Knowing when to replace your furnace gas valve is an essential part of keeping your home comfortable, protected and cost-effective. The gas valve is an often ignored part of your heating system—but without it, your furnace can’t function.
In this blog, Brandywine Heating & Air will break down the key signs of a bad gas valve. Whether you’re troubleshooting a potential problem or planning ahead, this guide for Wilmington, Delaware, homeowners will help you recognize the need for furnace gas valve replacement—and how to reach out to the trusted team at Brandywine Heating & Air.
What is a Furnace Gas Valve and What Does It Do?
To begin, it's important to know 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, providing the fuel necessary for the combustion process to occur and generate heat. If gas can't flow, a gas-powered furnace won't give off any heat.
Also a beneficial safety feature, the furnace gas valve is designed to cut off gas flow in the event of a mechanical issue—preventing a potentially deadly gas leak. The typical furnace gas valve lifespan is about 10 to 20 years on average. While replacement price depends 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 indications 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 provides fuel for the flame. Without enough 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 issues, such as a damaged sensor, a malfunction in the thermocouple or a pressure drop in the gas line. If you are dealing with these issues, it's important to contact a certified HVAC technician for an inspection. They'll professionally diagnose whether the problem a thermocouple vs gas valve issue, or if there's another reason the furnace won't ignite.
Gas Smell Coming from Furnace
One clear sign of a broken furnace gas valve is a gas smell in your home. This isn’t just a furnace maintenance concern—it’s an emergency. A gas leak can create a fire, explosion or even CO poisoning. If you smell gas, leave the home right away, call your gas company or 911, and then reach out to Brandywine Heating & Air 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 may be because a faulty furnace gas valve can cause inconsistent gas flow. A valve failure also could cause your furnace to shut down to prevent creating a gas leak.
That said, sometimes furnace short cycling is caused by other mechanical issues, so it's important to call a professional HVAC technician for evaluation and possible furnace repair.
What to Do If You Think Your Furnace Gas Valve Isn't Working?
If you suspect your furnace gas valve has malfunctioned, it’s crucial that you take action immediately.
First, shut off the gas supply to stop the flow of gas, then turn off your furnace. Don’t try to fix the valve yourself. DIY gas valve repair can result in dangerous situations if done incorrectly and also has the potential to 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. In addition, when it comes to weighing gas valve repair and gas valve replacement, it's usually recommended to replace a gas valve instead of repairing it.
Call Brandywine Heating & Air to Make Sure Your Furnace is Ready for the Wilmington, Delaware, Winter
To replace your furnace gas valve safely, contact the professional Wilmington, Delaware, HVAC company—Brandywine Heating & Air. Our experienced professionals know exactly what to do when it comes to gas valve troubleshooting. We'll diagnose the issue, handle the gas valve replacement safely and make sure your system is running efficiently again. To save even more power, we can even match your system with one of our smart thermostats or provide furnace installation service to help you replace your aging, inefficient furnace.
Don’t delay critical repairs. Call 302-246-7971 today for gas valve replacement services from Brandywine Heating & Air.