Electric Pilot Light Gas Furnace

The pilot light is a small flame that is either lit manually and remains burning around the clock or is lit electronically via an igniter when the machine kicks on.

Electric pilot light gas furnace.

Although today s standard electric furnace uses a hot surface ignition older models often use an intermittent pilot to ignite heat. This type doesn t use any pilot light at all. Lighting a pilot that is electronic ignition resources for gas heating gas heating for furnaces and boilers basics. An electric spark then lights the pilot light so it can in turn light the burners.

Electronic ignition vs standing pilot modern gas furnaces use electronic ignition systems to light the burners in modern furnaces. The pilot uses a high voltage spark of electricity to ignite heat when the thermostat indicates that it s getting too cold. These systems have been proven reliable and safe over time. One can still purchase a gas furnace or water heater with the old standing pilot ignition systems.

An intermittent pilot system uses an electronically controlled high voltage electric spark to ignite a pilot light and subsequently the main burners when the thermostat calls for heat. In turn the pilot lights the gas for the burners. There are a couple of issues with a conventional pilot light. A pilot light is a small flame that resides near your furnace s burners that burns continuously throughout the day and night.

If you can t get the pilot in your electric furnace to light it s usually a simple matter to turn it back on. On oct 30 2018. One type of electronic ignition is an intermittent pilot. When the furnace turns on a valve opens up and allows the gas to flow to the pilot light.

Lighting the pilot light for a standing pilot gas system is possible whereas lighting the pilot for an electronic ignition system is possible if you have a backup generator or other source of power to power that circuit. When your burners are ready to ignite the main gas supply to your furnace is turned on and the pilot light is used to spark the flames in the burners. When the furnace shuts off the valve closes and the pilot light goes out. The burner in your gas furnace is ignited either by an electronic ignition as is found in most modern furnaces or with a standing pilot flame which is common in older style furnaces that have an afue annual fuel utilization efficiency rating of less than 80 percent.

A pilot light is a small flame that burns continuously inside of your furnace whether it is running or not. A hot surface ignition system uses an electronically controlled resistance heating element not unlike a light bulb filament to ignite the gas burner. This system uses a pilot flame but the flame lights only when there s a call for heat from the thermostat.