A commonly replaced part on a gas furnace is a hot surface ignitor. Pilot lights are a thing of the past in modern furnaces which is a good thing because they waste fuel. However, this means that we use another type of ignition system which requires a part, which means it needs to be replaced after use.
Customers have asked me if ignitors can be cleaned and the answer is no, you cannot clean one of these parts because they have a coating which is compromised over the years and must be replaced.
A couple things to look for when a technician replaces your hot surface ignitor (HSI):
Make sure he is very careful. A fingerprint on the surface of the ignitor will reduce the life to only about two years, so it is advisable to use rubber gloves when installing this part, or at the very least to be very careful not to touch the business end of this part.
Get the old part. A worn out ignitor will be coated with a whitish substance instead of a robust, sparkling black surface. A quick test with an ohm meter will also verify the condition of this part.
These parts are very brittle. I have broken my share of them putting them in, so I recommend using only a trained, experienced technician to install this part.... like me!
Give me a call if you live in the Sacramento area and I will be happy to talk to you about becoming your heating technician for all your furnace needs.
James 916-751-6060
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