On most furnaces the ignitor will not glow unless all the safety controls (limit, rollout switch/switches, pressure switch) are closed. If a limit or rollout switch is open, you can have an overheating problem and a possible dangerous condition. You may need to replace the limit switch or rollout switch.

How do I know if my hot surface ignitor is bad?

Set a multimeter to the lowest possible resistance test and place the probes onto tips of the plug for the ignitor. If the multimeter shows infinity or stays at zero, the ignitor no longer works and must be replaced.

What causes hot surface ignitor failure?





High Voltage



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 test a flame ignitor?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Set the multimeter to the lowest ohms of resistance. Next touch the probes together and adjust the needle until it's calibrated at zero. If you're using a digital multimeter.

How many volts does a hot surface ignitor need?

A hot surface igniter can burn out at approximately 132 V. Even voltages in excess of 125 V may reduce igniter life.

Can a hot surface 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 repair a hot surface ignitor?





Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: I'm just going to use a short slotted screwdriver to remove the screws. Once the screws are removed you can pull out the igniter. This style has two tabs that you need to squeeze.

How do you test a hot surface igniter?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: The element here gets red-hot and begins to glow. At the same time the gas valve is energized allowing gas to flow across the hot surface igniter this ignites the gas to test the igniter.

Why is my furnace not lighting?

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.

Why is my furnace clicking but not turning on?

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.

Should a hot surface ignitor have continuity?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: It should be functioning properly. No continuity means the electrical path is broken and the igniter is burned.

How many ohms should an igniter read?

between 37-68 ohms

Resistance should be between 37-68 ohms. If the igniter and the surrounding air are at about 70°F and the igniter wires are not connected to any other electrical components, the resistance of the igniter should not exceed 75 ohms.

Are all hot surface igniters the same?



There are several hot surface igniter styles in use out there right now. Silicon Carbide, Silicon Nitride, 80 volt, 115 volt. How do I tell what I have and how do I diagnose it? The oldest hot surface used out there right now that you will encounter is the Silicon Carbide igniter.

How long should a hot surface ignitor last?

about seven years

No matter which type of ignitor is in your Furnace, this chain of events lights your heater so that it blows hot air. Don’t worry—an ignitor that goes bad is common for most furnaces. Fortunately, you can replace the ignitor without replacing the whole Furnace. Most ignitors last about seven years.

How do you fix a furnace that won’t ignite?

If your gas furnace initiates the start cycle but does not fire up, it’s likely because of a faulty, damaged, or dirty ignitor/sensor. This is a very common furnace problem—you can try to clean the sensor and replace the ignitor.

How do you clean the igniter?



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.

How do I fix my igniter gas stove not sparking?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And take a long shaft lighter or are you gonna start lighter if you're brave it up I just move I'm gonna light right up anyways to fix that what you'll need to do is take the burner cap.

Why is my gas stove igniter not clicking?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: The prongs on the top. Once you remove the wires. There's one screw in the bottom you'll just want to loosen that up once you loosen that up you can go ahead and attach the module.

How do you clean a flame ignitor?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: If you don't have sandpaper you can use baking soda and a paper towel. You can use a hand file anything abrasive that will get this cleaned.

Can you clean furnace ignitor?



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.

How does a hot surface igniter work?

Hot Surface Ignition systems use an ‘M’ or fork-shaped silicon carbide or silicon nitride igniter piece instead of a traditional spark igniter to light your gas flames. Low-voltage, but high-current electricity is sent through the hot surface igniter piece, heating it up to a glowing 2500 degrees Fahrenheit.