When temperatures dip below freezing in Indianapolis and across the Central Indiana area, homeowners rely on their furnace or heating system to keep them warm and comfortable. But like all appliances, furnaces tend to break down over time, typically during the worst possible time such as the middle of the night when it’s frigid outside.
Furnaces are important to homes during the winter months. One needs the furnace to work just as well at the end of the season as it does the first time when one uses it in a season. However, for one reason or another, the furnace might stop working properly during the winter.
The job of the furnace ignitor is to light the burner that starts the combustion process that turns fuel into heat
One common furnace problem is a faulty furnace ignitor. The job of the furnace ignitor is to light the burner that starts the combustion process that turns fuel into heat. Most new furnaces don’t have a traditional pilot light, but, instead, are equipped with an electronic ignition system for safety reasons. Listed below are some common signs of a faulty furnace ignitor and what to look out for:
The Furnace Won’t Turn On
When the furnace won’t turn on at all, several common problems could be at play, and a faulty ignitor is certainly one of them. When the ignitor is damaged or needs to be replaced, the furnace won’t turn on as a safety measure. Make sure to call an HVAC service technician to inspect and replace the faulty ignitor, if necessary.
Short Cycling
Short cycling is a term used to describe a furnace that turns on and off repeatedly without staying on long enough to adequately heat the entire home. Although short cycling can be caused by a number of factors, a faulty ignitor can be the culprit. The electric ignitor can cause short cycling if it can’t hold a charge long enough.
No Cold Air
Before giving an HVAC company a call, make sure to check if the thermostat is set to “heat”
If the furnace still runs but isn’t producing any warm air for the home, there’s an issue with the furnace’s ignition. Without a functioning ignitor, it’s impossible to create heat, as the ignitor’s job is to create the spark to start the combustion process. When this occurs, the system won’t run at all, or one will have cold air blowing through the vents in the home.
Before giving an HVAC company a call, make sure to check if the thermostat is set to “heat” and the set room temperature is high enough to signal the furnace to turn on.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
A furnace that continuously trips the circuit breaker is bad for both the electrical system and furnace. A tripped circuit breaker can be the result of a faulty ignitor and should be inspected immediately before it causes more damage. If the circuit breaker is consistently tripping, call a professional technician as soon as possible.
Ignitor Isn’t Glowing
When the furnace turns on to start a cycle, the electric ignitor should glow. If there isn’t a glow, there’s likely a problem with the ignitor, and one should call an HVAC company for help. A problem with the electronic ignition won’t be able to produce power to the furnace.