furnace takes a few tries to start

I have a 10 year old furnace that takes about 10 or so tries to start. You can hear it try to ignite, but it does not work, it keeps trying and finally gets it. This is more noticable on cold days

1) is there an easy way to fix what ever the problem is
2) is this dangerous?

Thanks

 

Some more information would be helpful. Is the furnace oil or gas fired? If gas, is it standing pilot, spark, or hot surface ignition? Is it vented with metal or plastic pipe?

 

You will have to excuse my ignorance, I am very new at this, and dont know much about furnaces and a new home owner.

The furnace is gas. I dont know for sure what kind of pilot it has, but when I look in the fire chamber i do not see a steady burning light (as I would see in a fireplace for example). There is a small metal hook that is not lit and there is some wires that feed into it from the bottom.

I did watch the furnace light up and and when it does the hook gets quite hot and red, but that is all I can see.

If it is any help the furnace is a HEIL SP80, I tried to look up on the web to see what kind of pilot it has but i could not find anything

When the furnace tries to get on, it makes a click noise, as if it is trying to start but it cant, after a few tries which seem like mis-fires, it finally goes on.

Any help or tips is appreciate it.

 

Also

I have no idea how it is vented, where would I look to see and what I am looking for?

 

The red hot hook is the hot surface ignitior. The click you hear is probably the gas valve opening. You could have a gas valve malfunctioning, low gas pressure, or rust in the burners. I suggest you contact your gas company or a service company & have the furnace looked at by a professional. Feel free to watch & as questions. Most service people don't mind at all.

 

Thanks Grady

I actually watched it yesterday as it was trying to light up.

The metal hook gets red hot, then some gas tries to light up, but I guess there is not enought in the chamber. after a few tries, it actually lights up but I can smell a small hint of gas, which is probably not a good thing

 

I suspect rust in the burners to be the problem. Have a pro service it at least the first time. You can learn a lot by watching.