Boiler won't ignite. It's cold here.
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Boiler won't ignite. It's cold here.
I have a Smith hto water boiler. When my thermostat reaches the point I hear the thermostat click and then at the boiler the circulater starts and then the damper opens. I can then hear the gas open up and a click, but nothing lights from the automatic igniter. After about 3 seconds of the gas open the gas shuts off. It tries several times, but does not light. I checked the ceramic igniter and it is fine. I believe the thermostat and everything is fine, I am just unsure why it isn't lighting.
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No heat
You said you checked the ceramic ignitor. Does it glow at any time during the ignition process? If it does not, the ignitor is likely bad. Is the gas valve set to "on"? Manual gas shut off valve open?
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gas is on
The gas is on, I can hear the gas flow and then it clicks off after a few seconds. The ceramic igniter was replaced last year and I took it out and it is all intact and in good shape. I will take it out and see if it glows. Everything seems to work ok, but when the gas is flowing I get no flames and it is shut off shortly.
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NO Glow
I pulled the igniter out of the unit and with it still plugged in turned the system on. same thing everything seemed to work ok, but the igniter never started to glow or anything. Must be the igniter, which cost $50 last year when i replaced it last year. Is there a bigger problem why they are crapping out on me. All i did this year was replace the thermostat and that don't seem like it would affect the igniter.
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Ignitor
It is easy to check the ignitor if you have a voltmeter. Turn off the gas (for safety), unplug the ignitor & plug the meter into where the ignitor would go (or connect it to the control where the ignitor wires connect) & run thru an igniton sequence. If you get 120 volts on the meter, the ignitor is probably bad. Dust or lint (especially lint) will destroy an ignitor very quickly as will an insect on the ignitor.
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Thanks
Thanks. I went and got a new ignitor. Sadly though when I went to put it in I slipped and the new ignitor broke. What a waste, so i need to wait till the morning to get a new one. thanks
#7
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Hot surface ignitors
I suggest to anyone having hot surface ignitors to keep a spare on hand. There are new ones on the market made of a different material (siicon nitride) which are supposed to hold up a lot better. I say "supposed to" because I have no first hand experience with them.