How to Adjust the Ignitor on a Furnace

The ignitor on a furnace lights the gas or oil to provide heat for your home. Oil furnaces have ignitor brackets that need to be in a certain position to properly light. If the electrodes on the end of the ignitor are too close to the oil, it can shut down the furnace without lighting. If the electrode is too far away from the oil, it will take longer for the oil to light and waste fuel. Adjusting the ignitor fixes these problems.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Turn off the power to your oil furnace. Open the maintenance hatch to the furnace.

2. Locate the ignitor electrode positioned above the oil nozzle.

3. Turn the screw on the ignitor bracket left to lower the electrode closer to the oil nozzle if it’s too far away. Turn the screw on the bracket right to move the electrode farther away from the nozzle if it’s too close. The electrode should be ¼ to ½ inch from the nozzle.

References

• How Your House Works: A Visual Guide to Understanding & Maintaining Your Home; Charlie Wing