How To Know If a Furnace Gas Valve Is Bad: 4 Signs

Are you experiencing issues with your gas furnace? Call smooth sailing heating and cooling for safe, professional resolution.

Gas furnaces remain the most cost-effective option for home heating in South Carolina. These complex systems burn natural gas to generate the warmth you feel across your home on those chilly winter days.

One component that plays a crucial role in the combustion process is the gas valve. If it’s not working, your furnace may remain unresponsive. In this blog post, the Boiling Springs heating and air conditioning experts will discuss how to know if a furnace gas valve is bad, the common reasons for gas valve failure, and more.

The Top Reasons for Gas Valve Damage

Your gas valve can go bad for different reasons, such as:

• Wear and tear. Gas valves are like other parts of your furnace. They will wear out at some point after working for years. Your HVAC technician will need to either replace or repair it at that point.
• A system glitch. Many components work together with the gas valve to support the combustion process. Any disruption to any of them can cause a range of issues, including gas valve problems.
• Water damage. If your furnace’s gas valve comes in contact with water during a leak, it will likely go bad. Recognizing gas valve problems in your furnace after a leak is a major source of concern because other components of the furnace will likely develop faults.

4 Signs of a Faulty Furnace Gas Valve

Are you wondering how to know if a furnace gas valve is bad? The top signs of a bad gas valve include the following.

1. A Gas Leak

A gas leak is one of the most common symptoms of a bad gas valve in a furnace.

A faulty gas valve may cause the accumulation of gas outside the furnace system. So, when you step into the area holding your furnace, you might inhale that rotten smell of natural gas.

This scenario is highly dangerous because your home is at risk. It will only take a spark around the furnace to start a massive fire.

Breathing in the gas is also bad for your health. It can cause many symptoms ranging from nausea to headaches. Inhaling it in heavy doses may also be fatal.

So, when you perceive that gas smell, open your doors and windows to let the accumulated gas out and let in some fresh air before calling an HVAC technician to find out the cause of the smell.

2. Distorted Furnace Cycle

A bad gas valve will not supply gas to your furnace consistently. This can disrupt your furnace’s typical cycle. In most cases, the furnace will run for longer periods because it doesn’t have enough gas to maintain the combustion process and deliver enough warmth.

The thermostat will signal the furnace to stay on for longer. If the problem persists for too long, the blower motor will overheat. A disruption in the furnace cycle is one of the biggest indications of gas valve issues in your heating system.

3. No Warm Air

The lack of warm air is one of the surest methods of identifying a malfunctioning gas valve in your furnace.

Your furnace may run without supplying warmth for various reasons. A faulty gas valve is high on the list. The combustion process will not kick in without a consistent supply of gas. As a result, your furnace won’t generate enough heat to push through the vents.

Your blower fan will continue to work in this scenario because it relies on electricity and not natural gas.

4. Furnace Ignition Lockout

Modern furnace systems feature several sensors that help monitor performance and operation. If your furnace has a bad valve, the sensors may trigger a complete shutdown. Troubleshooting a faulty furnace gas valve will not work in this scenario.

You’ll see an error code when you try to restart the furnace until an experienced furnace repair technician comes to complete a manual reset.

Contact Smooth Sailing Heating & Cooling for Your Furnace Repair in Boiling Springs, South Carolina

Although you’ve learned how to know if a furnace gas valve is bad, we strongly recommend letting our professionals handle fixing it. The risks of damage to the furnace and your property are too high!



Our highly experienced technicians will arrive at your property in the shortest possible to either repair or replace the valve. Call the Smooth Sailing Heating & Cooling in Boiling Springs, SC, today at 864-531-7732 or keep reading to learn about the functionality of a two-stage furnace.