Ignitor Failures
Ignitor Failures | Heat Repair | Heating and Air Conditioning | Palmer
When your furnace refuses to light on a sub-zero Palmer morning, every minute without warmth feels like an eternity. HEP’s seasoned technicians zero in on stubborn ignitor failures, restoring that crucial spark while safeguarding the rest of your system from hidden damage. We arrive fully stocked, so most fixes happen on the first visit—no drawn-out waits, no shivers.
From meticulous diagnostics to transparent pricing, our team treats your home with the same care we’d give our own. Whether it’s a sudden outage at midnight or nagging performance issues that just won’t quit, trust HEP for prompt, precision heat repair that keeps Palmer families cozy all season long.
FAQs
What are the most common symptoms of a failed furnace ignitor?
Typical warning signs include the furnace blowing cold air, the blower running continuously without heat, repeated on-off cycling, or the system’s control board flashing an ignitor-related error code. You may also hear clicking with no burner ignition or notice a strong smell of unburned gas. If any of these appear, shut the furnace off and call for professional service right away.
Why do ignitors fail so often in Palmer’s climate?
Palmer’s long heating season means ignitors can glow thousands of times each winter, eventually causing the silicon carbide or nitride element to crack. Power surges from winter storms, fluctuating gas pressure, and dust accumulation during summer shutdowns further accelerate wear. Frequent cycling from oversized equipment and restricted airflow (dirty filters, blocked vents) can also overheat and shorten the life of an ignitor.
Is it safe to replace a furnace ignitor on my own?
Ignitors are fragile, run on 120 V or 240 V, and sit next to a live gas stream. Touching the element can shorten its life, and installing the wrong part can damage the control board. Because of these risks and local code requirements, we recommend calling a licensed Palmer HVAC technician. A pro will match the correct OEM part, verify gas pressure, inspect the flame sensor, and reset the control board—ensuring safe, reliable heat.
How fast can your heat-repair team reach my home in Palmer?
We maintain a fully stocked service vehicle right in Palmer. During normal business hours we can usually respond the same day, and in no-heat emergencies we offer 24/7 service with a target arrival time of two hours or less. Our techs carry the most common hot-surface and spark ignitors so 90 % of jobs are completed in a single visit.
Will replacing a bad ignitor improve efficiency and lower energy bills?
Yes. A failing ignitor can cause multiple startup attempts that waste gas and electricity, and repeated short cycling prevents the furnace from reaching steady-state efficiency. Replacing the ignitor restores proper one-cycle ignition, improves combustion, reduces wear on other components, and can cut heating costs by 5–10 % over a season.
How can I prevent future ignitor failures?
1) Change furnace filters every 1–3 months to maintain airflow and prevent overheating. 2) Schedule annual maintenance in the fall—our techs clean and test the ignitor, flame sensor, and burners. 3) Install a surge protector to shield electronics and the ignitor from power spikes. 4) Keep supply and return vents unblocked. 5) If you shut the furnace off in summer, cover the burners to limit dust. Following these steps can extend ignitor life well beyond the typical 3–5 year expectancy.