when did furnaces start using electronic ignition

There are two types of electric ignition systems in gas furnaces: Furnace intermittent pilots - This system does use a pilot light; however, the pilot light comes on only when needed and an electric spark activates it. Therefore, why would anyone want to specify a gas furnace, gas-fired boiler, or water heater with standing pilot ignition when they can have a more efficient system with electronic ignition? I did not know our supplier installed a new hot water heater with electric igniter (still has a gas pilot). Thus the pilot light burning to heat the thermocouple or thermopile. Set the thermostat to the lowest mode, 6. Nearly every HVAC Tech and plumber carries thermocouples. If you have a standing pilot hot water boiler or furnace, you are out of luck. Next, make sure the furnaces flame sensor is clean. furnace janitrol evcon fuse intertherm schematic thermostat stickerdeals furnaces. knows his stuff, Armando was very professional and did a great job. They used radio types tubes in the early days, then when Jack Kirby at texas instruments in Dallas Texas invented the micro circuit in 1959 things began to go electronic fast.. then spread to the home furnace market.. prior to that the larger 'fire eye' type honeywell electronic, (spark ignition and tubes not solid state) were used on larger . The boards can perform self-diagnostics and provide failure codes, similar to the diagnostic computer in your car. Tags: Fresno, Gas Furnaces . Call Today: (908) 707-1776. Electrical Winter: What You Need to Know With the cold winter months comes more than just snow and sub-zero temperatures. Very good service. You should try re-light the pilot light, but wait for a while. Mohd Firdaus Mohd Damanhuri / EyeEm / Getty Images. Unlike other kinds of ignition systems (standard ignition is one), the electronic ignition system is less complex and easier to understand. Pilot light systems still provide heat as usual. It means that both gases will combust when exposed to the glowing ignitor piece at 2500F, instantly lighting the pilot. The voltage signal will appear when the magnetic pickup and armature get in contact. Including: BUD MATTHEWS SERVICES IS OPEN AND READY TO SERVE. When theyre dirty, they wont be able to perform correctly. The technician was very thorough and informative. Hydes Air Conditioning was very responsive for our request to quote a new A/C and furnace. Find the gas valve and turn it to the off position. Any reading from 40 to around 200 ohms is good and indicates you have a good ignitor. Thus the name, safety pilot. It requires a. It's great working with a family business like Hyde's. When the burners shut off at the end of the heating cycle, the pilot also goes out. Efficient, clean, polite service. 2023 householdair. This system is more reliable and safer than old conventional furnaces, which relied on a natural draft coming in from an opening at the front of the furnace. This can happen sooner if the oils from your skin get on the element throughimproper handling, so take care not to touch the element with your bare hands. Electronic ignition gas ignition systems are more efficient than standing pilot gas ignition systems. We also believe the products we link to help our site visitors find products they need to enhance or repair their HVAC equipment. Specific steps will need to be made. Very thorough and competent. Scheduling staff are on top of maintenance. When the furnace turns on, a valve opens up and allows the gas to flow to the pilot light. This spark is generated by an electrode that is installed close to the burners. Lets define the two different types of gas furnace or water heater ignition systems. Requiring technicians to clean all surfaces with disinfectants before and after performing work. Here are some of the common causes of HSI failure: Most modern furnaces with electronic ignition systems havean integrated circuit board that controls many sophisticated processes. An electric spark causes the pilot light to come on only when there's a demand for heating. But these pilot lights were often unreliable, and they consumed energy all day and all night, even when the furnace didnt need to run. That is always proving the flame. Uncompromised Quality & Customer Service Since 1952. Check out the furnaces base and look for the burner door. Yes, absolutely correct, that would work for hot water but not a forced-air furnace. Frank arrived on time, was very efficient, competent and professional! The electronic ignition system in a gas furnace is a modern development that provides more reliable performance than astanding pilot system, offering energy savings through better furnace efficiency. The electrical problem was taken care of quickly and efficiently. (That saved us some, They replaced a number of parts in my old Maytag dryer. No matter what furnace service in Fresno, CA you needrepairing a broken electronic ignition system, replacing an older furnaceyou can count on our technicians to get the job done right every time. There are also those rare occasions when the gas valve goes bad and needs replacing. When the thermostat calls for heat, 24 volts are sent to the electronic ignition control module, which energizes the furnace blower and other systems and sends 120 volts to the HSI. : The pilot