
How do I clean the heater igniter?
- Turn off the Gas and Electricity. To be safe, whenever doing work on a stove, furnace, or other gas fueled device, it is wise to shut off ...
- Remove the Hot Surface Igniter.
- Locate the Filter.
- Clean the Electrical Housing of the Furnace.
How to clean a furnace igniter?
How to Clean a Hot Surface Igniter Step 1 – Turn off the Gas and Electricity Step 2 – Remove the Hot Surface Igniter Step 3 – Locate the Filter Step 4 – Clean the Electrical Housing of the Furnace
What to do if your water heater igniter is not working?
Water Heater Igniter Won’t Spark. When you click the igniter to light your pilot flame, there should be a tiny spark happening inside of the pilot. To get a better look, consider dimming the lights in the room. If the pilot light won’t light and there is no spark, the problem usually lies with the spark electrode.
How do you clean the igniter on a Kenmore gas oven?
The igniter is situated at the gas orifice, which is often at the back of the oven. Use the toothbrush and a paste of baking soda and water or a 50/50 vinegar solution to clean the surface of the igniter. Avoid cleaners with bleach, ammonia or any other chemical that could produce noxious fumes.
Can you clean the ignition side of a hot surface igniter?
Unfortunately, simply cleaning these parts is more difficult than it seems because the ignition side of a hot surface igniter should never be touched. Instead, it is primarily the peripheral parts of the hot surface igniter that must be cleaned. Follow the steps below to learn how.

Can an ignitor be cleaned?
It is not necessary to clean a hot surface igniter as it blow off any dust. However contrary to silicon carbide ceramic hot surface ignitor which are very brittle and shouldn't be touched, silicon nitride hot surface ignitor are very robust and can be cleaned manually iff really necessary.
Can you clean electric igniter on furnace?
If your furnace has a spark ignitor and it's working haphazardly, it too could be covered with soot, and a blast of compressed air may be enough to clean it. Compressed air can also clean a blocked pilot tube that is causing the pilot flame to burn weakly or not at all.
Should a furnace ignitor be cleaned?
However, sometimes the ignitor sensor can become dirty, and so, is unable to sense the flame. If you think that this could be the problem, the ignitor sensor needs to be cleaned. To clean the ignition sensor, turn off your furnace's power supply.
How do you clean an igniter rod?
Clean the Sensor Once you have removed the sensor, gently rub the metal rod (and nothing else) with a very light grit sandpaper. Remember, you're not sanding down an auto body here, just ridding the sensor of any buildup. Then, use a clean paper towel to wipe clean any dust left behind by the sanding.
How do I know if my furnace ignitor is bad?
Here are a few indications that you have a faulty ignitor.No Cold Air. ... The Furnace Won't Come On. ... The Furnace Suddenly Stops Blowing. ... Starts, Then Stops, Then Starts Again. ... Tripping the Breaker More Than Once. ... I Hear the Click, But Nothing Happens. ... Flame Sensor Problems. ... Short Circuit.More items...•
How do you check a furnace ignitor?
1:062:01Furnace Not Igniting or Heating? Igniter Testing, Repair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipItself now use a probe to touch one of the igniters terminals and the second probe to touch theMoreItself now use a probe to touch one of the igniters terminals and the second probe to touch the other terminal. If the meter reading shows a result between 50 and 400 ohms of resistance.
What causes a furnace not to ignite?
If your furnace won't ignite, the source of the issue may be a broken flame sensor. The sensor is responsible for turning off the gas burners to avoid gas buildup. Once this component starts to malfunction, it may stop the burners from igniting altogether.
What causes furnace ignitor failure?
An 80-volt HSI should have about 80 volts applied to it. Applying 120 volts to that HSI will cause it break, and sometimes almost immediately. Having too low of voltage may not let the igniter burn hot enough.
How do you fix a gas heater igniter?
1:333:53Furnace Not Igniting? - Ignitor Testing & Replacement | Repair and ReplaceYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipShould be on this side in some furnaces it'll be hidden behind a cover now disconnect the wires nextMoreShould be on this side in some furnaces it'll be hidden behind a cover now disconnect the wires next unscrew and remove the igniter. But be careful not to touch the element. Take the multimeter.
Can hear your furnace click on but it does not fire up?
You Have a Faulty Ignition Sensor (Pilot Light) The pilot light or ignition sensor is usually the most common issue when your furnace will not ignite. This is typically the problem if you can hear your furnace click on but it does not fire up.
Can you use sandpaper to clean flame sensor?
The sensor is part porcelain insulator with a 2 to 4” wire that extends above the burner. Remove it and sand it lightly with 150 grit sandpaper or so, (I used a sanding sponge), to remove all the dark carbon off the wire. Once it is clean, it should work for a month or two until you can order a new one.
How to clean a gas burner?
If you have to do a more extensive cleaning job, use a toothbrush and bleach-free cleaner, such as water and baking soda, vinegar or dish soap. After scrubbing off the electrode and the base, dry both with a paper towel and try the burner. You should see a strong bluish spark and the gas should ignite readily.
