The need for high efficiency in heating systems has led to various discoveries that have changed how consumers meet their HVAC demands, whether domestic or commercial. Electronic ignitions are some of the inventions that have increased the potential of furnaces.

Traditionally, a furnace came with a standing pilot that only works for low-efficiency systems. One advantage that electronic ignition offers over a conventional pilot light is that the latter requires a gas flame to keep burning, meaning that a furnace consumes excess energy. When getting a replacement, an Edmonton furnace service can provide options for the best electronic ignition to suit your requirements.

Intermittent Pilot

Modern furnaces can feature intermittent pilot or hot surface ignition. With the former type, a gas line is designed to allow gas flow when the thermostat calls for heat. There is a high-voltage electrical spark that ignites to form a flame, which powers the pilot light.

A furnace contains a flame sensor that tracks the pilot light to see if it is functioning properly, and if it is, the main gas valve is allowed to open, causing the burners to light up. When replacing your appliance with an intermittent pilot system, a few potential challenges may arise during its lifetime.

For one, the pilot gas pipe may not be correctly positioned, which is why you should consider professional furnace replacement. Another problem is that the connection to the thermostat may be faulty or loose. A dirty nozzle or defective electronic spark may also cause a lot of trouble.

Hot Surface

A hot surface ignition system functions similarly as a bulb where two metals heat when the thermostat is set, and when they reach a certain temperature, the gas ignites and fires up the burners. The metal strips in this system are often in a casing, which should never get dirty because even a fingerprint smudge on it can impede the ignition process. Due to the high and low temperatures that the probe has to deal with, cracking is the other potential downside of a hot surface ignition system.

Delayed Ignition

Electronic ignitions are advantageous because they light up immediately, but sometimes a furnace may take a while before the process takes place. A delayed ignition causes gas to accumulate in the system, which causes safety hazards. You can identify a delayed ignition of a pilot by the banging noises from a furnace.