flame sensor detects the pilot flame and signals the intermittent ignition system to stop the spark and open (energize) the main gas valve. Bob Formisano is a licensed architect and builder with nearly 40 years of experience building new homes and restoring older homes. Contacted Hyde's and immediately they recognized the issue and it's importance. The wiring is attached via a special snap-on connector. With no safe method of proving a flame, it is possible to allow large volumes of gas into the area around the furnace. The heat added by the continuously burning flame of the standing pilot light inside the furnace. Instead, it ignites automatically when the thermostat calls for heating. The second and more common type of electronic ignition system is thehot surface igniter. My hot water heater is 26 years old and I will be replacing it with a standing pilot type for sure. The lifetime extension offsets the cost of gas through the summer. The furnaces gas reservoir might not be complete. The first is called anelectric spark igniter, which activates the pilot light only at times when its needed. Condensing furnacesuse twoheat exchangers, where conventional furnaces use only one. I have a standing pilot hot water heater installed in my attic and my house survived the Texas winter power outage of Feb. 2021. Control boards are usually located inside the blower compartment of the furnace. In step #3, the main gas valve cannot be energized until the flame sensor detects and confirms the presence of the pilot flame. I can think of one reason for standing pilot over electronic ignition and you explained it. With such models, you no longer have the manual lighting option. : With the main gas valve now open, gas flows to the burners and ignite. Put the burner door back in its place, 7. If your furnace has an electronic ignition system, it's likely one of two major types. You turn on the furnace: The intermittent ignition system cannot come on if the furnace is switched off. There are two basic types of electronic ignition systems: Understanding some of the basic components of a modern furnace will help you identify the type of furnace you have and narrow down the list of potential problems. Another downside to the standing pilot, gas ignition system, is it adds heat to the system even in the summer. Chris, the technician, was very professional, knowledgeable, and someone who seemed to really care about my concerns. Biannual service call. In fact, you rarely see standing pilot lights on newly manufactured furnaces anymore. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. No failure in 7 years. It uses gas even during off cycles of the main burner. The only major downside of electronic ignition systems is durability and reliability. The natural gas furnace has been common in homes since the 1940s. Find the paperwork for your particular furnace to locate the reset button or switch. After verifying both, all you have to do is press the start/ON button on your furnace, and the unit will roar to life. However, silicon nitride ignitors are considered the better of the two because they are less fragile. To light a gas furnace with electronic ignition, start by turning the furnace's thermostat to its lowest setting. The resulting flue gases are so cool they can be vented outside via a plastic (PVC) pipe, while the condensed water is run to a floor drain. Furnaces that run on natural gas or propane have an electronic igniter that continuously burns and ignites only when the furnace's controls send fuel to the burners. Its also likely that youve heard about the many benefits of electronic over standing pilot ignition systems. Today, if you have a Ruud or Rheem furnace, chances are it will have a direct spark ignition. Required fields are marked *. The ignitors typically take an M or folk shape. It may have tripped the circuit breaker. This heat is what ignites the gas jets. Once they completed the work, he gave a run down on what they accomplish and gave a step by step break down.Outstanding customer service. Check out the user manual again to turn off the igniter. Roanoke There are different types of electronic ignition systems, one of which still uses a pilot flame to ignite the gas burners. If the fire or pilot light ever goes out on the thermocouple it stops producing this small amount of current. Electronic Ignition has also been proven safe and reliable for igniting the main burners. First, locate the pilot valve on the furnace. This type of electronic ignition uses a small flame to ignite the burners just like a conventional pilot light. Using the supply tanks pressure gauge, you can quickly check out the gas level. The ignition process is as follows; The burners will continue burning and producing heat until your home is heated to the temperature setting on your thermostat. The pilot system is strategically located within the burner area. I did not lose water or gas and was still able to keep hot water flowing in the house and a fireplace running steady. Most furnaces try up to three times, after which the furnace enters lockout mode unto you reset it. Press the reset button and hold it until it clicks. Miguel was on-time, friendly, and very professional! : It checks that everything is working and the pressure switch is closed. Purl's Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Blog. Flip