Where is the igniter located on a gas oven?
The igniter is situated at the gas orifice, which is often at the back of the oven.
What happens if a gas stove igniter is wet?
If a gas stove igniter sparks weakly or not at all, it could be wet. Perhaps someone allowed a pot to boil over and some of the water got onto the igniter and hasn't evaporated yet. Dry off the igniter with a paper towel and it should start working, but do this only when all the other burners are off.
What is the function of an oven igniter?
When an oven igniter reaches the requisite temperature, a bimetallic valve opens and allows gas to flow to the burner, which the igniter ignites. The oven igniter can easily get caked with gristle, and keeping it clean is as important as cleaning ...
What is an igniter on a gas stove?
In short, an igniter is a miniature lightning strike. A gas stove igniter requires very little maintenance and you seldom have to clean it. However, if the electrode gets wet or caked with solidified grease, electricity won't arc, although you'll still hear the clicking sound of the control module.
What happens when you turn off the gas burner?
When off, the dial of a gas burner is usually either at the 12 or 6 o'clock position, and when you turn it to 1 or 5 o'clock, the igniter starts clicking. The next thing that should happen is that the gas ignites, and when that happens, you keep turning the dial to adjust the size of the flame.
How to clean a spark plug?
Use the toothbrush and a paste of baking soda and water or a 50/50 vinegar solution to clean the surface of the igniter. Avoid cleaners with bleach, ammonia or any other chemical that could produce noxious fumes. If you have to chip material off it, use a plastic toothpick or kitchen knife. Advertisement.
How to ignite a pilot on a gas heater?
When you hold down the pilot switch on a gas heater and click the igniter button repeatedly, a small spark should ignite the pilot. However, if the pilot flame will not light after you click the igniter, you need to verify that a spark is happening inside the pilot. When the piezo igniter is pressed down and released, ...
What happens if the igniter switch is broken?
A broken electrode. When the igniter switch is pressed down, the electrode is what releases the spark. If the electrode is faulty or broken, there won’t be a spark. In this case, you’ll need to replace the electrode entirely. Carbon deposits and/or grime on the pilot light.
What happens when a piezo igniter is pressed down?
When the piezo igniter is pressed down and released, an electric spark is produced to light the primary gas burner in the water heater. The electrode should release a spark simply by pressing the piezo igniter. If the spark electrode won’t produce a spark, the electrode itself is likely defective and needs replacing.
What is a pilot light on a water heater?
The pilot light in your water heater is a small device that is designed to provide the flame to light the gas released out of the gas valve and main burner. Whether your water heater is running or not, in some water heaters, the pilot light is always burning while using a minute amount of gas. Once heating is required, the gas control valve will ...
Why is there no spark in my water heater?
When the igniter is pressed down, it releases a spark which ignites the gas. If there is no spark, it could be because of an issue with the entire igniter. Loose wire connections.
Why does my water heater pilot light go out?
Low gas pressure or a defective gas control valve may result in the pilot light going out frequently. If you suspect that this is the case, you will need to contact a water heater repair person or your gas company to correct it. Air in the gas line.
Why won't my water heater pilot light?
This issue is most likely caused by one of the following: The gas valve on the gas supply pipe may be shut off. Verify that this valve is open.
Where do you put the burners back in the blower?
Carefully return the burners back into the chamber located above the blower, snapping them back into place.
Why is it important to have a safety test on a furnace?
It cannot be understated just how important the safety measures in your furnace are. They are in place to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, fire, and even explosion. Sometimes, you will need to perform tests to ensure that the safety components in your furnace are working properly.
Can a furnace pressure switch be locked out?
For these furnaces, the condensate lines can become a common issue and lead to other regular issues. These are generally longer run times than normal, which can cause the furnace’s pressure switch to become locked out .
Is it important to clean furnace burners?
While cleaning the burners is the most important thing here, there are other things that bear looking at. Your furnace has a number of essential components and there are plenty of factors that can contribute to them wearing down and, ultimately, not working.

Step 1 – Turn Off The Gas and Electricity
Step 2 – Remove The Hot Surface Igniter
- Using a socket wrench or screwdriver (depending on how it is attached), remove the panel from the side of the furnace and locate the hot surface igniter. The igniter will be attached to some electrical wires that are easily unplugged. A socket wrench or screwdriver will be needed again to remove the igniter itself. Once the igniter has been removed...
Step 3 – Locate The Filter
- The filter of the furnace may also be dirty, which would cause the furnace to heat up more than usual, forcing the safety features to shut off power to the hot surface igniter. Air filters simply slide out, and the replacements slide right back in. This is an easy process and an important part of good furnace maintenance. Change the air filters regularly.
Step 4 – Clean The Electrical Housing of The Furnace
- Before replacing the hot surface igniter, use a shop vac or compressed air to remove and dust or dirt that may have built up in the electrical compartment where the hot surface igniter is housed. Once the area is clean, replace the igniter and reattach the side panel.