Should my furnace light always be on?

Since the pilot light needs to remain active, your furnace is always consuming some gas. It’s not a lot—usually just a few therms of gas a month—but that obviously adds up over time. There is a safety issue as well. Pilot lights can develop problems that cause them to burn inefficiently.

How often should a furnace be turned on?

On average, furnaces should kick on and turn off anywhere from three to eight times per hour. However, if your furnace turns on and off more frequently, don’t assume the furnace is short cycling just yet.

What’s the best way to light a furnace?

Turn the switch or knob to “Pilot” and hold down the reset button. With a long lighter, bring a flame close to the pilot light opening. This isn’t very dangerous, but you should use caution. Once the pilot light has caught and is burning brightly, you can release the reset button.

Do you have to have pilot lights on your furnace?

So if you’re asking the question “Do all furnaces have pilot lights?” the answer is No. In fact, most furnaces these days don’t have pilot lights, or at least standing pilot lights—the kind that burns all the time and has to be relighted when they go out.

What kind of ignition system do I need for my furnace?

Occasionally a standing pilot light will need to be relighted, or a thermocouple will need to be replaced, but these are easy and infrequent repairs. If you have a newer furnace (or one with an AFUE rating above 80), it most likely has an electronic ignition system. One type of electronic ignition is an intermittent pilot.

How does the pilot work on a spruce furnace?

The furnace’s electronic control board activates an electric igniter that uses a high-voltage spark to light the pilot. In turn, the pilot lights the gas for the burners. Once the burn cycle is complete, both the burners and the pilot turn off.

Turn the switch or knob to “Pilot” and hold down the reset button. With a long lighter, bring a flame close to the pilot light opening. This isn’t very dangerous, but you should use caution. Once the pilot light has caught and is burning brightly, you can release the reset button.

When do you use a pilot light in a furnace?

Up until recent history, pilot lights were used in nearly every furnace to ignite the burners when a heating cycle begins. A pilot light is a small flame that burns continuously inside of your furnace whether it is running or not.

What’s the difference between an old and new furnace?

Along with superior construction and innovations such as variable-speed fans, one of the biggest changes with the modern furnace is the disappearance of the old standing pilot light that ignited the burners. You may remember a time when you would start off the winter by lighting the pilot light in the furnace.

Why does my furnace light go out when I turn it on?

You go to turn on your furnace on a cold winter day and it doesn’t start. A lot of older furnaces have this problem, because the pilot light will go out. There’s no need to shiver or call someone in to make repairs, because lighting your furnace is a simple task anyone can learn.