How to Fix Delayed Ignition on Gas Furnace in Boiling Springs, SC

Here in Boiling Springs, temperatures dip below freezing from December to February. Once it reaches the mid-20s, your heating system becomes your savior, but you need your furnace in top condition for it to maintain that title. Therefore, you may need to know how to fix a delayed ignition on gas furnaces. 



Our Smooth Sailing Heating & Cooling team is rated #1 for Boiling Springs’ heating and air conditioning services and years of 100% customer satisfaction. Not only do we understand how HVAC units work but also what can cause them to stop abruptly. Below, we’ll discuss how to tell if you have a delayed furnace ignition, what it means, and how we can remedy it for you. 

What Causes Your Ignitor to Delay? 

Your furnace sucks in cool indoor air and passes it into the heat exchanger where the ignitor sparks and warms it. The air re-releases through household vents, but if you haven’t used your furnace for a while, debris settles on the ignitor like contaminants do on household furniture.

For instance, dust and lint layer over the gas-feeding ports, barring the fuel from the combustion chamber. That causes ignition delays, but depending on the level of buildup, the air may not heat at all, lowering your heating system efficiency. Moreover, the unburned fuel remains in the furnace, which leads to system fires and explosions. 

Other factors that also cause delays include:

• Sulfur buildup: Sulfur develops from fires and leaves a white powdery substance on the ignitor.
• Moisture: Whether through the combustion process or long periods of inactivity, condensation occurs, leading to corrosion that clogs the feeding ports.
• Electrical issues: If your furnace’s safety mechanism isn’t working properly, combustion gases overwhelm the furnace, delaying the electronic ignitor.

What to Do if Your Boiling Springs, SC, Furnace Has a Delayed Ignition

Without examining the ignitor, you can still tell whether you have a faulty one by the sound your Boiling Springs furnace makes when starting a heating cycle. A loud boom or bang occurs as the gas doesn’t ignite immediately. The chamber fuel builds, and when the ignitor finally lights, it heats an excessive amount simultaneously, which causes a minor explosion. 

Cleaning the Respective Area

The real question is how to fix a delayed ignition on gas furnaces. Since most causes of delays originate from buildups on the gas-feeding ports, simply remove the filth. 

During Boiling Springs, SC, maintenance or repairs, a technician cleans a dirty pilot light or ignitor by taking a soft brush and gently removing the debris. They then insert a wire into any openings, such as the pilot orifice, ignitor holes, and burners, to dislodge particles within. Finally, they’ll turn on the furnace to ensure it lights properly and clean surrounding areas, including the following:

• Flame sensor: This part needs wiping with a cloth and polishing with steel wool so it can sense whether gas is flowing and if a flame is present.
• Burner: A professional removes and scrubs the tubes with a brass wire brush and sprays compressed air inside the opening to remove carbon deposits built up inside. 
• Gas valve: A dirty gas valve coil needs brushing and tightening to encourage proper gas flow from the gas line.

Increasing Airflow Into the System

Combustion only occurs if there’s a proper air-to-fuel ratio; without adequate airflow to the ignitor, plenty of unburned gas remains in the system, increasing carbon monoxide levels. The safety mechanism then kicks in, affecting how the ignitor works. So, clean your air filters and exterior furnace surfaces every few months to reduce blockages that restrict air and, therefore, delay your ignitor. 

An expert also cleans the blower motor and fan blades so it moves air into the heat exchanger, keeping the latter from overheating.

Checking the Thermostat

Thermostat adjustments and energy consumption go hand in hand since frequent temperature changes have a large impact on energy bills. Because of this, residents regularly alter their settings, turning the thermostat up, which causes the ignitor not to turn on. So, check your settings, change the batteries every few months, and have a professional examine the wiring to ensure functionality. 

Ignite Our Boiling Springs, SC, Services with One Call!

Sometimes you can’t tell you have an ignitor issue, and ignoring the signs proves dangerous to your system and loved ones. So, contact our five-star Smooth Sailing Heating & Cooling team to learn how to fix a delayed ignition on gas furnaces or understand the signs of furnace gas valve failure. Call 864-531-7732 to request a service call today!