Do All Electric Furnaces Have Pilot Lights?

Most newer furnaces have electric starters, rather than pilot lights, but they’re common in older systems. If your pilot light goes out, we highly recommend checking your furnace’s owner’s manual and following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Is there a pilot light in an electric furnace?

Although today’s standard electric furnace uses a hot surface ignition, older models often use an intermittent pilot to ignite heat.If you can’t get the pilot in your electric furnace to light, it’s usually a simple matter to turn it back on.

Do some furnaces not have pilot lights?

Newer gas furnaces (since about 2010) do not have a traditional pilot light that burns all the time. Instead they use electronic ignition systems that light only as needed. Constant flame or “standing pilot” heating systems are still fairly common in older homes, and they can still be repaired in most cases.

How do I light the pilot on my electric furnace?

Once the gas has had time to dissipate, turn the knob to “Pilot.” Then, hold down the “Reset” button and bring the flame of a long lighter close to the pilot light opening. This should light the furnace pilot light. Once you are sure the pilot light is on, release your pressure on the reset button.

Can you manually light an electric furnace?

Never attempt to light a furnace by a flame manually, especially if the furnace has an electronic igniter. A furnace equipped with an electronic igniter cannot be lit manually.

How do you tell if your furnace is gas or electric?

If you see a blue flame, it’s a gas heat exchanger. Other units will have a small metal panel that’s easy to remove. You can check behind there to see if you see that blue flame. Electric systems don’t have that access window or panel and make very little noise.

How do I know if my furnace has a pilot light?

You’re probably familiar with a standing pilot light, the little blue flame that sits in front of one of the furnace burners. If your furnace has a small round knob on the gas valve with the words OFF/ON/PILOT, you have a standing pilot ignition.

Does Central Heat have a pilot light?

There is no pilot light to go out on a central gas heater — and no chance of gas escaping into the room — which also means you cannot ignite the burner manually. From time-to-time, the gas heater may require restarting to engage the igniter and burners.

Why is my furnace not igniting?

The pilot light or ignition sensor is usually the most common issue when your furnace will not ignite.Then, remove the front panel to find the ignitor or ignition sensor. This is typically located near the burners. If the sensor or ignitor is dirty, it will need to be cleaned.

Does a high efficiency furnace have a pilot light?

Hot Surface Ignition: Furnace Ignition | High-Efficiency Electronic Ignition Gas Furnaces. The Hot Surface Ignition Furnace has no pilot light. It lights the burners direct. Therefore it is also referred to at times as Direct Ignition.

Where is reset button on electric furnace?

Locate the reset button on the furnace and press it to reset the furnace. It is usually located inside the blower compartment on the side of the blower motor. Be cautious as the housing may be hot. If the button is popped up, press it down.

How do you relight an automatic pilot light?

Press the gas control knob down all the way and hold it in the depressed position. If you have no igniter, move the match or barbecue lighter flame to the end of the pilot tube; the pilot flame should light immediately. If you have a spark igniter, press the ignition button until the pilot flame ignites.

How do electric furnaces work?

Electric furnaces work much like gas furnaces, except that they use electricity to produce heat instead of gas.Once in the heat exchanger, electric heating elements will warm up the air. This warm air is then pushed by the blower into the ductwork in your home, which distributes the air into the rooms of your home.

How do I know if my ignitor is bad on my furnace?

4 Signs of a Faulty Furnace Ignitor

1. The Furnace Stops Running. When a furnace won’t run at all, check for a bad ignitor.
2. Your Furnace Blows Chilly Air. Unless you’ve set your thermostat to COOL, your furnace should not blow cold air.
3. Does Your Furnace Short Cycle?
4. A No Glow Ignitor.
5. We Can Replace Your Furnace Ignitor.

Why is my electric furnace blowing cold air?

Your furnace may be blowing cold air because the filter is too dirty. A dirty air filter blocks airflow over the furnace’s heat exchanger, causing it to overheat. When overheating, your furnace can trip a high limit switch, causing the furnace burners to shut off so that the heat exchanger does not crack.

Is forced air heating gas or electric?

Forced air heating systems use natural gas, one of the most affordable substances as opposed to water or electricity. It’s not only affordable, but it’s also clean for the environment. New technology has also allowed for these systems to provide an even greater level of efficiency for your furnace.

Are heat pumps gas or electric?

Heat pumps are powered by electricity, so you can save substantially on fuel consumption. It’s over 100 percent efficient in various temperate climates and can serve as both a heater and air conditioner. The same Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) considerations can be made for both your heat pump or gas furnace system.

Is heat powered by gas or electric?

When you turn on your thermostat, your furnace generates heat using a flame that burns gas. Similarly to the electric heater, that heat is pushed through a heat exchanger that warms it.

Why is my pilot light not staying lit on my furnace?

Some common causes include issues with the thermocouple and pilot tube. The thermocouple detects the pilot light via sensors.A dirty pilot tube can also prevent the pilot from staying lit. If the pilot tube is dirty, let the furnace cool down and turn off the gas.

Do propane furnaces have a pilot light?

Most older propane gas furnaces (and some new ones) are ignited with a pilot light (many newer models use an electronic ignition for better efficiency). One of the main reasons your furnace stops working is because that pilot light goes out.

Where is my furnace ignitor?

Unscrew and remove the service panel on the side of the furnace and find the ignitor. It is usually mounted on a V-shaped bracket near the gas port. The ignitor has two wires attached to the back of it and has a flat metal tip.