to contact the gas service. Although it is unlikely that this situation can be changed quickly.

When cleaning, you should be as careful as possible - most elements of a gas stove will not be able to withstand significant mechanical loads. As a result, while troubleshooting an existing problem, you can make the situation worse with one careless movement. If you touch the sensor, it may move away from the burning gas and will not be able to heat up to the required temperature, and the gas control system will regard this as a lack of combustion process with subsequent shutdown of the fuel supply

If the bottled gas changes color, you can try connect to gas stove new cylinder.

Problem #3 - noise and flames coming off

Noise and flame separation indicate that the gas pressure is excessive.

In this case, it is unlikely that you will be able to repair the gas burner yourself, since the cause is one of the following problems:

• Incorrect jet nozzle size. The problem is eliminated by selecting a product whose throughput matches the characteristics of the slab. The procedure for dismantling/installing the nozzle itself is simple, but selecting a new product will cause difficulties.
• Incorrect position of the gate (damper). The malfunction can be eliminated by adjustment, that is, by changing its position (the procedure is described in detail in the previous section of the article).
• Incorrect flame breaker hole sizes. The problem is eliminated by selecting a new product. This malfunction is unique to new generation gas stoves.

If the issue with noise and flames arose when using bottled gas, then you should pay attention to the reducer. Since the cause, most likely, will be its breakdown. Which is easiest to eliminate by purchasing a new similar device.

We have another article on our website that discusses in detail possible causes of burner noise gas stove and how to eliminate them.

Replacing the gearbox also solves the situation when the gas in the burner for some reason became stronger. Since this usually leads to soot, flames, and irritating noise

Problem #4 - smell of gas when the stove is on

This type of malfunction is one of the most dangerous. Therefore, measures to eliminate it must be taken immediately after detection.

The reasons for the appearance of gas when the stove is on can be:

• leakage at the connection point nozzles with a gas supply tube or at the joints of these two structural elements of a cooking appliance;
• incorrect setting — in this case, the problem can be resolved by changing the position of the gate according to the instructions described above.

Sometimes it will be necessary to replace the nozzle with a product with a suitable channel diameter.

It is possible to detect a gas leak yourself, since you only need to perform a few simple steps:

• remove the burners;
• dismantle the stove table;
• Replace the burners and their covers;
• apply the previously prepared soap solution to the junction of the nozzle with the tube or at the joints of the specified structural elements of all burners;
• Turn on each burner in turn to check the tightness.

If after performing the last procedure there are bubbles detected, this means that the assumption of a leak was confirmed.

And then you just need to call gas company specialist to troubleshoot the problem. Which is carried out by replacing worn out parts. You should not use it until the gas stove is fully operational. Because this could result in a fire or explosion.

Since contamination is a common cause of burner failure, it is logical to assume that regular and timely prevention in the form of cleaning the flame-cutting holes of the burners, their covers and other parts will reduce the likelihood that a burner will partially or completely lose its functionality

Quite rarely, but it happens that the cause of depressurization of the gas tubes of the stove is the sealing rings and washers. Malfunctions are caused by their defects and destruction.

Remedy: replace with new ones, but this work should be entrusted to a specialist. This must be done, if only because he knows what can replace the damaged part.

Problem #5 - Burners fade

In addition to those described above, there are often a number of malfunctions of gas stoves that lead to the attenuation of the burners.

These include unstable combustion with the following symptoms:

• poor burner performance, which ends in flame extinction;
• the burner does not work well, and the handle of its tap is difficult or impossible to turn;
• All the burners on the stove burn poorly.

Since the listed breakdowns are considered typical, you need to take a closer look at their features.

When a burner goes out, combustion may stop either immediately after ignition or later, but in any case the reasons will be the same.

Dismantling the burner is not difficult, since in most cases you just need to grab it with your hand and remove it from its seat. And it is advisable to do this regularly, because the flame-splitting holes can become clogged with soot even after a single contact with liquid or food.

The main reasons for combustion cessation include:

• Injector nozzle clogged. The malfunction can be eliminated by cleaning (how to do this correctly, described above) or replacing the product.
• Temperature sensor does not heat up when burning. As a result, a command signal is generated indicating that ignition has not occurred and the gas control system shuts off the energy supply. The reason is usually careless handling of the temperature sensor, resulting in it being in the wrong position.
• Malfunction of the gas control system, which leads to its incorrect operation. In this case, you will have to replace the electronic valve or temperature sensor. Sometimes it is necessary to change the entire system as a whole.

In some cases, the burners may not only work poorly, but simply not turn on.

It must be remembered that if problems are identified, users of gas appliances are obliged to repair them and, if necessary, replace them. If this is not done in a timely manner, you may well be fined. So in Art. 9.23 of the Code of Administrative Offenses states that for violation of established requirements for quality, timing, and frequency of repair work, you will have to pay 1-2 thousand rubles.If the listed acts lead to accidents, then the amount of sanctions may well reach 30 thousand rubles

Failure of the electric ignition system

It is easy to identify faults belonging to this category, since it is enough to ignite with matches. And, if the gas ignites, but not in automatic mode, then this will be evidence of a malfunction of the electric ignition.

And the reasons are traditionally:

• ignition button failure - this happens due to defects, resource depletion;
• auto ignition unit malfunction, which is responsible for generating a spark when receiving a command signal from the button.

If a gas burner with electric ignition does not ignite due to the listed malfunctions, then you should be prepared to replace the failed structural elements of the stove. And this must be entrusted to specialists.

The photo shows an auto-ignition unit, which will have to be replaced if it turns out that none of the spark plugs generates sparks

When one burner is problematic, the first thing you should pay attention to is the spark when you press the button. If it is there, but directed to the side, and weaker than on other burners, then the cause of the breakdown is in the spark plug. Moreover, there is no need to rush to replace it.

Since incorrect operation is often caused by a layer of dirt covering the specified device, due to which the spark does not correspond to the established parameters.

In this case, all that is needed is to clean the surface of the candle from food debris, detergents, and carbon deposits. Do the same if a wire is stuck to its body and breaks through the insulation onto the body of the stove.

In addition to cleaning from contaminants, you need to remove traces of oxidation from the steel rod.

Troubleshooting work on any gas equipment should be done responsibly. The same picture as in the photo was observed among residents of the entire entrance of a high-rise building, when one of their neighbors decided to save on repairs and confused the water supply pipe with a gas one

If it was not possible to restore functionality by cleaning, this indicates destruction of the spark plug insulation or its wiring. In these cases, both elements are replaced. What you need to entrust to the master.

When there is no spark on all burners, this indicates a break in the wiring from the button to the electric ignition unit. This can happen due to a defect or mechanical damage to the wire. Typically, such a malfunction is typical for private houses.

In addition to problems with burning the burner, gas appliances also experience other breakdowns. We recommend that you read popular slab failures and methods for their repair.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The video below will help you understand how to change jets, contamination of which often leads to unstable operation of the burners:

The following video will help you identify and fix problems with automatic ignition:

Gas stoves are quite repairable. Therefore, in most cases, identified faults can be eliminated promptly, and without significant costs. At the same time, it is worth remembering that you cannot save on repairs, just as you cannot forget about safety measures.

Do you still have questions about identifying a breakdown or eliminating the problem of poor combustion of a gas burner? Ask our experts and other users for advice - the comment box is located below.

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