Ignition issues with your furnace

You probably have run into similar problems with an older car. Your furnace ignition is slow to fully engage, which can be a symptom of bigger problems. Everything from “maybe the ignition just needs cleaning” to “maybe the entire furnace needs replacing.”

But don’t panic. While the average well-maintained furnace works for 15 or 20 years in New York City, the average furnace ignition lasts five years or less.

Sometimes the ignition simply needs some basic cleaning if debris has settled on it. A furnace can be a sooty environment and dust will accumulate around the ignition.

In other cases the sluggish start means your ignition system is getting old, less able to ignite the burners. It’s replacement time if the igniter takes more and more tries before it ignites.

Corrosion and breaks are other enemies of ignitions. These are the results of the furnace’s surroundings and wear and tear, and they hasten the end of a viable ignition.

One good reason to promptly replace a bad ignition: It adds to your utility bill. Bad ignition is like any defective component – it forces the system to work harder to deliver the temperature on the thermostat.

Repair? Replace?

While a furnace can last 15 to 20 years, it will begin to lose efficiency after about 10 years, according to the Department of Energy.

At some point you may do the math and see that a brand-new furnace, with fantastic energy efficiency, would be better than your aging furnace. Contact an experienced furnace contractor to help you weigh the pros and cons of replacing an old but still-functioning furnace with a much more effective new model.

Furnace issues? Premier HVAC is a leader in installing and repairing furnaces in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Long Island.