Whirlpool Oven Igniter (12400035)

The Whirlpool Oven Igniter is the component responsible for lighting the gas burner in your oven, allowing it to reach and maintain the set cooking temperature. It works by drawing electrical current to heat up until it glows hot enough to open the gas valve and ignite the burner, cycling on and off as needed to keep the oven at the right temperature.

The Whirlpool Oven Igniter can weaken or fail over time due to normal heat exposure, electrical stress, or simply wearing out after years of repeated heating cycles. A weak igniter may still glow but draw insufficient current to open the gas valve, which is one of the most common reasons a gas oven fails to heat even when the igniter appears to be working.

Watch for these symptoms to help determine if your oven igniter needs to be replaced:

- Oven does not heat up at all despite the igniter glowing

- Igniter takes longer than usual to light the burner

- Oven takes much longer than expected to reach the set temperature

- Igniter glows but the burner never ignites

- Oven burner lights inconsistently or goes out during cooking

- Visible cracks, breaks, or damage on the igniter itself

- Strong gas smell when trying to start the oven