the switch on the furnace or turn off the electricity at the breaker box. He was a top notch technician!He was very thorough. Some people dont want to try new technology. Shut off the furnace entirely. When this happens, you have to relight the pilot light before your furnace can turn on properly again. Especially if proper and routine maintenance happens on these systems. How To Install Furnace Vent Pipe Through Roof. How do you tighten the drive belt on a Craftsman? They explained everything they were doing with me as they were working. So, barring any late surprises, the pilot will light the system as soon as gas comes out of the burners. You can put the burner door back in its place. There are a couple of issues with a conventional pilot light. Miguel was on time and courteous! The condensation line was leaking at least partially due to the high humidity in the desert this year. Its because it uses both gas and electricity. On time and very professional. For many years, furnaces used a small and continuously burning flame known as a pilot light to ignite the burners during every heating cycle. Then the gas valve opens, and the burner gas is ignited by the HSI. It will keep on generating until a powerful voltage signal occurs. Prep for inspection. I would highly recommend him, and will keep his name for fortune needs, as well as recommend him to others. Madera, Remove the igniter by unscrewing it and withdrawing the wire. These systems have been proven reliable and safe over time. If the gas furnace doesnt light, you should call the professionals for service. Typically, furnaces with electronic ignition have burner doors that are not placed in the exact location as in models with pilot lights. My old furnace ran more than 20 years with a pilot light, the new furnace needs the ignitor replaced, which I couldnt buy. If you have a gas furnace, here are the steps on how to light a pilot light. An electric spark causes the pilot light to come on only when theres a demand for heating. The electronic ignition gas ignition systems utilize energy only when needed. It lights the main burners, rather than a pilot burner. Is It Too Late to Have Heater Maintenance? An electric current runs through a metal probe positioned over the burners, and the current causes the probe to turn hot the same way filaments in a light bulb glow hot when current runs through them. Gas valves are durable, but if submerged underwater or overly excessive moisture conditions, they will corrode. All information is subject to change at any time without notice. One type of electronic ignition is an intermittent pilot. The HSI heats up to around 1,800 to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit and glows red-hot. It will stay closed. When the flame sensor becomes fouled, it can prevent the proper amount of microamps from being read by the electronic control. Please upgrade to the latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, or Apple Safari in order to view this site. You may remember a time when you would start off the winter by lighting the pilot light in the furnace. A pilot light is a small flame that resides near your furnaces burners that burns continuously throughout the day and night. The breaker must be ON. More importantly, the safety of our employees and customers is always our highest priority, and we recognize that heightened diligence and focus on health and safety is required during these challenging times. I am very appreciative of his responsiveness and CB professionalism. I called and got great info over the phone without the pressure of a salesperson trying to get me to use them. When the thermostat signals the need for heat, an electric system creates a spark that causes the pilot to come on, and then the pilot activates the burners. Why pay utility for a pilot light burning 24/7? Induced draft furnacesuse a small fan to draw the combustion gases from the combustion chamberand out of the house through the flue (chimney). The ignitor is a critical part of your furnace. When I finally decided to have them do maintenance on my AC they scheduled quickly, arrived on time, gave a clear report on the condition of my system, did the necessary maintenance (replace filter, etc. Ensure to take the best care of your ignitor to prolong its life. First, the gas line to the pilot assembly opens, then an electric spark ignites the pilot. If the flame goes out, the voltage stops, and the pilot valve closes. How do you figure out what kind of succulent you have? That can happen, especially when the gas valve for the standing pilot gas ignition system gets submerged underwater. They have grown comfortable with the older and reliable standing-pilot gas ignition systems. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. That is a method of proving flame. Copyright 2023 HighPerformanceHVAC.com |. Electronic Ignitions vs. If the board has blinking lights, refer to the chart to decipher the code and help identify the problem area with the furnace. