It’s not too uncommon. Perhaps the pilot light cannot stay lit. Maybe it goes off within seconds of coming on, not even allowing enough time to light the burner. Or maybe it’s the burner that keeps going every few minutes.
Although it can be irritating, you can do something about it. However, you first need to pinpoint the problem. Below we look at common reasons why your heater may struggle to stay lit and possible solutions.
How the Gas Furnace Ignition System Works
Before we begin looking at the potential causes, it’s helpful to understand the basics of a gas furnace ignition mechanism. Although gas furnaces come in a variety of styles, shapes, and designs, all gas furnace ignition systems operate as follows;
- The thermostat calls for heat.
- The inducer fan kicks ON. This fan is responsible for bringing in cool air from your rooms into the furnace for heating. It helps create a safe combustion chamber.
- The gas valve opens, allowing propane or natural gas to flow to the pilot burner.
- Upon detecting the presence of gas, the pilot ignitor lights via an electric spark or hot surface ignition.
- Upon sensing the flame on the pilot, a flame sensor signals your furnace that there’s a flame to burn.
- The gas valve sends even more gas to the furnace burners.
- The pilot light lights the main burners, leading to full room heating.
Essentially, that’s how a gas furnace ignites, though there might be a few differences depending on the design. For instance, direct ignition furnaces don’t include steps 3-5. Instead, you can light the burner directly.
Furnaces with standing pilot lights are also slightly different. They skip step #4 because the pilot light remains lit throughout.
Now that we understand how furnace ignition systems work, it will be easier to understand what could go wrong with your system.
Why Won’t Gas Heater Pilot Light Stay Lit?
Let’s begin with the pilot light. What’s to blame when the pilot keeps going out every few seconds, and what can you do about it? Perhaps you only see the pilot flame for a few seconds before it quickly goes out. Or maybe it stays on a little longer but not long enough to light the furnace burners.
The exact problem will likely depend on the type of ignition system. However, generally, here’s what could be wrong;
1. The flame sensor is bad
As we’ve seen, the flame sensor tells your furnace that the furnace has a flame, thus triggering the release of gas to the burners. However, if the flame sensor malfunctions, it may fail to signal the gas valve to release gas even if a flame is detected.
Flame sensors can lose flame sensing capacity for several reasons. For instance, a flame sensor may be become worn naturally. It may also become damaged.
Diagnosing a malfunctioned flame sensor requires a multimeter to detect current flow through it. In most cases, you’ll need to replace the damaged/compromised thermocouple.
2. Poor flame sensor positioning
Another reason the pilot flame may go out without lighting the main burner is the incorrect flame sensor positioning. The flame sensor must be close enough to the pilot flame to detect the flame.
If it’s too far away, it may fail to detect the presence of the flame. Or, it may only detect a weak flame. In both cases, it will likely send a negative response to the gas valve.
The main reason the flame sensor might become wrongly positioned is dirt buildup. Too much debris can push the thermocouple rod away from the flame. Tampering is another possible cause.
Fortunately, you can fix flame sensor positioning without involving an HVAC professional. However, don’t hesitate to seek help if you’re not confident in your DIY skills.
3. The gas valve has issues
As we’ve seen, once the flame sensor signals the presence of a flame, the gas valve springs into action to provide sufficient gas for the heating process. However, imagine in an instance where the gas valve is compromised!
Imagine a situation where it’s blocked or shut off. It wouldn’t be able to send enough gas to burners. Thus, the flame sensor will likely instruct the furnace to shut off the pilot flame.
Gas valves can become clogged due to dirt buildup. They can also become bent if hit by a blunt object. Or it may be in good shape but turned off.
Begin by inspecting the valve for dirt and debris buildup and wipe off any dirt as appropriate. Also, make sure it’s ON. Call the pros if you notice dents to the gas line or hear hissing gas (a sign of a leak).
4. The pressure switch has flipped
The pressure switch is a safety feature designed to protect you and your family from gas poisoning. It closely monitors gas venting in your home and shuts down the gas supply if it detects that the venting in your heating system isn’t operating correctly.
Poor gas furnace venting may result from several issues. For instance, blocked air filters can result in poor air circulation in the home. Blocked air ducts can also impede venting.
It’s advisable to fix the issue causing the pressure switch tripping before you switch it back ON. Otherwise, it will just trick OFF again.
5. It’s an electrical issue
If you’ve tested all the above, but the problem persists, it might be time to check the electrical controls. One particular place to check is the ignition board. The ignition board coordinates the entire ignition system, telling each part what to do and when. It relays information from one part of the ignition system to the other and from/to the rest of the ignition system.
If the wires connecting the different parts of the circuit relay are damaged, the circuit board will likely fail. The same applies if you have a blown fuse.
The bad news is that electrical issues are a little harder to fix as you risk worsening the damage. So, it’s best to call an electrician or HVAC pro.
Burner Ignites but Goes Out Without Heating the House, Perhaps Repeatedly
At this point, you’ve ruled out pilot light issues as the pilot stays ON long enough to light the burner. However, the burner won’t stay lit. Maybe it stays on for five minutes before going out. Or perhaps it goes out right after coming on and does so repeatedly.
The following are a few likely causes and probable solutions.
Clogged/blocked burners
The first thing you want to check is whether the burners get gas in the first place. If they don’t, then the most likely issue is a clogged or blocked burner. A common sign of blocked burners is an unhealthy flame that’s yellow with lots of smoke. Clogged burners may also have an irregular, weak flame.
Clogging is a natural process that occurs over time. Dirt and debris will collect around the furnace, including around the burner. Over time, this can block the tiny holes through which gas comes out of the burner.
The simplest remedy to clogged burners is regular maintenance. Make sure to clean your burner regularly to brush away and dirt.
Thermostat issues
If the burners seem okay, take a step back and determine if the thermostat is working and set correctly. Thermostats are the brain of HVAC systems. They tell the heater when to heat and when to stop. They also determine the right level of heating depending on indoor air conditions. Thus, even a small thermostat mishap can cause significant confusion.
The two main things to check about your thermostat are functionality and setting. Is it working? Is it ON? And, is it set correctly? If it’s wrongly set, it may mislead the heater and cause the unit to stay OFF even when attempting to ignite it.
If the thermostat is dead, replace it. If it’s damaged, see if an HVAC pro can fix it. However, if it’s merely a wrong setting, you can fix that with ease.
Limit switch issues
Finally, you may also want to check your limit switches. All gas furnaces are designed with safety mechanisms to protect the unit and you and your family.
These safety controls particularly monitor gas leaks, pressure fluctuations, and overheating. Some also monitor the unit for flame rollout. Typically, they will cut the gas supply if an issue is detected.
Take an example of the flame rollout switch. It closely monitors the furnace for flame rollout and overheating and instantly disengages to cut off the gas supply if an issue is detected.
More importantly, it usually remains in the OFF position until you manually fix the issue, meaning that the furnace will not light no matter how many times the pilot ignites.
The best solution here is to fix the underlying issue. If it’s an overheating problem, fix the root causes before switching back the limit switch. The same applies to gas leaks and flame rollout.
Gas furnaces are highly delicate appliances that require cautions handling. Hopefully, you’ve learned a few things about fixing common furnace issues.
