I have a Gefest stove with electric ignition. The burner doesn't light up right away, I have to press the button 2-3 times. I changed the batteries recently. Could the problem be with the ignition device itself, or is it just wear and tear?
You changed the batteries - good, but don't jump straight to thinking you need to replace the igniter itself. Before calling a repair person, check the basics: clean the electrodes of oxidation and carbon buildup. Over time, dirt accumulates on the tips, which weakens the spark. Take some fine sandpaper or a soft brush and carefully wipe both ignition contacts (the tip of the needle and the metal part of the burner) - often that's enough. Also check that the burner itself isn't dirty and that the gas holes aren't clogged.
If it still takes 2-3 attempts after cleaning, then it's most likely the ignition electrode itself - it may produce a weak spark or the spark forms incorrectly. This isn't necessarily a breakdown: sometimes it helps to reposition the batteries so the contacts press together more tightly, or make sure the batteries are actually fresh (old ones lose voltage without you noticing). Also try turning the ignition knob not just back and forth, but with a slight pause - sometimes the system needs a moment to fire.
If none of that works, then yes, it's wear on the ignition electrode or a faulty button. On these stoves, that's usually not an expensive repair, and parts are sold separately. But honestly, clean the contacts first - for a lot of people that's what solves the problem.
The electrodes, yeah, but you should also check if the battery compartment is sitting tight and whether the contact's gotten corroded in there. People often overlook this, but the problem's usually a bad connection between the battery and the spring.
If the contacts are fine and the electrodes are clean, then the spark button itself has probably worn out - its mechanism stops producing a reliable click. On a Gefest, that's pretty common, especially if the stove's older than five or seven years.
Try checking the gap between the electrode and the burner too - it should be about 3-4 millimeters, otherwise the spark just won't jump :) With prolonged use, the electrodes shift, and the ignition becomes finicky. If you adjust the distance - it often helps.
All the options mentioned above make sense, but people forget about the most obvious thing - dirt inside the combustion chamber. My friend had the exact same stove, and the igniter was acting up simply because ash and food debris had built up in there, preventing the gas from igniting properly. She cleaned out the burner from the inside with a regular thin wire and a brush - and it worked on the first try after that. Before you start looking for problems in the electronics, just give the burner itself a good cleaning.
Check the gas tube that feeds gas to the ignition electrodes for leaks - it often gets clogged or develops micro-cracks from the stove's vibrations, and the gas just doesn't flow in the right amount for reliable ignition. All the other tips are correct, but people tend to forget to check this part even though it's critical for normal operation. If the tube is fine, then move on to cleaning the electrodes and checking the gaps the way they described above.
The main thing you need to check first is the contacts inside the battery compartment itself. Oxidation builds up there really quickly, especially if the batteries are old or have been sitting unused for a while. Take a cotton pad, dampen it with rubbing alcohol or just wipe it dry, and clean both contacts - the spring and the bottom of the compartment. Sometimes that's all it takes to get everything working properly again.
After that, remove the burner and look at the ignition electrodes - they should be clean and shiny. If they're covered in black carbon buildup or corrosion, carefully clean them with fine-grit sandpaper or even a regular eraser. Here's an important detail people often miss: check whether the electrodes themselves have shifted over time. The gap between them and the burner should be small, around 3-4 millimeters. If the electrode is pressed too close or has moved too far away, the spark either won't break through or will miss the target.
If the stove still lights up on the second or third try after all this, it's most likely an issue with the ignition module itself - it's starting to degrade. But definitely rule out everything else first, it's quick and costs nothing.
The gas channel that feeds gas to the burner can also get clogged - check if the tube running from the regulator to the burner isn't blocked. Bits of carbon buildup or food often end up there, and the gas has trouble flowing through, which means the electrode simply doesn't have enough time to ignite it. Clean out the channel with a thin needle or blow it out, and the problem will likely be solved.
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