How to Turn on a Gas Oven (With Safety Tips)

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Use these expert tips to light a gas oven safely

Co-authored by Gevorg Grigorian and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: October 20, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Taking Safety Precations
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• Lighting the Pilot Light
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• Video
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• Expert Q&A

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Many older models of gas ovens may require you to manually light the pilot light to heat the oven. Though safe to do when following instructions, it’s still important to take safety measures before lighting a gas oven. Keep reading for step-by-step instructions on how to manually light a gas oven, with tips from appliance repair expert Gevorg Grigorian.

How to Light the Oven on a Gas Stove

Appliance repair expert Gevorg Grigorian says that most older model ovens requiring manual lighting of the pilot light only give off a minimal amount of gas, and are safe to light as long as you follow the instructions:

1. Turn off the stove burners and oven.
2. Locate the pilot light hole in the front center of the open oven.
3. Push in and hold the oven knob to the “ignite” setting.
4. Light the pilot light using a long match or lighter.
5. Continue to hold the oven knob for 10 seconds so the pilot light heats up.
6. Close the oven door, and set your oven temperature using the oven knob.

Steps

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Taking the Proper Safety Precautions

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1. 
   1
   Turn off the oven and make sure all the stove burners are off. Turn all the knobs on your gas oven and stove to “off”. Listen to make sure there is no hissing sound, which means gas is coming out. Make sure that your kitchen doesn’t smell like gas before you try to light the oven.

   • The “off” position is when the knobs are turned all the way to the right and the dial is facing straight up.
   • Grigorian states that "about 99% of stoves and ovens do not have pilots; they are either electric units or have an electrical igniter. This replaced the original pilot system.” It is safe to light the pilot light for ovens with a “piloted system” if you follow the instructions carefully.
   • If you have an automatic ignition in your gas oven, Grigorian says all you have to do is “turn your oven knob to the temperature that you prefer (for example, 350 °F (177 °C)), and it automatically turns on your flame.”

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Gevorg Grigorian is an appliance repair specialist with over 15 years of experience in residential and commercial appliance repairs as well as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) services.
2. 
   2
   Open all windows and doors in your kitchen for ventilation. Make sure your kitchen is well-ventilated before you try to light the oven to be extra sure there is no standing gas. This is especially important if you’ve already been trying to light the oven for a while and turning the knobs on and off.

   • Once you have ventilated the kitchen as much as possible, let it air out for a few minutes if you were already trying to light the oven. This will allow any gas residue in your kitchen to disperse.
   • Proper ventilation is an important safety measure, no matter what type of pilot light you’re lighting (a gas furnace or water heater, for example).
   • Ventilation is also required when you have to turn off your pilot light for any reason.
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3. 
   3
   Open the oven door and locate the pilot light hole. Open the oven door all the way to safely locate the pilot light. The pilot light hole is a small hole that is usually located in the front center, near the door, or in a back corner. Some ovens will have it labeled “pilot light”.

   • Make sure the oven door is open all the way and locked into place.
   • Locate the light before you turn on the gas so that you don't leave the gas running while you search for it.
   • If you don’t see a hole in the bottom of the oven, and your model of oven has a broiler drawer at the bottom, then the pilot light could be in the back of the broiler drawer.
4. 
   4
   Clean the area around the pilot light hole with a microfiber cloth. Wipe away any grease and crust from around the pilot light to remove things that could catch on fire. Use a grease-fighting spray cleaner to get off any stubborn gunk.

   • This is an extra precaution and is more important when cleaning a gas stove or oven that hasn’t been used in a while or is particularly dirty.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Manually Lighting the Pilot Light

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1. 
   1
   Push in and hold the oven knob and turn it to the “ignite” setting. Push in the oven knob with one hand so you can turn it, and keep holding it until you have lit the pilot light. Turn it to the left to the “ignite” symbol or the first temperature setting.

   • Every oven model is different, but there should be either a little picture of a flame or the lowest setting for oven temperature (usually 170 °F (77 °C) to 200 °F (93 °C)) right in the middle of the dial on the left-hand side. This is where you want to turn the knob to.
2. 
   2
   Hold a long match or lighter near or in the pilot light hole to light it. Light a long match with your hand that isn’t holding the oven knob, or use a lighter with a long tip (like a BBQ lighter). Slowly move the flame towards the pilot light hole until it lights.

   • If you only have small matches, light one and drop it into the hole to be safe. Another alternative is lighting a twisted-up piece of paper or a wooden skewer to use as the lighter.
3. 
   3
   Keep holding the oven knob for 10 seconds to let the pilot light heat up. Let the pilot light heat up for about 10 seconds before you adjust the temperature. The pilot light will just go out if you try to change the oven’s temperature too soon.

   • If you accidentally let go of the knob and the pilot light goes out, turn everything off and start from the beginning.
4. 
   4
   Close the oven door and adjust the temperature as needed. Shut the oven once you are sure the pilot light is staying lit. Turn the oven knob to the temperature you want to set it to so it can heat up, and you can use your oven.

   • If you are unable to light your gas oven after a few attempts, or your gas oven is not heating, there may be a problem with the pilot light. Turn everything off and call a professional to come take a look at it.
   • When you’re using a gas stove for the first time and it’s not heating up, call a technician to make sure the gas stove is properly hooked up.
   • Other reasons a gas oven isn’t heating up:
     • The circuit breaker is tripped: Try resetting the breaker.
     • A bad outlet: Plug the oven into another outlet to test it.
     • A faulty ignitor: Contact a professional to replace it.
     • Temperature sensor issues: Use an oven thermometer to check if recalibration is necessary.
     • Disruption in gas supply: Check the gas valve and/or service disruptions in your area.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  I just bought a new gas oven. Will I need to light it myself?

  

  Gevorg Grigorian
  Appliance Repair Expert

  Gevorg Grigorian is an Appliance Repair Specialist and the Owner of G and R Appliance Repair in Los Angeles, California. With over 15 years of experience, Gevorg specializes in residential and commercial appliance repairs as well as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) services. Gevorg holds a BS in Business Administration and Management from California State University-Northridge.

  

  Gevorg Grigorian

  Appliance Repair Expert

  Expert Answer

  Newer gas ovens use an electric igniter, which means you don't need to light it yourself. All you need to do is turn the knob to the degree that you prefer and it will automatically turn on the flame.

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