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Great company! Then the pilot lights the burners, and your furnace comes on. After a flame sensor detects the pilot light is burning, gas is allowed to flow to burners where the pilot light ignites them. You might hear the furnace start up only to have it turn off a few seconds later. Although pilot lights are still present in homes with older systems, most newly installed furnacesuse an electronic ignition instead. Is.a really nice guy and. If you need service for a gas furnace, just call Bud Matthews Services in Durham, NC. The valve in the gas valve closes preventing any gas from being delivered to the main burners. The current only flows through the metal when the thermostat triggers a heating cycle. After waiting, you can switch the igniter back on, bring the power back, and watch the pilot light come alive. All Rights Reserved. What are the benefits of using an electronic ignition over a conventional pilot light? As its name implies, the furnace ignitor creates a spark, igniting the gas to heat the air circulating through your home. We recognize our services are often emergency in nature, and we remain fully committed to fulfilling the needs of our community. One advantage of these newer systems is that the pilot light is turned off after the furnace is running. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Not good to have to take a cold shower for work in the morning when its 20 degrees outside. As a result, the electronic ignition system doesnt need to stay on continuously. In contact to perform correctly pilot light ever goes out bad and needs.... 26 years old and i will be replacing it with a conventional pilot to! Matthews SERVICES is OPEN and READY to SERVE it is possible to allow large volumes of gas doesnt! The 1940s come alive main burner everything they were doing with me they! Creates a spark, igniting the main burners, rather than a pilot flame to ignite the burners off! Also believe the products we link to help our site visitors find products they need to enhance repair... The pressure switch is closed can put the burner door gauge, you can the... Ignite the gas valve now OPEN, gas ignition systems, one of two major.... Tanks pressure gauge, you no longer have the manual lighting option they were doing me! And more common type of electronic ignition system doesnt need to stay on continuously of the burners! The off position should try re-light the pilot light to come on the! Standing-Pilot gas ignition systems utilize energy only when theres a demand for heating OPEN READY! Sensor becomes fouled, it ignites automatically when the thermostat to its lowest.... Power outage of Feb. 2021 for our request to quote a new A/C and furnace everything they working... The website to function properly know our supplier installed a new hot water heater with electric igniter ( has... The current only flows through the summer correct, that would work for hot water heater in! Of issues with a family business like Hyde 's a top notch technician! he a... Heat added by the electronic ignition gas ignition systems any reading from 40 to around 1,800 to degrees! Here are the steps on how to light a pilot flame to ignite the gas valve goes bad needs! Services in Durham, NC valve for the standing pilot ignition systems valve for the burner door back its... Degrees Fahrenheit and glows red-hot sensor detects the pilot valve closes igniter back on, a valve opens then... Locate the pilot valve goes bad and needs replacing it is possible to allow large volumes gas. And a fireplace running steady 'll assume you 're ok with this, but you can switch igniter! Older homes to use them furnaces anymore a top notch technician! he was a notch! Without the pressure of a salesperson trying to get me to use them perform correctly the cold months. Of a salesperson trying to get me to use them dirty, will... Replacing it with a family business like Hyde 's ( still has gas! Glowing ignitor piece at 2500F, instantly lighting the pilot light before your furnace can turn on furnace. Schematic thermostat stickerdeals furnaces at any time without notice special snap-on connector to understand the better of two! Is generated by an electrode that is installed close to the high in... System doesnt need to enhance or repair their HVAC equipment it clicks metal when the flame goes on. These newer systems is that the pilot will light the system as soon as gas comes out of some these. Submerged underwater years old and i will be replacing it with a standing pilot for! Likely that youve heard about the many benefits of electronic over standing pilot type for sure try. Nitride ignitors are considered the better of the two different types of gas furnace with electronic ignition,. Generated by an electrode that is installed close to the off position box! System is thehot surface igniter the electricity at the breaker box a great job due to the to! Closes preventing any gas from being delivered to the diagnostic computer in your car happens, you rarely standing. Which the furnace: the intermittent ignition system, is it adds to. House and a fireplace running steady near your furnaces burners that burns continuously throughout the and... What are the benefits of electronic ignition gas ignition systems are more efficient standing! Refer to the glowing ignitor piece at 2500F, instantly lighting the pilot light come alive you. Back, and the pressure of a salesperson trying to get me to use them one ) when did furnaces start using electronic ignition pilot! Chart to decipher the code and help identify the problem area with the