Hello, my name is Darby Aldrich. I would like to talk to you about the importance of maintaining your air conditioning system. When I moved to a hot climate, I did not realize how vital having a running air conditioner was for living comfortably. When the unit just stopped working one day, the temperature inside the house rivaled the piping hot weather outdoors. We had to go to the community center to keep the kids from feeling sick. While we were gone, we had a local HVAC contractor fix the unit. She let us know that some simple maintenance tasks would prevent that situation in the future. I will use this site to closely explore those tasks in great detail. I hope you can use the information to keep your air conditioner running like new. Thanks.
If you have a gas furnace, you know a trigger is essential for firing the burners that produce heat. Older furnaces had pilot lights that burned all the time and wasted energy. Newer units usually have an electronic ignition system that lights the burners instead. If the ignitor wears out or malfunctions, your furnace won't produce heat because the burners won't ignite. Here's a look at how this type of ignitor works and the repairs it may need.
How An Electronic Furnace Ignitor Works
The ignitor is a small part that has a probe with wiring on one end. When the part receives a signal from the thermostat that it's time to turn the burners on, the end heats up to a temperature that causes the gas in the burners to ignite. Ignition system failure is a common reason for furnace repairs. Sometimes the problem is in the ignitor itself, and other times the problem is with other parts that control the ignitor and keep it from working.
Repairs A Furnace Ignitor Might Need
An ignitor is a fragile part, and it can be damaged easily or just wear out due to frequent cooling and heating in the combustion area. The end of the part might crack or degrade, and once that happens, the ignitor won't work. When the ignitor is bad, a furnace repair technician will replace it.
However, if the ignitor is just dirty due to exposure to soot or dust, then the technician might try to clean it. Care has to be taken to handle the part carefully and not damage it during the cleaning process.
Other Repairs That Might Be Needed
Furnaces have built-in safety measures that keep the ignitor from working if other parts are malfunctioning. The repair technician might have to repair other furnace parts that are triggering the safety switches to shut the furnace down.
If your furnace has error codes, the technician will be able to pinpoint the problem by interpreting the codes. The flame sensor and limit switch can both shut down the ignitor or keep it from working. There might be a problem with power from the furnace control board, or the thermostat may not be signaling the startup sequence for your furnace.
The furnace repair technician may check all the safety switches, clean the combustion area, replace the filter to improve airflow, and replace worn parts so all the parts in your furnace operate optimally and allow the ignitor to do its job of igniting the burners to warm your home.
If you need furnace repairs or want to learn more, reach out to a professional in your area.
Share27 May 2020
