Why won't my burner light, and what should I do?

First, ensure the gas shut-off valve is in the 'ON' position and the burner caps and bases are not clogged. Make sure the igniters are clean and dry, and check that power is properly supplied with correct polarity and the circuit breaker is not tripped. If the burner still fails to light within 4 seconds, turn it off and wait at least 5 minutes before trying again.