Are you having issues with your furnace? If your furnace won’t turn on, it suddenly stops working, or the circuit breaker keeps getting switched, you may have a problem with your ignitor. Newer gas furnaces are equipped with an electric ignitor to light the furnace and turn the fuel into heat that then warms your home. The ignitor sparks and lights the burner which opens the gas valve to initiate a combustion process that creates heat.If your ignitor has gone bad, it may be almost impossible to get your furnace to turn on. Here are a few steps to check your ignitor and determine if it needs to be replaced.
1. Make Sure The Furnace As At Room Temperature
In order to check the ignitor by testing the circuit and inspecting the furnace for visual damage, the furnace must be set at room temperature.
2. Turn Off The Furnace
Turn the furnace off using the thermostat.
3. Switch Off Circuit Breaker
Turn off the circuit breaker for the furnace, often located on the furnace or in the home’s main breaker box. This will help cool the furnace to room temperature.
4. Remove Furnace Service Panel
Unscrew and remove the service panel on the side of the furnace and find the ignitor. It is usually mounted on a V-shaped bracket near the gas port. The ignitor has two wires attached to the back of it and has a flat metal tip.
5. Look For Visible Damage
The ignitor should be replaced if it is warped, chipped, cracked, broken, etc.
6. Remove Ignitor Wires From Socket
If there was no visible damage to the ignitor, use a pliers to pull the plug on the wires to remove them from their socket inside the furnace.
7. 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.
Courtesy of Hunker
