Broken Furnace Ignitor

Most furnaces fail to operate when the gas furnace ignitor is broken. A gas furnace ignitor is what lights the gas, which is necessary for heat supply. Most furnaces installed in buildings have a flame sensor and an ignitor.

If the ignitor fails, the flame sensor will not work. Consequently, the gas supply will be automatically cut off, and the furnace will be shut down. Problems with a gas furnace ignitor can be fixed using simple techniques. However, if the ignitor does not work at all, it will have to be replaced. Here’s how you can repair your broken gas furnace ignitor.

Broken Furnace Ignitor

Step 1 – Inspect the Pilot Light Turn the power off on the furnace. Check the pilot light, and see if it lights properly. The light may go out repeatedly or may not work at all.

This indicates a problem with the thermocouple. If the pilot light is working normally, but the furnace is noisy, the furnace may need minor repairs. Also check the air filter; if it is dirty, clean it. Clean the blower blades and lubricate the motor. Finally, inspect the belt attached to the motor. Step 2 – Inspect the Electrical Service Panel The next step is to check the electrical service panel and see if there is a tripped breaker or a fuse that is burnt out. Relight the pilot heat and check the temperatures.

If the heat is not enough, adjust the air shutter of the burner. Clean the ports of the burner. Check the temperatures again and see if the pilot light remains lit. If not, use a toothpick to clean the pilot orifice.

Step 3 – Inspect the Thermocouple After you have cleaned the pilot orifice, check the thermocouple for any visible damage. If the thermocouple is not working properly, you may need to replace it. Adjust the pilot once again and set it at a higher setting. Step 4 – Lighting the Pilot Check the control knob and set it on pilot.

Hold a match under the gas port of the pilot. Press the control knob and see if the pilot lights are on. Hold the knob down until the flame begins to burn brightly. Slowly release the pressure and turn to the on position. Igi 5 Pc Game System Requirements more.

Are you having heating problems and suspect the igniter my be at fault? If so, click to quickly troubleshoot your furnace's igniter to see if it's faulty.

Step 5 – Replacing the Ignitor If none of these techniques works, you will have to replace the ignitor. Turn the furnace off and open the access door. Disconnect the wiring harness by pressing on the tabs that hold the wiring. Using a screwdriver, remove the hex screws that hold the ignitor to the furnace. If the ignitor is broken or badly discolored, it will have to be replaced.

Insert the new ignitor into the furnace, with its tip inside. Using the retaining screws, fasten the ignitor to the furnace. Reconnect the wiring harness and close the access door to the furnace. Turn the power of the furnace back on.

Broken Furnace Ignitor

Ignite the burner to check whether the new ignitor is working. Kaspersky Internet Security 2011 Activation Code Key File.

Message on Facebook With our ignitor replacement guide, you can diagnose and replace your furnace ignitor. For a hvac service company to provide the part and install it, you would pay around $150. With this helpful guide you can keep most of that money!

You can even watch our video to see how it is done. **NOTE** ONLY YOU CAN ASSESS YOUR ABILITY TO PERFORM THIS TASK.

THIS IS A GUIDE AND CANNOT PROVIDE ALL DETAILS FOR EVERY SITUATION. Before proceeding with replacement, you should first verify that it is the problem. You can do so by watching our video on the player below. Types of Ignitors. The purpose of the ignitor, on your furnace, is to automatically light the gas for the pilot light or main burners. This is usually accomplished in one of two ways.

The first method is spark ignition. The ignitor is a round piece of metal with a ceramic insulator. The furnace control board supplies a high voltage to the ignitor which causes a spark that ignites the gas. There is usually another metal rod called a flame sensor which senses the flame. After the flame is sensed, the control shuts the power off to the ignitor and the sparking stops. The other method is hot surface ignition.

This is more common on newer high efficiency furnaces. This method uses a ceramic ignitor. The furnace control supplies power to the ignitor and causes the ignitor to heat up. When the ignitor is glowing bright with the heat, the gas is turned on.

The gas is ignited by the heat of the ignitor. After the flame sensor senses heat, the furnace control turns the power off to the ignitor.

Ignitor Replacement, Diagnosing Problems. On spark ignition systems, it is rare for the ignitor or flame sensor to go bad. They are really just a piece of metal with a ceramic insulation mounting base. If they appear to be bad, look for a crack in the ceramic base.

If you do not see a crack the ignitor or sensor is probably not defective. Sometimes they get a buildup of deposits on them which cause them not to sense the flame. Instead of replacing it, you should clean the sensor by wiping the deposits off or shining with a piece of steel wool. On hot surface ignition systems, if the ignitor does not heat up and glow bright orange, look for a crack in the ignitor. It is usually easy to spot. If there is not a crack, the ignitor is good.

To begin the ignitor replacement, you should turn the power to the furnace off. Then you can disconnect the wire(s) that go to the ignitor. On hot surface ignition systems, the ignitor wires are usually in a plastic plug and socket. On spark ignition systems there is usually only one wire that snaps onto the ignitor or ignition module. Then you can remove the mounting screws and remove the ignitor. You can use the numbers that are usually printed on the ignitor to find the proper replacement or there are several universal kits available.

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This entry was posted on 11/3/2017.