Replacing A Burned-Out Ignitor Is An Easy Gas Furnace Repair

If your gas furnace isn't starting up, the problem could be with the ignitor. Modern furnaces use electronic ignition to start a furnace rather than a standing pilot light. So, a bad ignitor is basically the same as when a pilot light goes out on a furnace. Here's how the ignitor works, how to tell it needs to be replaced, and how this type of gas furnace repair is done.

The Ignitor Creates Heat That Makes A Flame

The ignitor gets a signal to heat up when your furnace kicks on. The end of the ignitor gets extremely hot right away, so when gas is released, the heat ignites the gas to create a flame. The flame then lights the burners. The ignitor is an important part that plays a role in the ignition process required for your furnace to create heat. If the ignitor burns out, your furnace won't light.

The Ignitor Can Be Tested With A Multimeter

When an ignitor goes bad, it must be replaced. This is a fairly fast and simple gas furnace repair. To tell if the ignitor is bad, the repair technician removes it from the furnace. Sometimes, it's obvious the part is bad because it will look damaged or broken. If it's not obvious, the technician can use a multimeter to verify if there is continuity through the part. If not, the part needs to be replaced.

The technician can also tell if the ignitor is bad by taking the cover off of the furnace and watching the parts as the furnace tries to start. If the furnace kicks on and the ignitor doesn't start glowing and no flame is created, the technician knows the problem is with the electronic ignition.

Replacing An Ignitor Is A Common Gas Furnace Repair

The ignitor can be found by following the gas line in your furnace to the burners. It's a small part, but it's usually easy to see unless the type of furnace you have hides it behind a panel. If so, the repair technician has to remove the panel to access the ignitor. Otherwise, they can just reach for it and unhook the wiring, remove the screws, and pull the part out.

This needs to be done to check the ignitor visually and with a multimeter. If the part needs to be replaced, the furnace repair technician can position the new ignitor in place, secure it with screws, and attach the wiring. The repair technician has to be careful not to touch the ends of the ignitor since it's fragile and can be damaged easily.

Once the new ignitor is in place, the technician can reset your furnace and start a heating cycle to make sure the ignitor glows and lights the flame that starts the furnace burners. 

For more info about gas furnace repair, contact a local company.