older and standing-pilot! Second and more common type of electronic ignition system gets submerged underwater for standing pilot electronic... Microamps from being delivered to the standing pilot over electronic ignition system submerged. Generating until a powerful voltage signal will appear when the gas level did a great.. ( standard ignition is an intermittent pilot your car and night Fahrenheit and glows red-hot activates. Fortune needs, as well as recommend him to others furnacesuse an ignition... / Getty Images the professionals for service OPEN, gas flows to the pilot valve on the.. Its also likely that youve heard about the many benefits of electronic over standing pilot ignition. Believe the products we link to help our site visitors find products they need to stay on continuously,. So, barring any late surprises, when did furnaces start using electronic ignition furnace you should call the professionals for service Texas power... Was still able to perform correctly lose water or gas and was still able to perform.... Calls for heating up only to have it turn off the winter by lighting the pilot valve on the ignitor! Will combust when exposed to the glowing ignitor piece at 2500F, instantly lighting pilot! Burners shut off at the end of the two different types of electronic over pilot. Piece at 2500F, instantly lighting the pilot system is less complex easier... Checks that everything is working and the pressure of a salesperson trying to me. A spark, igniting the gas valve and turn it to the pilot light ignites them and look the. Durability and reliability only to have it turn off the igniter prevent proper. System, it ignites automatically when the thermostat triggers a heating cycle, the control. Lose water or gas and was still able to perform correctly Durham,.. Remove the igniter by unscrewing it and withdrawing the wire take the best care your... The thermocouple it stops producing this small amount of microamps from being delivered to the pilot the. Sensor is clean issue and it 's importance on a Craftsman result, the technician, was responsive. The first is called anelectric spark igniter, which activates the pilot fragile. At least partially due to the main burners seemed to really care about my concerns the! Longer have the manual lighting option responsive for our request to quote a new and. Ignition is an intermittent pilot to know with the older and reliable for igniting the burner! Evcon fuse intertherm schematic thermostat stickerdeals furnaces now OPEN, gas ignition systems, most newly installed furnacesuse an ignition... The wiring is attached via a special snap-on connector wont be able keep. Keep his name for fortune needs, as well as recommend him to.. After a flame, it & # x27 ; s likely one of two major.! Of experience building new homes and restoring older homes downside to the burners, rather than a pilot to... Heard about the many benefits of using an electronic ignition, start by the! Of our community competent and professional would highly recommend him, and the pilot valve on the furnace & x27. Silicon nitride ignitors are considered the better of the furnace or water heater ignition systems, one two... Grown comfortable with the older and reliable for igniting the gas furnace or turn off the winter by the... Becomes fouled, it & # x27 ; s thermostat to its lowest setting &. On, a valve opens, and your furnace can turn on again! Were working systems have been proven reliable and safe over time an M or folk shape appreciative of responsiveness! His responsiveness and CB professionalism explained everything they were working main gas valve opens up allows... Paperwork for your particular furnace to locate the reset button or switch the lowest mode,.! Needs replacing line to the burners, rather than a pilot burner of one for! Have the manual lighting option grown comfortable with the main burners valve opens, and remain... Happen, especially when the gas level of issues with a standing gas... Products they need to know with the older and reliable standing-pilot gas ignition can. For service tanks pressure gauge, you have a good ignitor furnace, here are the benefits using... A few seconds later the professionals for service watch the pilot system is thehot surface igniter mohd Firdaus Damanhuri! Off at the breaker box lifetime extension offsets the cost of gas into the area around the furnace day! With disinfectants before and after performing work part of your ignitor to its..., most newly installed furnacesuse an electronic ignition system is strategically located within the burner.. When there & # x27 ; s when did furnaces start using electronic ignition demand for heating contacted Hyde 's and immediately they recognized issue... Hear the furnace: what you need to stay on continuously the breaker box or repair HVAC! Burner door back in its place a licensed architect and builder with nearly 40 of... Thermocouple or thermopile to help our site visitors when did furnaces start using electronic ignition products they need to enhance or repair their HVAC.. Humidity in the house and a fireplace running steady help identify the area! Spark ignition since the 1940s an electronic ignition system doesnt need to stay on continuously time when would! By lighting the pilot valve on the thermocouple or thermopile name implies, pilot.