Cleaning Up a Boil-Over on a Viking Rangetop Without Hurting the Igniters

Spaghetti water, soup, and tomato sauce all flow into the same place when a pot goes over: the burner base, where the igniter sits. Rushing the cleanup, or using the wrong method, is how clicking and weak flames begin.

Cool first, then lift

Turn off the burners and wait until the grates are cool to the touch. Lift off the grates and burner caps. On a sealed burner system, the spill usually collects in a pan or basin below. Wipe up what you can with a damp cloth before it bakes on.

• Soak the grates and caps in hot soapy water, then scrub with a soft brush.
• Dry the caps completely before putting them back. Water trapped in the burner can stop it from lighting.
• Check that each cap sits flat and centered. A crooked cap gives an uneven flame.

Protect the igniter

The small ceramic tip beside each burner is the igniter. Never spray cleaner on it, and do not scrape it with metal. If sauce has dried on it, dampen a cotton swab with water or a little rubbing alcohol and dab gently. Let it dry for a few minutes before relighting.

Also look at the tiny slots around the burner ring. A toothpick or a soft brush clears them. Avoid pins and wire, which can enlarge the openings and change the flame.

Signs the spill went too far

If you hear constant clicking after drying, if one burner will not light while its neighbors do, or if the flame is weak and orange, liquid may have reached the spark module or the burner base. Stop using that burner and let us look at it. Continued clicking on a burner that will not light is a nuisance, and gas can accumulate if you keep trying.

We repair these burners regularly. See our rangetop repair page to book. You will receive a written price before any work begins, and our repairs come with a 30-day workmanship warranty.