Electronic Ignition Furnace Won T Light

If you have a newer furnace or one with an afue rating above 80 it most likely has an electronic ignition system.

Electronic ignition furnace won t light. This is typically the problem if you can hear your furnace click on but it does not fire up. The most common reason for this problem is because the pilot light is not on. When the thermostat calls for heat 24 volts are sent to the electronic ignition control module which energizes the furnace blower and other systems and sends 120 volts to the hsi. Never attempt to light a furnace by a flame manually especially if the furnace has an electronic igniter.

The pilot light or ignition sensor is usually the most common issue when your furnace will not ignite. A furnace equipped with an electronic igniter cannot be lit manually. The standing pilot light was the regular way to ignite gas powered furnaces for almost as long as these heating systems have existed. Since there are many different types of gas furnaces it is difficult to cover every single possible gas furnace problem that can occur with a gas furnace in one article.

Unlike older pilot lights which have to be lighted by hand automatic pilot lights now commonly found in most home furnaces are regulated by a thermostat and only ignite when needed. To determine this turn off the thermostat. The furnace s control board might not be supplying the voltage to the ignitor. When your furnace fails to ignite the first place to look is the pilot light.

If your furnace lights and the gas stays on for 8 to 10 seconds then shuts right back off then you can try to clean your flame sensor with light sand paper emery cloth or steel wool. If your furnace is an electronic model with an automatic ignition for the pilot light but it won t light there may be an issue with the ignition. The hsi heats up to around 1 800 f to 2 500 f and glows red hot. This system uses a pilot flame but the flame lights only when there s a call for heat from the thermostat.

One type of electronic ignition is an intermittent pilot. A faulty or dirty ignition or sensor is a relatively easy fix so follow these steps and you may be able to solve the problem yourself. But now an electric ignition system have started to replace pilot lights.