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Your furnace won’t run: The most obvious sign that your ignitor is bad is that it won’t ignite, and this generally manifests itself in your furnace failing to run when you activate it. One word of caution, though: this can also be caused by other issues, some of which are electrical.
How do you know if your ignitor is bad?
Test The Ignitor With A Multimeter Set a multimeter to the lowest possible resistance test and place the probes onto tips of the plug for the ignitor. If the multimeter shows infinity or stays at zero, the ignitor no longer works and must be replaced.
What happens when ignitor goes bad on furnace?
If you have a faulty furnace ignitor, it won’t produce that small spark to heat the air coming from your furnace. Without it, your heater blows air at the same temperature as the cold outside air. Cold air blowing through your vents is a good sign that you have a heating problem within the furnace.
How often should furnace ignitor be replaced?
According to the Gas Furnace Guide, ignitors have an average lifespan of four to seven years. So, after about seven years, you may have to replace the ignitor; however, you probably won’t have to replace the entire furnace because other parts, such as the heat exchanger, can last more than 15 years.
Can hear your furnace click on but it does not fire up?
The Pilot Light (Faulty Ignition Sensor) The pilot light or ignition sensor is usually the most common issue when your furnace will not ignite. This is typically the problem if you can hear your furnace click on but it does not fire up. If the sensor or ignitor is dirty, it will need to be cleaned.
What causes furnace ignitor failure?
As mentioned above, sometimes the cause of a furnace ignitor failing to ignite is due to a safety issue, such as a clogged air filter, for instance. So, if your furnace is failing to ignite, it’s a good idea to check the air filter. If it looks clogged up, then this is probably the source of the problem.
Are furnace ignitors interchangeable?
Most ignitors are interchangeable as long as they fit in the furnace space provided. Select your ignitor by looking at the one you have, and comparing it to the photos of ignitors here; select the one most similar.
Can you clean a furnace ignitor?
If your furnace has a spark ignitor and it’s working haphazardly, it too could be covered with soot, and a blast of compressed air may be enough to clean it. Compressed air can also clean a blocked pilot tube that is causing the pilot flame to burn weakly or not at all.
How much does it cost to replace a furnace ignitor?
Here’s the bottom line: Whether for a natural gas furnace, oil, or a propane furnace, replacing a furnace ignitor–including parts and labor–will cost you around $300 – $425 for a qualified contractor to install. Compare that to, say, a draft inducer motor, which will cost $400 – $1,500 to replace.
Why does my furnace igniter keep clicking?
The ignitor will keep clicking as it tries to spark a flame. This could indicate a dangerous gas leak or clogged gas valve. This might be caused by faulty gas meter controls or the thermostat controls. If a gas furnace runs and then shuts off, or short cycles, this indicates an inconsistent flow of gas.
Why is the furnace blowing cold air?
A clogged filter is one of the leading reasons for a heater blowing cold air. But even if you swap the air filter with a brand new one, dirt and debris can still be found within the unit. This could eventually lead to overheating. If your furnace looks pretty dirty, call an HVAC provider for a professional clean.
How do you trick a flame sensor?
Luckily, making such a check is very easy: Take a multimeter with microamps (µA) measuring system. Keep the furnace system turned on. Connect it to the wire that is leading to the gas valve. Connect the other side of the multimeter to the sensor terminal. Take the lead away from the flame sensor.
Can I manually ignite my furnace?
Never attempt to light a furnace by a flame manually, especially if the furnace has an electronic igniter. A furnace equipped with an electronic igniter cannot be lit manually. Call for the services of a professional heating and cooling technician when the igniter is not working properly.
Are all hot surface ignitors interchangeable?
And each brand has different models. Within the same brand they might be more similar but no guarantee. And what makes matters worse is that the igniter you are replacing is probably broken. So if it was a hot wire igniter you won’t be able to compare the resistances to a new one to see if they might perform similarly.
Why is my gas heater not igniting?
One of the most common reasons for your gas heater not igniting or stopped working is because its thermostat is either off or not working properly. Therefore, make sure you check the thermostat, and if it is off, then turn it on while setting it on heat mode (5 degrees above your room temperature, at least).
