BACKFEB 14, 2026
A sudden clicking, hissing, or buzzing from your stove can be unsettling. It’s an appliance you rely on every day, and any unusual sound can make you wonder if it’s safe to use.
Looking for more guidance? Take a look at our Repairs overview.
The good news is that most stove noises are either normal or indicate a simple fix you can often handle yourself. The key is to correctly identify the sound and understand what it’s telling you. This isn’t about becoming an appliance expert; it’s about knowing whether to grab a toothbrush for a quick cleaning or to pick up the phone and call a professional.
This guide will walk you through the common noises for both gas and electric stoves, helping you diagnose the issue and decide on the right next step with confidence.
Before we can diagnose the sound, we need to know what kind of stove you have. The internal parts are very different, and so are the solutions. If you’re not sure, here’s a quick way to tell:
Once you’ve confirmed your stove type, you can jump to the section that applies to you.
Gas stoves can make several distinct sounds. Let’s work through the most frequent ones.
When you turn the knob on a gas stove, you should hear a series of clicks as the igniter sparks to light the gas. This clicking should stop within a few seconds once a steady flame appears. If it keeps clicking, it’s usually due to a minor issue with the igniter.
What’s likely happening: The igniter is the small ceramic probe next to the burner that creates the spark. If it's damp, dirty, or misaligned, the stove's control module doesn't sense a flame and keeps trying to light it.
Safe to Try Yourself: This is one of the most common and easily fixed stove issues. Before you start, unplug the stove or turn off the circuit breaker that powers it.
When to Call a Professional: If you’ve thoroughly cleaned and dried the burner components and the clicking continues, the igniter switch or the spark module that controls it may have failed. This is a job for a qualified appliance technician.
You should hear a low, gentle "whoosh" when your burner is on. If you hear loud hissing, sputtering, or popping sounds, or see the flames lifting off the burner in an uneven pattern, the gas flow is likely being disrupted.
What’s likely happening: The small holes, or ports, around the burner head are clogged with food spills or grease, preventing gas from flowing out evenly.
Safe to Try Yourself:
When to Call a Professional: If a thorough cleaning doesn’t fix the issue, the problem could be with the gas pressure or the regulator. Do not attempt to adjust gas lines or regulators yourself. This work requires a licensed gas technician to ensure it’s done safely.
Electric stoves tend to be quieter, but they can still make noises that signal a problem.
When you turn on a coil or radiant glass-top burner, a low hum can be normal as it heats up. However, a loud or persistent buzzing noise often points to a poor connection.
What’s likely happening: On coil stoves, the element's prongs may not be fully seated in the receptacle. On any stove, the element itself might be failing.
Safe to Try Yourself (Coil Stoves Only): First, make sure the burner is off and completely cool. Then, turn off power to the stove at the circuit breaker.
When to Call a Professional: If re-seating the coil doesn’t work, or if you have a glass-top stove, the heating element itself probably needs to be replaced. For a glass cooktop, this involves disassembling the unit and is best left to a professional. A buzzing sound from the control panel is also a sign to call a technician immediately.
Many modern ovens have one or two fans: a convection fan inside the oven to circulate hot air, and a cooling fan to protect the electronics. If you hear a metallic scraping or a loud whirring when the oven is on (or for a while after you turn it off), a fan is likely the culprit.
What’s likely happening: A fan blade may have become loose or bent, or the motor bearing is wearing out.
What to Do:
When to Call a Professional: If the fan blade is clearly damaged or the motor is loose and wobbly when you touch it, the motor needs to be replaced. This is a common repair for an appliance technician.
Dealing with a strange noise from a major appliance can add stress to your day, but you’re equipped to handle it now. By identifying the sound and understanding the cause, you can make a clear, calm decision.
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