by High Performance HVAC | Gas Furnaces |

Electronic Control Board for an Electronic Ignition Furnace
Gas Furnace Troubleshooting Techniques - Electronic ignition for gas furnaces is the modern way for furnaces to light the main burners. Furnace technology has evolved from the standing pilot gas ignition systems. These furnaces continue to be used today, however, there are fewer standing pilot furnaces used today than yesterday. When troubleshooting a system it is important to know which type of ignition system the furnace uses. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Boilers |
How to Clean Gas Boiler Burners - Before beginning boiler maintenance or repair including cleaning the gas boiler burners on any boiler, it is important to follow all safety procedures. Turn off the gas to the boiler at the gas cock. This is located on the gas line and turns off the gas valve on the boiler. Additionally, turn off the main power to the boiler at the circuit breaker. Never ignore safety procedures when performing maintenance on any type of mechanical or electrical equipment. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Gas Furnaces |
Gas Furnace Components 3 - Gas furnace ignition controls vary from furnace manufacturer to furnace manufacturer. Some are proprietary and some are from an engineering company that specializes in gas furnace ignition controls. Honeywell being a major manufacturer of controls for HVAC also makes several gas furnace ignition controls.
Gas furnace ignition controls have advanced by leaps and bounds over the last 20 years. The standard was standing pilot ignition. Solid-state ignition controls are safer and more efficient than ignition controls of yesteryear.
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by High Performance HVAC | Oil Heat |
Furnace and Boiler Oil Filters - Oil burner oil filters are important to keep trash out of the burner gun and plugging the nozzle. A dirty filter can also choke the system from firing properly by preventing the correct amount of oil flow from reaching the nozzle. Oil furnace oil filters or oil boiler oil filters should be changed on at least an annual basis. More if the oil or oil tank is of poor quality. It is also recommended that the oil furnace or oil boiler be shut down when oil delivery is made.
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by High Performance HVAC | Water Heaters |
Water Heater Types - Selecting a hot water heater can be confusing especially if you are not aware of the types of water heating systems available to you. When you go out to buy a new car you want all the information you can get about the car you are buying from how economical it is to how reliable it is to the type of engine it has under the hood. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Gas Furnaces |

Furnace with Hot Surface Ignition
Hot Surface Ignitor - Whenever we talk about electronic ignition systems in gas furnace ignition systems we must first look at the key components which make these systems work and understand how they work. Hot surface ignitor systems work in various ways.
This all depends on what the electronic ignition manufacturer and design engineer determined in the design. Furthermore, some are direct main burner ignition while others light a pilot, and the pilot lights the main burners.
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by High Performance HVAC | Gas Furnaces |
Standing Pilot Gas Valve Propane Heating | HVAC Heating - How It Works. The standing pilot gas furnace uses a standing pilot to light the main burners. Many gas-fired water heaters have a standing pilot ignition system. The standing pilot gas ignition system is often referred to as a safety pilot because it increases safety.
Safety of ensuring the main burners are lit. The standing pilot can be used on a natural gas ignition system or an LP ignition system. These heating ignition systems are older and are slowly being replaced by more modern and safer electronic ignition systems.
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by High Performance HVAC | Gas Furnaces |

High-Efficiency Electronic Ignition Gas Furnaces are here. They are the next step up from the standing pilot gas furnace. These gas furnaces are more efficient than the standing pilot furnaces but more complex in design. There are three types of electronic ignition gas furnaces: the intermittent spark pilot, the intermittent hot surface ignition pilot (Honeywell Smartvalve and ignition assembly), and the hot surface ignition furnaces.
While the three are different they all offer higher efficiencies and are both controlled by solid-state circuit boards. Many of these furnaces also have higher efficient heat exchangers.
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by High Performance HVAC | Gas Furnaces |
How Gas Furnace Thermocouples Work | Boilers and Furnaces. Furnaces, water heaters, and boilers, especially older gas systems use the standing pilot gas system as an integral part of the furnace’s operation. These systems are best recognized as having a standing flame burning continuously.
It is a basic and time-tested system that provides a reliable way of proving a flame. It employs a thermocouple (some systems can use a thermophile which is a lot of thermocouples embedded in one piece) and a gas valve that has two separate valves inside of it.
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by High Performance HVAC | Oil Heat |
Oil Controls Burner - The oil burner and oil controls provide the main source of heat for this oil furnace. The oil burner comprises an oil pump, an oil pump, a burner electric motor, a burner blower, a step-up transformer, an oil ignition control, an oil burner gun, and an oil nozzle (inside not viewable here).
The burner electric motor is directly linked to the blower and the oil pump and when the electric motor starts (controlled by the ignition control) the pump begins pumping oil while the blower provides primary air to the combustion chamber. (more…)