QA

Question: How To Test Furnace Ignitor

How do I know if my furnace ignitor is bad?

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 test a furnace ignitor with a multimeter?

How do you diagnose a bad igniter?

When the furnace kicks on, the ignitor should glow. The ignitor needs to get super-hot so that it ignites the gas/air mixture needed for combustion. Look under the furnace for the glow! If you don’t see it, you likely have a bad ignitor.

How many ohms Should a furnace ignitor have?

A good silicon nitride hot surface ignitor will have a resistance of 30 to 75 ohms. Greater than 75 ohms indicates a failing or failed hot surface ignitor. If you get 0 or ∞ or no reading at all, it mean that the resistance is broken, so the igniter is broken and should be replaced.

Can a furnace ignitor go bad?

Don’t worry—an ignitor that goes bad is common for most furnaces. Fortunately, you can replace the ignitor without replacing the full furnace. Most ignitors last about seven years.

Why is my furnace ignitor not working?

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.

Are furnace ignitors universal?

This universal ignitor is a replacement part for use in gas-fired appliances like furnaces, water heaters, and boilers, compatible with over 150-OEM models.

How many volts go to a furnace ignitor?

On a typical heating system with HSI, a call for heat (thermostat contacts closed) will send a 24-V signal to the igniter module. When energized, the module will power up the igniter.

How often do furnace ignitors fail?

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.

How much is a furnace ignitor?

Igniter Cost: The igniter costs no more than $30 to $50. Check with your furnace manufacture for the model number of your furnace so you can find the right igniter for your unit. Furnaces can last for several years, and hence it is not hard to find the right replacement part.

How many ohms should an igniter read?

Disconnect the igniter wires, and check the resistance of the igniter. It should not exceed 300 ohms. If it does, the igniter should be replaced.

How do you test a flame sensor microamp?

You can measure flame signal by putting your meter (capable of measuring micro amps) in line between the flame sensor and the wire that was connected to it (see picture). If you are reading anything under 5 uA (micro amps), it is likely that your flame sensor is dirty.

What makes an ignitor go bad?

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. Due to safety reasons, if a furnace’s air filter has become clogged, the furnace will no longer ignite.

Can a furnace ignitor be cleaned?

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.

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).

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.

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.

Does Menards sell furnace igniters?

PROTECH Water Heater Hot Surface Ignitor at Menards®.

What does 100% lockout mean on an ignition module?

pilot fails to light—it will try continuously to light the pilot. Remember that LP-fired IID systems must always employ 100% lockout, which means that there is a finite trial for ignition period, not a continuous trial for ignition.