Furnace Pilot Light Sensor

This is typically the problem if you can hear your furnace click on but it does not fire up.

Furnace pilot light sensor.

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. It takes a few seconds to get enough gas in the pipe to start the pilot light. When the thermostat signals for gas to be delivered from the gas valve to the burner it is the standing pilot that ignites the gas flowing to the burners to heat the air in the combustion chamber. A gas furnace s standing pilot in which the flame is lit at all times is sometimes referred to as a pilot light but no matter what you call it its purpose is to serve as a small ignition flame for the gas burner.

The pilot light or ignition sensor is usually the most common issue when your furnace will not ignite. Flame sensors are used in furnaces with electronic ignition rather than a standing pilot light and might include an intermittent pilot or a hot surface ignition type. Choose from silicon carbide and silicon nitride hot surface igniters with flat round and spiral tips. Newer furnaces don t have pilot lights.

Turn the gas control to pilot and hold it in while you light the flame with a match or a lighter. Shop here and find a variety of pilot and thermopile assemblies replacement thermocouples and more. If your old gas furnace has a standing pilot you can follow a standard procedure to relight the pilot light. These units have electronic igniters that light the gas for the burners while the flame sensor makes sure the burners have lighted successfully.

Keep the knob in for 20 seconds and then release it and turn it to the on position. A small heat sensing device known a thermocouple makes sure that major gas flow is delivered to the main burners on the furnace only when it is kept warm by the presence of the pilot light. Tape down the safety switch temporarily if you need to keep the panel open to prime the furnace. Replace gas furnace pilot and ignition components with high quality parts from grainger.