Lighting the pilot light on a gas stove is a fairly simple process, but working with gas can be dangerous so you should exercise caution and contact your local gas company if you notice a very strong gas odor. A slight odor, however, is normal if you have a pilot light that has gone out.
To save yourself some trouble and frustration, you may want to clean the tip of the pilot if the light has gone out. Sometimes, grease and food particles can become trapped in the tip, causing the flame to go out. By cleaning it, you make the light easier to ignite and improve the chances that it will stay lit.
To clean the tip, shut off all of your stove controls. Next, lift the range top off or up, exposing your pilot lights to view. Remove the cap or cover on the one that is blown out and remove any debris. You can use a straight pin to clear the gas opening, and using a stiff brush and detergent, carefully scrub the tubes that lead from the burner to the pilot.
Once you are satisfied with your cleaning effort, you are ready to light your pilot. Make sure that you do not detect a heavy odor of gas in the air. If all is clear, hold a lit match over the gas hole. Many individuals prefer to use long matches for lighting pilots, as they allow you to keep your hand further away from the gas as you light it. Flames don’t shoot out in this type of situation, but it never hurts to be cautious.
Basically, you can light the oven pilot in the same way that you light the stove. You usually have to access it through the back of the oven, however, often through the broiler compartment. Once you can see the oven pilot, simply clean it and relight it using a long match.
If you have an electric gas stove, lighting your pilot light will be a bit different. If the burner on this type of stove won’t light, the problem could be caused by an impaired pilot electrode. To fix this problem, unplug your stove and clean the electrodes using a small brush, removing anything that is blocking the igniter. Sometimes, a cover blocks the electrode from reach, so remove any cover or bridge before you attempt to clean it.