Knowing when to replace your furnace gas valve is a critical part of keeping your home comfortable, protected and cost-effective. The gas valve is an often ignored part of your heating system—and without it, your furnace simply won’t work.
In this blog, Home Comfort will highlight the key signs of a bad gas valve. Whether you’re trying to diagnose a suspected problem or planning ahead, this guide for Eugene, Oregon, homeowners will help you recognize the need for furnace gas valve replacement—and how to reach out to the trusted team at Home Comfort.
What is a Furnace Gas Valve and Why is It Important?
First, it's important to understand what a furnace gas valve is and what it controls. The furnace gas valve controls the flow of natural gas or propane into the unit's burner assembly, enabling the combustion process to occur and generate heat. If gas can't flow, a gas-powered furnace can't make any heat.
Also an important safety feature, the furnace gas valve is designed to close automatically when an issue arises—preventing a potentially life-threatening gas leak. A typical furnace gas valve lifespan is about a decade or two. Although replacement price can change based on the type of furnace and whether any additional repairs are needed, replacing a furnace gas valve costs an average of roughly $300–800.
Furnace Not Igniting
One of the signs it could be time to replace your furnace gas valve is if the furnace is not igniting or if the pilot light won't light. Gas is the energy source for combustion. Without proper gas flow through the system, a furnace won’t start up. Sometimes, homeowners also hear that the igniter clicks but there's no flame.
However, a furnace not igniting or a pilot light that won't light or stay lit can sometimes be symptoms of other mechanical breakdowns, such as a faulty flame sensor, an issue with the thermocouple or a pressure drop in the gas line. If you experience these problems, it's important to contact a certified HVAC technician for an inspection. They'll safely determine whether the problem a thermocouple vs gas valve issue, or if there's another reason your furnace won't light.
Gas Smell Coming from Furnace
One major sign of a broken furnace gas valve is a gas smell coming from your furnace. This isn’t just a furnace maintenance concern—it’s an potentially deadly hazard. A gas leak can lead to fire, explosion or even CO poisoning. If you smell gas, get everyone out of the building quickly, call your gas company or 911, and then contact Home Comfort for emergency furnace repair.
Your Furnace Keeps Starting and Stopping
Faulty gas valve symptoms also include short cycling. Short cycling describes when a furnace runs in short bursts instead of running a full cycle. This might be occurring because a faulty furnace gas valve can cause inconsistent gas flow. A valve issue also could cause your furnace to stop to avoid causing a gas leak.
However, sometimes furnace short cycling has other causes, so it's important to call a professional HVAC technician for evaluation and possible furnace repair.
What to Do When Your Furnace Gas Valve Isn't Working?
If you believe your furnace gas valve has malfunctioned, it’s critical to take the situation seriously.
First, shut off the gas supply to avoid additional danger, then shut down your furnace. Don’t attempt to fix the valve without a professional. DIY gas valve repair can create a deadly gas leak if not done right and also could void your warranty and gas valve coverage. Whether the gas valve is stuck open, closed or malfunctioning in some other way—gas valve work isn’t a good do-it-yourself task. Plus, when it comes to weighing gas valve repair and gas valve replacement, it's usually recommended to replace a gas valve instead of fixing it.
Call Home Comfort to Make Sure Your Furnace is Ready for the Eugene, Oregon, Winter
To replace your furnace gas valve safely, contact the professional Eugene, Oregon, HVAC company—Home Comfort. Our HVAC experts know exactly what to do when it comes to gas valve troubleshooting. We'll diagnose the issue, perform the gas valve replacement safely and ensure your furnace is running at peak performance. To save even more power, we can even pair your system with one of our smart thermostats or provide furnace installation service to help you replace your outdated heating system.
Don’t put your home at risk. Call 541-345-2838 today for gas valve replacement services from Home Comfort.