How To Light A Furnace With An Electric Pilot

The furnace s electronic control board activates an electric igniter that uses a high voltage spark to light the pilot.

How to light a furnace with an electric pilot. A modern gas furnace usually has an electronic spark generator to ignite the gas when the thermostat calls for heat. Although today s standard electric furnace uses a hot surface ignition older models often use an intermittent pilot to ignite heat. You cannot light a furnace ignitor the same way that you light a pilot light. This isn t very dangerous but you should use caution.

If you can t get the pilot in your electric furnace to light it s usually a simple matter to turn it back on. A number of things can make an old furnace pilot light go out including a strong draft a faulty thermocouple or a loss of gas. In turn the pilot lights the gas for the burners. With a long lighter bring a flame close to the pilot light opening.

Re light the pilot light with a flame if it doesn t have an electric ignition. Newer furnaces typically do not have pilot lights but instead have an electronic ignition. Once the furnace pilot light has a steady flame you can turn the switch on and adjust the thermostat to the desired temperature. However you can reset it.

Once the burn cycle is complete both the burners and the pilot turn off.