Commercial Gas Cooker and Range Repair: Burners, Pilots, Valves and Ovens
The short answer
A commercial gas cooker or range usually fails in the gas train or the burners: a pilot that will not stay lit, a thermocouple or safety valve that shuts the gas off, burner ports clogged with grease, or a gas valve or regulator that does not deliver the right pressure. The range oven underneath adds its own thermostat and ignition. Each of these can be tested on site.
- Atlantic City + 50 miles across South Jersey
- A written quote before any repair
- Nothing is repaired without your approval
What to check first
Smell gas?
Shut the equipment off, ventilate, leave and call the gas utility first.
One burner or all?
One burner points to that burner or valve; all of them to the gas supply or the regulator.
Flame color
Steady blue is good. Yellow, lifting or noisy flames need adjustment or cleaning.
Pilot stays lit?
A pilot that lights but goes out when you let go usually means the thermocouple.
Is this your problem?
Pick what you see to read what it usually means.
Common gas range problems
A burner will not light
Clogged burner ports or pilot orifice, a pilot that went out, or a burner valve. Grease and boil-overs are the usual reason ports clog.
The pilot goes out
A weak thermocouple, a dirty pilot, a draft from the hood or makeup air, or low gas pressure.
Uneven or yellow flames
Dirty burners, the air shutter out of adjustment, or the wrong gas pressure. Yellow flames waste gas and put soot on pans.
The range oven does not heat
The oven pilot or igniter, the safety valve, or the thermostat. See the full guide on commercial oven repair.
What a repair visit includes
The technician checks gas supply and pressure, cleans and tests pilots and burners, tests thermocouples and safety valves, adjusts the flame and checks the oven thermostat. You get the cause and a written quote before any repair starts. Nothing is repaired without your approval.
Call (609) 826-1174 or book a visit online. See restaurant equipment repair for the rest of the kitchen.
Keep a range lighting every morning
- Wipe spills from the burner area while it is cool; boil-overs are what clog ports.
- Clean grates and drip trays on a schedule so grease does not reach the pilots.
- Have burners cleaned and flames adjusted once or twice a year.
- Add the cooking line to a maintenance plan.
Safety first
If you smell gas, do not try to relight anything: shut the equipment valve if it is safe, leave the building and call the gas utility. Once it is safe, call (609) 826-1174 to repair the equipment.
Repair or replace?
| What to look at | Repair usually makes sense when | Replacement is worth pricing when |
|---|---|---|
| The problem | An igniter, a thermostat, a valve, a safety or a heating element. | A cracked burner box, a rusted-through cabinet or failures that keep coming back. |
| The equipment | Commercial equipment that is built to be repaired and has parts available. | Parts are no longer made for it, or it no longer fits the menu. |
| The cost | The repair is a small part of the price of new equipment. | The repair is close to the price of new equipment. |
A technician tests it first and gives you a written quote, so you can compare repairing with replacing before you decide.
Brands we work on
Gesser Services is an independent service company and is not affiliated with these manufacturers. Brand names and logos belong to their owners.
Questions people ask
Why will my commercial range burner not light?
Usually clogged burner ports or pilot, a pilot that went out, or a burner valve. Grease and boil-overs are the most common cause.
Why does the pilot go out on my range?
A weak thermocouple, a dirty pilot, a draft from the hood or low gas pressure.
Is a yellow flame a problem?
Yes. It usually means dirty burners or the air mix out of adjustment, which wastes gas and leaves soot.
Do you repair the oven under the range too?
Yes. The range oven’s pilot or igniter, safety valve and thermostat are part of the same visit.
Where we work
Atlantic City and every town within 50 miles, homes and businesses.
- Atlantic City
- Ventnor City
- Brigantine
- Margate City
- Pleasantville
- Absecon
- Longport
- Northfield
- Linwood
- Smithville
- Egg Harbor Township
- Somers Point
- Ocean City
- Pomona
- Galloway
- Port Republic
- Mystic Island
- Marmora
- New Gretna
- Beach Haven
- Egg Harbor City
- Tuckerton
- Estell Manor
- Mays Landing
And 95 more towns. See the service area