Furnace Pilot Light Vs Electronic Ignition

The first is called an electric spark igniter which activates the pilot light only at times when it s needed.

Furnace pilot light vs electronic ignition.

It takes on the responsibility of a conventional pilot light lighting the furnace s burners but it does so in a more efficient manner. Instead an electronic ignition system ignites the burners. If you have newer furnace or you re planning on having one installed in the near future it probably doesn t use a pilot light at all. While electronic ignitions on furnaces are safer than pilot lights they still have their problems.

Lighting the pilot light for a standing pilot gas system is possible whereas lighting the pilot for an electronic ignition system is possible if you have a backup generator or other source of power to power that circuit. There are two different kind of electronic ignition systems. Lighting a pilot that is electronic ignition. Why did this change happen.

Newer generations of gas fireplaces use an electronic ignition system requiring electricity to start up. This system uses a pilot flame but the pilot lights only when there s a call for heat from the thermostat. If you have a newer furnace or one with an afue rating above 80 it most likely has an electronic ignition system. The furnace s electronic control board activates an electric igniter that uses a high voltage spark to light the pilot.

When the furnace turns on a valve opens up and allows the gas to flow to the pilot light. A switch remote or thermostat can be used with this system. However an intermittent pilot light is started by an electronic spark and only burns when a heating cycle is ready to begin. One type of electronic ignition is an intermittent pilot.

Learn how to troubleshoot them with this guide. This type of electronic ignition completely eliminates the need for a flame to light the furnace s burners. These systems only utilize electronic ignition only on a call for heat or a call for the gas furnace gas fired boiler or gas fired water heater to fire. They have an ignition module that when turned on lights the pilot light.

Their function is to light the main burner without having a pilot light running. Like a conventional pilot light an intermittent pilot light still uses a small gas powered flame to ignite the furnace s burners. There are two different types of electronic ignitions. In fact you rarely see standing pilot lights on newly manufactured furnaces anymore.

The first is called a hot surface ignition. Electronic ignition gas ignition systems are more efficient than standing pilot gas ignition systems. Intermittent pilot ignition. An electric spark then lights the pilot light so it can in turn light the burners.

Because that system does not use external electricity the fireplace works if the power goes out. Gas fireplaces have traditionally used a standing pilot light to ignite the flames.