Update: My furnace died at 2am in a -15°F snap and I got it running again with a paperclip

The ignitor sensor was coated in gunk and wouldn't light, so I pulled the panel, cleaned it with a dollar bill, and it fired right up after 3 tries. Has anyone else had to MacGyver their way through a HVAC emergency at 3am?

2 comments

2 Comments

garcia.casey2d ago

Wait, was this a standing pilot system or one of those electronic ignition setups? I'm just curious because the dollar bill trick usually works better on the flame sensor rods on newer furnaces. Also, did you have to bypass any safety switches to get it to fire up those first couple times, or did it just take a few tries to burn off the rest of the gunk?

terry_walker2d ago

Older unit, standing pilot. Dollar bill trick did squat on this one. It just took about five good cycles to burn off whatever was crusted on the valve seat. No safety bypass needed, just patience and a stubborn flame. Reminds me of how my old truck runs like garbage until you've driven it ten minutes, then it purrs. Same thing with that old furnace, it just needed to sweat out the cobwebs.