If your furnace isn't igniting, you could have a problem with your ignitor, or it could be a flame sensor problem. When your furnace doesn't ignite, it can be a big problem, especially when it's too cold outside and you don't have any heat in your home. If your furnace isn't igniting, you need to have it repaired right away. There may be a few things you can do to help get your furnace working properly again. Read on for tips to repair your furnace ignitor.

Clean The Flame Sensor

The flame sensor can be cleaned with a small piece of emery cloth. Find the flame sensor and use the piece of emery cloth to gently rub away the debris that may be stuck on the flame sensor. With time, it can accumulate with stuck on grime. When this occurs, it can cause a problem where the flame doesn't ignite properly, or won't stay ignited. Clean this sensor if your furnace isn't igniting and restart your furnace to see if this helped.

Check Your Gas Line

Another reason your furnace isn't igniting may be because it isn't getting any gas. Check your gas line to see if it's turned on, and if it is, check it with bubble soap to see if you have a gas leak. If you suspect you have a gas leak, you should get out of the house and call your local gas company to test for leaks and to have your gas shut off. A gas leak can be very dangerous and should not be messed around with.

Change The Ignitor

If your problem wasn't with the gas line and it wasn't with the flame sensor, it may be the ignitor. Changing the ignitor should be done by a professional HVAC repairman. If you aren't sure how to work on this type of equipment, you should leave this work to a professional. Changing the ignitor may not be as simple as you think, or may not be as easy as you have seen it done online. Just because you've found a video doesn't mean you have the know-how to actually get it done. Hire a professional instead.

If you have a problem with your furnace not igniting, or it sounds like it's cycling and not actually turning on, hire a professional heating repair technician to have your furnace repaired for you. Don't attempt to do any repairs on your furnace that you aren't comfortable with, hire a pro.