'Snapping' Noise from Gas Stove

[phaeton]

Hello,

I have a Maytag gas range that is probably right around a year old. I'm noticing lately that will occasionally make a snapping noise when I'm cooking something. The sounds is a lot like what you get if you put a piece of paper on a desk and snap it with a rubber band. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to it- it will do it after 1 minute of cooking or 20 minutes of cooking. I'm not sure if it's isolated to one burner or not.

It's not an errant ignitor- I sat and watched all the burners I was using tonight to see if I could see something when it made the noise. It snapped a couple of times over a few minutes, but I couldn't see any change in any flame patterns or colors or anything.

Would/could this just be something that gas stoves do? Air in the line? I recently also mentioned a water heater pilot light that keeps going out (I can't figure out how to get to the thermocouple, and the pro is booked up). Perhaps related?

Anyone know if this is something or nothing to be concerned about?

Thanks for any help. "gas stove makes snapping noise" is a horrible thing to try to google.

-ph

[Edwin Pawlowski]

If the igniter is snapping, you won't see the flame doing anything. Look at where the igniter gap is to see if it is arcing.

[Steve Kraus]

How certain are you that it's not the ignitor firing for some reason? You said you looked at the flame and didn't see anything in time with the snaps but you wouldn't if it was the ignitor. I'd light a burner then kill power and see if it still does it. If so then maybe it's some odd thermal expansion thing which you'll have to track down by listening closely to where it's coming from. But eliminate the ignitor first.

[buffalobill]

[DK]

Ignore it.

[phaeton]

Sorry folks, I should have made it clear that when I sat and watched the burner, I was specifically staring at the ignitor. It really doesn't appear to be the ignitor, and the snapping noise is about 10 times louder than the 'clicking' noises that the ignitors make.

thanks