La Cornue Range Won’t Light
La Cornue Range Won’t Light is a common question among La Cornue owners. This guide walks through it step by step with technician-grade detail.
When a La Cornue gas burner won’t light, the cause is usually simple and fixable in minutes. Work through this checklist before assuming a major fault. Always stop and ventilate if you smell gas.
1. Confirm gas supply
Check that the gas supply valve is open and that other gas appliances work. If you recently had work done on the gas line, the supply may have been left off. For LP users, confirm the tank is not empty.
2. Listen for the igniter
Turn the knob to the light/ignite position and listen for clicking. Clicking with no flame points to clogged burner ports or a fuel-delivery issue; no clicking at all points to an electrical or igniter problem — see our clicking igniter guide.
3. Check for clogged burner ports
Food debris and spills clog the small ports around the burner cap. Remove the cap, clean the ports with a straightened paper clip (not a toothpick that can break off), and clear the igniter port where the spark jumps. Make sure the cap sits flat when replaced — a tilted cap causes ignition trouble.
4. Dry a wet burner
After cleaning or a spill, moisture under the burner cap prevents ignition. Let the burner air-dry or wipe it thoroughly, then try again. This is one of the most common false alarms.
5. Inspect the igniter electrode
The ceramic igniter electrode should be clean and dry, with no cracks. A cracked electrode or one fouled with grease won’t spark reliably. Clean it gently; replace it if cracked.
6. Verify the cap and grate placement
If the burner cap or grate was removed for cleaning and reinstalled incorrectly, the spark may not reach the gas. Reseat the cap squarely on its base.
7. Gas oven won’t ignite
If it is the oven rather than a surface burner, the glow-bar igniter is the usual suspect — see our oven not heating guide.
When to call a professional
If the burner still won’t light after cleaning, or if you smell gas, stop and get help — see our gas smell safety guide. For ignition module or valve issues, schedule a technician. Manufacturer details are on lacornueusa.com.
The single most common false alarm
Before assuming anything is broken, rule out moisture. After cleaning the rangetop or a boil-over, water trapped under the burner cap shorts the spark and prevents ignition — this accounts for a large share of “my burner died” calls. Let the burner air-dry fully or wipe it thoroughly, then try again. Pairing this with a quick check that the cap sits flat and squarely on its base resolves most no-light situations in minutes, with no parts or tools.
Tools that help
Keep a straightened paper clip (not a wooden toothpick, which can snap off in a port), a soft cloth, and a flashlight near the kitchen. The paper clip clears the small burner ports and the igniter port where the spark jumps; the flashlight lets you confirm the ceramic electrode is clean, dry, and uncracked. These cover the overwhelming majority of DIY-fixable causes on a gas rangetop.
Frequently asked
- Is it the burner or the oven? A cold oven with working surface burners usually means the glow-bar igniter — see our oven not heating guide.
- When should I stop and call? If you smell gas at any point — follow our gas smell safety guide immediately.
A quick step-by-step before you call
Work the checklist in order and most no-light situations resolve without a service visit: confirm the gas supply valve is open and other gas appliances work; listen for the igniter clicking when you turn the knob; remove the burner cap and clear the ports and igniter port with a straightened paper clip; dry any moisture under the cap; inspect the ceramic electrode for cracks; and reseat the cap squarely. If it is the oven rather than a surface burner that won’t heat, the glow-bar igniter is the usual suspect — see our oven not heating guide.
