Absolute Gas Stove Giving You Electric Shocks? What We Found in Bryanston
A homeowner in Bryanston got a shock every time she turned a burner knob to light it, even while wearing shoes. Our diagnosis found a cracked igniter that was sending the ignition spark into the stove's metal top instead of the burner.
Updated
🔍 R350 call-out to inspect & diagnoseQuick answer
A gas stove that shocks you when you light the burners usually has a cracked or dirty igniter, so the ignition spark jumps to the metal hob instead of the burner. A poor earth connection makes it worse. Switch the stove off at the isolator, stop using the ignition, and have a technician replace the igniter and test the earth. In Gauteng, Absolute Repairs diagnoses this on site for a R350 call-out.
If your stove is shocking you right now
- Stop using the stove. Don't touch the hob while lighting the burners.
- Switch it off at the wall isolator or the stove circuit breaker on your distribution board.
- If you smell gas, close the gas valve or cylinder, open windows and don't operate any switches.
- Call a technician. A stove that shocks has a fault that can get worse.
The job: shocks when switching on the plates
The customer had a dual-fuel range cooker: gas burners on top, electric ovens below, and push-and-turn knobs with automatic spark ignition. Every time she turned a burner knob, she felt a sharp shock through the hand resting on the stove. She was wearing shoes, so she couldn't understand how it was happening.
What we found
Each gas burner has a small igniter: a metal electrode set in a white ceramic insulator. When you turn the knob, a spark generator sends rapid high-voltage pulses to the electrode, and a spark jumps to the burner to light the gas. The ceramic's job is to stop that voltage from going anywhere else.
On this stove, the ceramic on one igniter was cracked. Instead of jumping to the burner, the spark was tracking through the crack to the stove's metal top. With her hand on that metal, part of the discharge went through her.
Why shoes didn't protect her
Shoes reduce the chance of current flowing through your feet to the floor, but that isn't the only path. Current can pass from one hand to the other, or to a worktop, tap or other appliance you're touching. Ignition sparks are very high voltage, so they can jump through small gaps and thin insulation. A properly earthed stove should also carry stray voltage away safely. If you're still getting a shock, the earth connection is worth checking too.
Other reasons a stove can shock you
Cracked or dirty igniters
Cracks, grease or spilt food on the ceramic let the spark track to the hob. This is the most common cause on gas hobs.
Poor or missing earth
If the stove's earth wire is loose or was never connected, any leakage stays on the metal body instead of tripping the earth leakage.
Moisture in the ignition system
Spills or cleaning water running into the spark generator or switches cause sparking in the wrong places, or non-stop clicking.
Oven element leaking to earth
A damaged element in an electric or dual-fuel oven can put voltage on the casing, and often trips the earth leakage as well.
Damaged wiring
Insulation that is chafed, heat-damaged or chewed by rodents behind the stove, or a badly made connection at the isolator.
We repair gas and electric stoves across Gauteng
Igniters, spark generators, burners, thermocouples, oven elements, thermostats and fans, on site, for a R350 call-out. See our pages for oven and stove repair in Sandton and appliance repair in Bryanston, or read why an oven stops heating.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my gas stove shock me when I light it?
Usually the spark from a cracked or dirty igniter is jumping to the metal hob instead of the burner. A poor earth connection makes it worse. Stop using the ignition and have it checked.
Is a shock from a gas stove dangerous?
Ignition shocks are usually brief, but they can make you jump, drop a pan or touch a hot burner. They also show a fault that can get worse. Don't keep using the stove until it's repaired.
Can I use the burners with a match until it's fixed?
Only if the stove's electrical supply is switched off at the isolator and you don't smell gas. It's safer not to use it until a technician has checked it.
How much does it cost to fix a stove igniter?
The call-out and diagnosis is R350. Igniter replacement is then quoted as a fixed price, depending on the stove model and part.
Stove shocking you or clicking non-stop?
Switch it off at the isolator and WhatsApp us a photo of the stove and its rating plate. Monday to Saturday, 07:30–17:30.