A common issue that people face is when a gas furnace ignitor not working. As such, it is very important to detect any problems with the gas furnace ignitor early. Detecting the problem early will help you to determine whether the problem requires the services of an expert HVAC contractor or not. If professional help is required, make sure that you contact the contractor for a furnace repair without delay.
How To Figure Out If You Have A Faulty Gas Furnace Ignitor
Contents
- 1 How To Figure Out If You Have A Faulty Gas Furnace Ignitor
- 2 What Exactly Is An Electronic Ignition Gas Furnace Failure?
- 3 What Usually Causes A Gas Furnace Ignitor To Not Function Properly
- 4 Heating System Ignitor Troubleshooting Pointers
- 5 Contact An HVAC Contractor Each Time You Have Problems With Your Gas Furnace
- 6 Contact PFO Heating & Air Conditioning For All Of Your Heating Requirements
Keep reading this article if you want to know how best you can troubleshoot a furnace ignitor. We will also discuss the best time to call an expert HVAC technician.
Different Kinds Of Furnace Ignition Systems
Older furnace models had pilot lights that remained on as long as the heating unit was on. They were also fitted with burners that had gas valves which when opened, would kindle the combustion gas. If for some reason the pilot light developed a fault, the furnace would not switch on.
Modern heating units are now fitted with electronic ignition systems. There are two main types; the hot surface ignition unit and the intermittent pilot unit.
The intermittent pilot unit comes with an electric spark that switches on the pilot light. As soon as the sensor senses that the pilot light is now on, the valves to the burners are immediately opened up, causing the pilot light to ignite the burners. With the hot surface ignition unit, electricity will flow in that area’s direction. The moment the ignition system gets to the desired temperature, gas will begin to flow to the burner, lighting up the ignitor.
These two systems basically switch off the pilot light the moment the furnace is turned on. This makes modern heating units more energy efficient when compared with the older models.
What Exactly Is An Electronic Ignition Gas Furnace Failure?
If the electronic ignition stops kindling the burners, it means that it has developed a fault.
If the ignition develops such as fault, it also means that the heating unit is no longer producing heat. Sometimes the unit develops what is called delayed ignition. It is quite easy to figure out if the issue is delayed ignition; a loud booming sound is normally heard prior to ignition.
When this happens, if you switch on the ignitor several times in a row, gas will begin to collect. The accumulation of gas should be a cause of concern for one’s safety, and this needs to be attended to on an urgent basis by a professional.
What Usually Causes A Gas Furnace Ignitor To Not Function Properly
We discuss some of the causes of a furnace ignitor failure below.
Damaged Ignitor
Ignitors, like any other contraption, can also suffer wear and tear or get damaged. It is important to make sure that when the ignitor is old, it is replaced since ignitors are not meant to last as long as the heating unit itself. If you approach an HVAC technician for assistance, they should be able to tell you if it is the right time to replace the ignitor or not. In order to determine this, the technician inspects the unit by first removing the service panel. They will then take out the ignitor wires so that he can test the ignitor using a multimeter.
The Incorrect Ignitor For Your Furnace
Sometimes the failure is a result of using the incorrect ignitor with the wrong voltage.
High-Temperature Limit Switch
Most heating units now have a limit switch which prevents very high temperatures. If the air filters become clogged for some reason, the switch can turn off the ignitor early. And, sometimes the limit switch itself can develop a mechanical issue which causes the ignitor not to be turned on.
Power Surge
The electric ignitor can also become faulty due to a power surge; resulting in it burning out. Hot surface ignitors that normally use burning filaments are normally affected by power surges.
Heating System Ignitor Troubleshooting Pointers
There are a lot of advantages that come with knowing how to troubleshoot your furnace. Below are some of the troubleshooting measures that you can take:
Examine The Power
The first thing you should do is to examine the power source and see if the unit is receiving enough power. It could be that the circuit breaker is not supplying power to the system.
Reset The Ignitor
In order to achieve this, you have to stop the furnace from receiving any power first. You can do this by simply switching off the part of the main circuit which powers the unit. Thereafter, look for the ignitor which will be behind the burner door. Switch in off and then wait for about five minutes and then switch it on again. After this, you can close the burner door and make sure that it’s closed properly. Turn on the main circuit and then restart the heating unit.
Contact An HVAC Contractor Each Time You Have Problems With Your Gas Furnace
Every time your gas furnace develops a fault, make it a point that you contact a professional HVAC company for assistance. An expert HVAC contractor, after thoroughly inspecting the unit, will be able to find out what the root cause of the problem is. After determining the issue, they will be able to give you the appropriate solution for the problem. That way, you will have no doubt that your unit is being handled correctly.
You might be tempted to go the DIY route when it comes to fixing your gas furnace, but this is not recommended. This is the type of contraption that should only be handled by a trained HVAC technician. It is dangerous to attempt to fix it yourself and you might actually make the situation worse. If you do not have the expertise to fix the unit, call someone who can. At the end of the day, you will end up paying more for the repairs if you carry out a DIY furnace repair. Contacting an HVAC company will save you money and time while ensuring your safety.
Conclusion
Knowing a couple of troubleshooting pointers will give you a better understanding of what exactly is going on with your furnace. That way, you can even tell the technician what you think the problem is over the phone. Some furnace ignitor problems are so complex that an expert should be the only one to address them.
Contact your local experienced HVAC technician for a professional solution. If you call your local HVAC company, your heating unit will be working perfectly in no time at all.
Contact PFO Heating & Air Conditioning For All Of Your Heating Requirements
PFO Heating & Air Conditioning offers the best heating and cooling services in the area. We hire the finest certified technicians who can provide you with outstanding HVAC servicing, repairs, installations, as well as replacements. All our technicians have the know-how and experience to service your HVAC unit the correct way.
Do you require a furnace repair or replacement? Then you don’t need to worry because you are in the correct hands with PFO Heating & Air Conditioning. We guarantee the most reasonably priced furnace repair and replacement services in the area. Our priority is always to provide great indoor air quality and the best comfort in an energy-efficient manner. You can schedule an appointment by calling us today and getting a free, in-home estimate.
Click here to contact us now or call us at (800) 253-9001 to find out more!