[5 Fixes] Gas Oven Turns on and off Intermittently

On a lovely evening, you are all set to cook dinner for your family. But when you put the meal in the gas oven, it starts turning on and off by itself intermittently. Though it is part of the safety feature, sometimes it happens because of issues in some elements.

Mostly, an intermittent on-off cycle occurs due to obstructed ventilation system in the oven. But there can be other factors involved too. Such as faulty thermostats, broken ignitors, improper gas supply, etc.

Why Does My Gas Oven Keep Relighting

The ignitors in the gas ovens tend to light up by themselves when the oven needs to heat up. So, relighting is normal most of the time. But if the relighting cycle is very frequent, there may be some issues.

This can happen due partially blocked gas burner. In this case, the electrode of the ignitor cannot sense heat or flame in its contact and lights up.

Gas Oven Turns on and off Intermittently | Causes and Instant Fixes

Intermittent turn-on and off usually occur due to faulty elements or malfunctions. Sometimes, more than one reason can be involved. Here are the most common causes: 

Reason 1: Blocked Ventilation

A proper ventilation system is one of the most important features of an oven. As air flows in and out of the oven, dust, and greasy materials tend to stick in the vents or the cooling fans over time. If not cleaned timely, these materials build up to block the airflow.

Any blockage in the ventilation system prevents the oven to cool itself during operation. Modern gas ovens have built-in safety features that make the oven shut down itself in case of overheating. Though this feature is great to have, it can cause your oven to turn off intermittently if there is any obstruction in the ventilation.

Unblock the Ventilation System

It is quite an easy process. First, cut off the gas supply of the oven. Then carefully clean the ventilation system parts including the cooling fan using a rag. Remove any debris build-up and your problem should be solved!

Reason 2: Broken Gas Ignitor

The ignitor makes sparks to light the gas in the oven. A broken ignitor is a common issue in gas ovens which can cause the oven to turn on and off intermittently.

If the ignitor is problematic, it will not spark or glow with heat. As a result, the surrounding gas in the oven will fail to light up. It will cause your oven to turn off on its own.

Fix a Broken Gas Ignitor

If the gas ignitor is broken, you have no other choice but to replace it. You should be able to buy the part for less than $100. Hire a professional to replace the faulty part with the new one. If you want to save some money, you can change it by yourself. But be sure to follow step-by-step instructions.

Reason 3: Faulty Thermostat

A faulty thermostat can turn on and off the oven irregularly. A thermostat is a device that ensures the oven maintains the desired temperature. If your oven has difficulties during heating, but the stove works just fine, it may be because of a faulty thermostat.

A troubled thermostat can make the ignitor light up the gas and turn on the oven. Besides, it can cause the oven to turn off prematurely before reaching the desired temperature.

Replace a Faulty Thermostat

If the thermostat of your oven turns out to be faulty, you need to replace it. In this case, you will need help from a technician.

Reason 4: Gas Supply Issue

The most important thing you need to operate your gas oven is a proper supply of natural gas. A faulty gas supply can interrupt the functionality of your gas oven.

Sometimes, the gas line can become clogged due to the settlement of debris which can cause an interruption in the supply. Also, the valves located in the gas line can be faulty and the gas tank can have issues itself. These can result in the interruption of the gas supply causing the oven to turn off.

Fix a Gas Supply Issue

If you are using a gas tank, check the gas levels in the tank. Also, check the joints for leakage. If you are using the main supply of your home, contact the gas provider company and state the issue. Call the emergency services as soon as possible if you smell gas any chance.

Reason 5: Faulty Control Knobs

Each gas oven has some control knobs that are used to turn on the oven and control the temperature. These knobs can be faulty from the beginning or can get damaged during the usage period.

Sometimes, a small leak in them can cause the oven to behave abnormally. Broken control knobs can cause your oven to ignite or to turn off by itself.

Fix Faulty Control Knobs

The good news is that you can replace the control knobs with new ones. But you will be needing help from a professional. In some cases, it may be necessary to change the entire control board of the gas oven.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

1. Do gas ovens cycle on and off?

Both electric and gas ovens cycle on and off throughout the cooking process. When the temperature is higher than the desired temperature, ovens turn off automatically. The oven turns on again by itself when the temperature drops below the adjusted temperature.

2. Can a gas oven explode due to this?

There are a few reasons which can lead to an explosion of a gas oven. Such as any type of gas leak, overheating due to obstructed ventilation, faulty and overheating burners, improper installation, etc.

3. Why Does My Oven Keep Shutting off When Baking?

If the air circulation of the oven is somehow obstructed or the thermostat is damaged, the oven can shut off while baking. Sometimes, this can happen due to damaged heating elements and faulty control boards.

Bottom Line

The automatic shut-off and self-ignition features of gas ovens is part of the safety system provided by the manufacturer. However, sometimes intermittent on-off cycles can occur due to any broken elements. If you are unable to troubleshoot the problem, it’s better to call an expert.