What to do when your gas furnace Ignitor is not working?

One of the most common complaints about gas furnaces is when the gas furnace ignitor is not working. Learning to identify the problem when the furnace ignitor starts to fail is helpful in ensuring that you fix your gas furnace right away.

Why does my Glow ignitor not come on?

Open the access panel and look at the flue pipe system leading to the burners and pilot light. Carefully examine the flue pipe system for an obvious obstruction and clean away any debris. Don’t adjust the flue pipe. Sometimes an obstruction in the air intake system can prevent proper ignition as well.

Can a faulty furnace ignitor cause a power surge?

If the breaker box blows when the furnace comes on, your ignitor can’t handle a power surge. Without the tools and knowledge to test your ignitor, it can be challenging to identify the problem. However, if you see visible damage, that’s a good sign of a faulty ignitor.

When does glow ignitor come on in Goodman furnace?

The Goodman gas furnace has an automatic ignition system that doesn’t require manual lighting of the pilot light. When the furnace lights, the glow ignitor starts first and the pilot light automatically ignites. If the glow ignitor comes on but the furnace doesn’t fire up, some inspection and troubleshooting can be helpful.

What to do if your furnace Ignitor is not working?

Take a look at the switch that controls the power to your furnace. If the furnace breaker is “on,” there could be an issue with the ignitor, or you could have a more significant electrical issue. Your furnace has built-in fail-safes to keep you and your house safe when there is a problem with the system.

What to do if your ignitor does not spark?

Press this button and watch the ignitor tip. If you do not see a spark, there are two other things you can test. Shut off the circuit breaker again to prevent electric shock. Find the two wires on the ignitor transformer and use an ohmmeter to test the voltage.

Why does the voltage go down when the ignitor is on?

When the ignitor fires it should get the full 120 volts, but the voltage should start reducing (going down) the longer the ignitor stays on. So you might have a loose wire or have a control board problem.

Where does the spark come from on an oil furnace ignitor?

Connect the wires from the ignitor to the contacts on your ignition transformer. This will be the box-shaped object that produces the spark on the electrode. Carefully turn on your circuit breaker. There should be a red button on the outside of your oil furnace.