Tips on how to solve the 3 most common gas cooktop issues

Who wants to get to work in the kitchen with a gas cooktop that just is not cooperating?? That is right, no one! 

You’ve mustered up a delicious menu, you’ve got all the ingredients ready to go, cooking time is approaching, your stainless steel sink is clean and ready to welcome your used food prep equipment and your stovetop appears to be ready to go. Check, check, and check... until you have popped your frypan on your cooktop, and everything comes to a halt! Why? 

You take a moment and know you will figure it out – Afterall, you visited your local Sydney supplier at their last sale and invested into quality products such as your commercial gas cooktop, commercial catering equipage, benchtop catering equipment that adorn your shelves and benches and not to mention that commercial refrigeration system that at the moment is keeping your food cool while you decipher what is happening. Now that is what I call a collective effort. 

The silver lining here is that most times we are faced with these issues, they usually have an uncomplicated and stress-free solution. The fix can be quite a simple one and solved swiftly. So, let us have a look at the 3 most common reasons why your gas cooktop may not be quite ready. 

1.       THE STOVETOP BURNER JUST WONT LIGHT UP. 

One of the most common issues and one most people have experienced at some point. Whether it be at home or at work – burners do not discriminate! Sometimes, they just don’t want to light up, you try and try with no result. However, most times it is a simple fix. 

Try these things: 

  • Observe - what is actually happening as you are attempting to light your gas cooktop? If you can hear the clicking sound while you press it, however you cannot smell the gas then perhaps you have a gas flow issue. 
  • Clean - Remove both the knobs and the graters and give them a thorough clean. Be sure to clean off all residue, grime or food overspill. Sometimes the connection is interrupted due to residue. Clean and dry them and reconnect. 
  • Warranty – have a look at your warranty or user manual for troubleshooting that you received upon purchase.  

At Simco we know peace of mind is priceless, which is why we offer 2 years warranty on all parts and labour. BUT! yes there is a but! If you register online, we will give you an additional 2 years warranty! Do not you wish all “but’s” were like that! 

2.       THE IGNITER ON MY GAS COOKTOP WONT STOP CLICKING 

You’ve turned on your burner, and you’ve heard that reassuring clicking sound. But after a few moments that reassuring sound becomes concerning because it won’t stop, not to mention the fact that the burner is not yet lit either. 

Try these things: 

  • Commonly this happens because the natural flow and function of the burner has been interrupted. In other words, food and spills can become caught between the gaps in the burner, naturally creating obstruction. Try using a metal clip to get rid of any food or debris that has been left behind. 
  • Make sure your plates are aligned in their correct position. Sometimes they are incorrectly placed and also create obstruction. 
  • Often moisture is created and needs to be aired or dried out. Too much moisture creates obstruction for the gas to flow so give them a good wipe down with a dry cloth or allow them to air dry. 

3.       SLOW HEATING 

Another common issue is that the flame is just not lighting as fiercely as you need it to. Let's be honest, sometimes a weak flame is just not going to do the job. There are times that you need a flame working as hard as you and you need it to keep up!  

Try these things: 

  • The kitchen is for cooking, right? So, it’s expected that food will make its way to all types of nooks and crannies. Sometimes, we miss them in the cleaning process, but they can slow down the process and in this case the flame. Check your graters and give them a thorough clean to ensure there are no blockages. 
  • If a wipe down is not sufficient, remove them and give them a good wash in warm soapy water. 
  • After soaking, give them a good scrub with a brush and if needed, use vinegar to really cut through grease and grime. 
  • Before you do any of these however, make sure you allow the burner to cool down before touching. 

With all the cooking that goes on in a kitchen, there is no doubt that just like your stainless steel hood needs a good clean, your steels sinks, your benches and shelves, your benchtop catering and food preparation utensils, your commercial fridge and all your other equipage need to be cared for and maintained cleaned, so does your commercial stovetop. 

The kitchen is the perfect space to create lasting memories on someone's palette. We know how important it is, which is why we offer our service operators the best choice in commercial gas cooktops Sydney (and Australia wide), commercial products, gas cooktops and refrigeration systems.  

As an Australian based company, we have commercial gas cooktops for sale - you can contact us from Sydney to Perth, or Brisbane to Melbourne. Contact www.simcogroup.com.au , your commercial benchtop and catering equipment supplier, where you will find all the fittings you need for sale, as well as a team dedicated to providing the best commercial catering equipment.