Furnace works if I KICK it....

[levdeb]

So, furnace clicks on. Fan starts spinning. Then, when the pilot light is supposed to glow, it just doesn't.

If I gently kick it, just a tap, the pilot / glow plug lights up, and then the furnace fires up and we get heat...

Thoughts? I checked the wires, everything is clean and tight. Does this sound like a pilot light going bad? ($89...)

Thanks all!

Bill

[Heel n Toe]

You should never kick your furnace. They can get revenge while you are asleep by pumping out mass quantities of carbon monoxide.

Call a professional. Seriously.

[porsche4life]

Hmm, My first thought was loose connections... but you say no on that... Uhh... is there a circuit board you can see? Check the solder joints on that.

[levdeb]

Its pretty sporadic. But, getting more common...

I have a carbon monoxide detector right next to the furnace, so hopefully we will be ok...!

[Heel n Toe]

The furnace will pump the carbon monoxide through the vents right to where you're sleeping. You'll be long gone before that detector beeps.

Go ahead... don't listen to me... kick away... your furnace will love you for it.

[levdeb]

Sorry.... getting sleepy.... zzzzz.....



I will call a pro. I just have a hard time handing over cash if he is just going to plug in a new plug...!

[Heel n Toe]

Can you plug the detector in close to a vent in your bedroom?

Seriously.

If you think I'm joking, ask the professional for some horror stories.

Not because of the kicking... I was joking about that. New furnaces have system shutoffs that prevent carbon monoxide release, but older furnaces... maybe not so much.

But I'm sure there are ways even newer furnaces can kill you.

[rick-l]

What part of it do you kick?

What is a pilot light and why does it cost $89?

Are you saying you tap on the ignitor and it glows? Or do you tap on the controller and the ignitor starts to glow?

[levdeb]

Ignitor. Sorry!

I tap just the outside case, and then I see the ignitor light up, and then it fires up!

Really found out by accident, as its in our laundry room, and my wife slid the basket in there, and the furnace worked...!

Its clean, and only about 5 years old...

Thanks all for offering advice!

[nynor]

cracked ignitor.

[lm6y]

Ding Ding! Nynor for the win! Happened to me a few years ago. I keep a spare on hand.

[crustychief]

Mine did the same thing, aside from the ignitor, check the little air line that samples vent pressure. Mine had a little hole in it and couldn't overcome the switch without assistance.

[rick-l]

If it is a cracked igniter about the only place to buy one is at Grainger or through the internet.

[levdeb]

Awesome. Thanks so much guys. Heading to that website now!

[Brian 162]

Honeywell made gas valves around 10 years ago called the smart valve. There were 2 connectors on the valve. One connector went to the pilot/ignitor. The other connector was a 4 wire square connector . If you just touched that connector the hsi would start to glow. That may be your problem. The valve has to be replaced. The connections in the valve fail.
From what you described that may be the problem.