Does it feel like you’re freezing in your own home because the furnace won’t light? It’s easier to handle the situation if you know how to tell if a furnace ignitor is bad.
Georgia Air Cooling & Heating offers expert furnace repair in Richmond Hill that can keep you and your family comfortable during the cold winter months. Below, the team shares some advice for identifying problems with your furnace’s ignitor and how to care for it.
What Is a Furnace Ignitor?
In gas furnaces, the furnace ignitor is the modern solution to the old pilot light. If you’ve ever heard the click before your furnace starts blowing warm air, that’s the ignitor kicking in, and it is an essential component in the combustion process. Here’s how it works:
- When the temperature in your home is lower than your thermostat setting, it signals the gas valve to open.
- The gas flows into the ignition chamber.
- The ignitor creates a spark, allowing the gas to start heating the air.
- The furnace system then distributes the warm air throughout your home.
Without a properly functioning ignitor, your furnace won’t work.
6 Signs You Have a Bad Ignitor
If you don’t want to spend too much time in the cold, these six signs are helpful in knowing how to tell if a furnace ignitor is bad and needs a repair:
#1 Cold Air
An obvious sign you have a broken ignitor is when your furnace blows cold air instead of warm air. Your furnace may still have power, even if your ignitor has a problem, in which case your heating system might do everything except heat the air.
If you’ve activated your furnace but only feel cold air, the most likely cause is your ignitor.
#2 Power Problems
In modern gas furnaces, a safety feature prevents the furnace from coming on if it doesn’t sense a flame. If the problem is with your ignitor, this is the most likely reason the furnace doesn’t activate.
However, you could also have an electrical problem, like loose wiring. Only a qualified HVAC technician like Georgia Air Cooling & Heating can correctly diagnose the issue.
#3 Stopped Airflow
Has your ignitor stopped working in the middle of the heating process? You might notice it as a sudden halt of the air coming from your system’s vents.
This usually occurs when your furnace’s safety features shut the furnace off or when the flame goes out. If your furnace failed as it was heating, the ignitor is the probable cause.
#4 Abnormal Cycling
Cycling is the term HVAC experts use when your furnace turns on and off at odd times. While it might not be a problem with your ignitor, it’s a problem that needs immediate repairs.
If your unit is dying, the ignitor may flicker on and off, which forces the furnace’s safety feature to deactivate the furnace. Whenever the ignitor reactivates, the whole process starts over.
#5 Tripping Circuit Breaker
If your furnace trips your circuit breaker once, don’t worry about it. However, if you’re frequently flipping the circuit after your furnace trips it, your ignitor could explain the issue.
Address the issue quickly. Frequently tripping circuit breakers are bad for your furnace and the electrical system.
#6 Clicking Sounds Without Results
If you notice your ignitor clicking on but the furnace doesn’t heat the air, you have a significant and possibly dangerous problem: a potential gas leak.
Shut off the furnace and call for help. If you smell gas, get out of your home immediately.
Troubleshooting Your Furnace Issues
Even if you notice the above signs, your furnace problems could arise from any number of faulty components. As a complex system, your HVAC system can experience issues at any point during the heating process.
Use the following steps to feel more certain that your furnace’s ignitor is the problem:
Check the Thermostat
If your furnace isn’t running or blows lukewarm or cold air, your thermostat could be at fault.
- Check to see if it needs batteries.
- Ensure you’ve set it to “heat” rather than “cool.”
- Try setting the temperature above 80 degrees to see if that forces the heat to kick in.
If these tactics work, the ignitor is not the likely culprit in your furnace’s struggle.
Examine the Circuit Breaker
Knowing how to tell if a furnace ignitor is bad includes checking the box for damage when you believe there’s a faulty ignitor tripping your circuit breaker. If the circuit breaker has burn marks or foul odors or feels excessively hot when you touch it, it might need replacing.
You can confirm your circuit breaker is the issue if your other appliances or electrical devices also have problems.
Change the Filter
A dirty air filter can cause an abundance of problems for your HVAC system, especially if it forces your furnace to overheat and shut down. You can choose between several types of filters. While the more affordable versions require you to replace them, it’s possible to just clean off the more expensive models.
Check your furnace filter at least every thirty days, at which point it will likely require a replacement or cleaning. If you smoke, have pets that shed, experience respiratory issues, or live in a polluted area, check your filters more frequently.
Examine the Ignitor
You can check the ignitor, though, to avoid further damage, you shouldn’t replace anything yourself. A professional will typically check the condition of your furnace’s ignitor using the following steps:
- Unplug the furnace from the wall. For added certainty, shut the power off at the circuit breaker.
- Turn off the gas at the main line. The valve is near the meter outside your home.
- Let things cool down. Before touching or opening any panels, confirm the furnace has returned to room temperature.
- Locate the ignitor. Typically, this component is near where the gas enters the furnace with a ceramic base (a common surface ignitor) or two metal prongs (a spark ignitor).
- Examine the ignitor for damage. Look for cracks, bent prongs, soot, or dust buildup, which could affect ignition.
How To Care for Your Furnace
Now that you know how to tell if a furnace ignitor is bad, you can take steps to prevent it from happening. Whether you’re caring for your furnace or your entire HVAC system, the following practices help:
Schedule Regular Maintenance
Scheduling annual maintenance is the most important thing you can do for your furnace. If you want peace of mind knowing your furnace will make it through the entire winter without a problem, schedule the maintenance for the late fall.
Many homeowners also schedule a second maintenance visit for early spring to confirm how much wear and tear the winter has caused to the ignitor and other components. When you schedule maintenance, consider it a great investment because it grants you the following benefits:
- Maintenance can help prevent issues and reduce wear and tear. You won’t have to spend as much money on costly repairs.
- If you have an HVAC technician look at your furnace every year, it’s more likely to last a full 20 years.
- As your furnace ages, wears down, or needs repairs, it works harder to produce the same results. As such, regular maintenance can keep it running efficiently.
- Maintenance helps keep your indoor air smelling fresh. It also keeps the breathing air free of the pollutants that aggravate allergies or respiratory conditions.
- With fewer repairs, delayed replacements, and lower utility bills, you’ll save money in excess of what you spend on maintenance.
Always Get Prompt Repairs
Even with the best furnace maintenance you can find, eventually, your ignitor and furnace will succumb to the effects of age and usage and need minor repairs.
While you might balk at spending money on the repairs, don’t hesitate to schedule them quickly. If you continue using your furnace before fixing the issue, you’ll face more costly repairs or need to replace your furnace earlier than expected.
Consider Moderate Usage
It makes sense that the less you use your furnace, the longer it will last. Consider only using your furnace for heat to stay safe and minimally comfortable during the winter. Also, set your thermostat to 63 degrees while you’re not home and 68 degrees when you’re home.
If you’re still not warm enough, use the following tips:
- Wear warmer layers.
- Use blankets, especially electric ones.
- Drink warm fluids, like coffee, hot chocolate, or tea.
- Stay active by doing exercise or brisk walks around your home every hour.
- Use or install an electric fireplace or space heater.
Get Georgia Air Cooling & Heating’s Experts on Your Furnace Ignitor
Are you confident about how to tell if a furnace ignitor is bad? Power surge damage on your furnace can affect the ignitor or other components, but even this situation is no match for our experienced heating and cooling professionals. Whether your furnace needs help or you want high-quality maintenance, Georgia Air Cooling & Heating always provides expert service.
Do you need standard furnace maintenance or emergency repairs? Call Georgia Air Cooling & Heating at (912) 513-3756 for peace of mind!