My husband and I have spent a lot of time consulting with an architect. After living in our cramped, starter home for the past 11 years, we were finally ready to make some needed changes to it. We have added an extra 600 square feet of space onto our house. Before the construction began, we finalized the plans for our new heating and air conditioning unit with our HVAC contractor. Because our home was going to be substantially bigger than it is now, we purchased a larger HVAC system. We also installed a new, digital thermostat inside my home. On this blog, I hope you will discover the best types of HVAC units to buy for mid-size homes. Enjoy!
One of the ways that a furnace will ignite itself is with electronic ignition. This is a common point at which a gas furnace fails and can leave you without heat. Of course, you should check to see if the gas heading to your gas furnace has been disrupted, but you should also look into your electronic ignition.
How Electronic Ignition Works
While older gas furnaces use a pilot light, some newer gas furnaces use electronic ignition. These are made of a metal alloy that gets very hot when electricity passes through it. The heat radiating from the alloy causes the gas mixture to ignite.
Inspecting the Igniter
When you are trying to start up your furnace, check the igniter to see if it glows. If you keep hearing repeated clicking, this is a sign that your igniter is not coming on. Make sure to turn off your furnace and then clean the igniter. Shut off the circuit to the furnace. If you are not able to shut off the circuit, shut off the main and work on the furnace using a flashlight. Remove the front panel to expose the igniter. Make sure to clean the furnace flame sensor. Sometimes, this will cause it to start working properly again.
Electronic Igniter Control Issues
Another issue with your electronic ignition might be with the controls and the wiring. The electronic ignition process begins with a call for heat, which comes from the thermostat. The control board initiates after it receives a signal and sets everything in motion. This turns the induced draft motor on, which blows air through the heat exchanger. The safety circuit is then checked. This begins the ignition process.
The main burners fire and the blower control starts. Once the thermostat is satisfied, it sends a signal to the electronic ignition, which begins the shutdown sequence. If anyone of these parts is not functioning properly, this can disrupt the electronic igniter. For example, if you have a bad inducer, this can lead to the pressure switch not closing and interfere with the operation of the electronic igniter.
Prevention
The best way to keep your igniter from going out is to hire a furnace maintenance service that can inspect the igniter. However, if your igniter does go out and cleaning it won't cause it to work again, the next best step is to contact furnace repair services to have the issue addressed.
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