- The average cost to replace a furnace ignitor is $300–$425, including parts and labor from a professional.
- A home warranty is likely more expensive than the cost to just replace a furnace ignitor directly.
- Replacing an ignitor is an easy enough DIY project that you may not need a professional to help with it.
There are so many things that can go wrong with your furnace–from a thermostat to a gas valve, to a circuit board or control board, to a blower motor. Potential furnace problems are many, and furnace repair costs can get expensive. Considering the importance of furnace maintenance, it’s worth exploring options and ensuring you’re adequately covered for all possible furnace issues by choosing the finest HVAC home warranty.
You might be asking yourself, what if the fault is from the ignitor? Is it expensive? Will home warranty cover it? What does an ignitor replacement entail?
An ignitor replacement for your HVAC system’s furnace is not the most expensive fix on the list, and it is one of the more common problems that occur. But money will be exchanged for parts, labor, or both in order to get your furnace back up and running. So you should know what you are getting into. The ignitor is a small but mighty piece of equipment. Without proper ignition, you will have both safety and efficiency concerns with your furnace, so a faulty ignitor should be taken care of as soon as possible.
Looking for accurate cost information for replacing a furnace ignitor? You’re in the right spot. In this guide you’ll learn:
Let’s explore the various considerations you’ll need to be aware of to understand the cost of replacing a furnace ignitor.
What is the Average Cost To Replace a Furnace Ignitor?
The average cost to replace a furnace ignitor is $300–$425. Compare that to, say, a draft inducer motor, which will cost $400–$1,500 to replace. So, not the end of the world, but something most of us will need to plan and budget for.
The furnace ignitor part itself is around $25–$50.
It could definitely be worse. A new furnace will set you back thousands of dollars, whether purchasing a unit from Trane, Amana, Bryant, Lennox, or some other company. The cost of the repair of a furnace with a bad furnace igniter is minuscule compared with the installation cost of a new furnace.
When your hot surface ignitor or electronic lighter goes bad, the furnace can’t fire and will shut down immediately. Fortunately, a furnace ignitor replacement is a very common repair.
You might even want to have the ignitor plus the flame sensor replaced during routine maintenance if your furnace is 10 years old or older. This can be considered preventative maintenance. And it’s better than having to have your HVAC repair company come back when it is an emergency fix.
The Department of Energy notes that replacement of intermittent ignition devices on older furnace units can be less cost-effective than on newer units. Depending on the age of your furnace, it might be time for an upgrade.
Should You Repair or Replace Your Furnace Ignitor?
Gas furnace repair, whether for a natural gas or propane system, can get pricey. Fixing a blower motor or heat exchanger can cost you well over $1,000.
What about just repairing the furnace ignitor? Is that even possible? An ignitor that sparks the pilot light is not the kind of thing that can be repaired easily. Once it’s broken, it’s broken, and as furnace parts go, this is one of the less expensive replacement parts. So in this case, you might as well replace it than try to repair it.
But you budget your money and don’t want to just throw around $400+ when furnace tragedy strikes. What’s the alternative? What about using a warranty to replace that faulty ignitor?
Take a look at your options.
What’s The Cost To Replace a Furnace Ignitor If You Have A Warranty?
How on earth are you supposed to keep track of a furnace ignitor? It’s not the sort of thing you are likely to notice just living everyday life, so when an ignitor problem happens, it will likely be an emergency repair.
At around $400, the replacement cost is not huge, but not insignificant. If you have some sort of warranty on your furnace, that is great news. But it does not necessarily exempt you from out-of-pocket costs. Here is the lowdown on a few warranty scenarios and how they might affect the cost of repairing your furnace ignitor.
Manufacturer’s Warranty
A furnace manufacturer’s warranty is for a limited amount of time, usually 10 years. They generally cover defective parts and malfunctions caused by poor workmanship on the assembly line. A manufacturer’s warranty will most likely not cover labor. Also, if the installer is not qualified, or if furnace maintenance has not been consistent and documented, that might void the warranty.
So take advantage of what is covered under a manufacturer’s warranty, but read the stipulations carefully and understand what is and is not covered.
If you are paying for labor costs but not the ignitor itself, you can expect to pay between $200 and $350 to have it replaced under a manufacturer’s warranty.
Home Warranty
Is a home warranty worth it for just a furnace ignitor? The short answer is no, with some caveats. The replacement of a furnace ignitor alone will be a lower cost than you would spend on an average home warranty. Replacement might run around $400, whereas a home warranty would start at around $350 and could go as high as $600 or even the mid $700s.
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DIY Vs. Professional Furnace Ignitor Replacement
A small, inexpensive part for your furnace — what could go wrong? Why not do it yourself? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of DIY vs. hiring an HVAC company to take care of the project for you.
DIY Replacement
An ignitor may be something you could tackle as a DIY project on a Saturday afternoon. It’s a small, manageable part, but it takes some finesse and know-how to replace it. You’ll want to educate yourself before attempting this on your own. With that in mind, here is a video showing how to check and replace an ignitor:
Professional Replacement
Do you really need a pro to come in to replace your furnace ignitor? It depends. In order to maintain warranty protection, having a professional handle furnace ignitor replacement might be the better option. It might seem like a simple fix, but if you don’t have the experience, a replacement can be more trouble than it is worth.
Final Thoughts on Furnace Ignitor Costs
Clearly, a furnace ignitor is not the most expensive fix for your furnace. But if you are unfamiliar with this kind of repair, something that ignites fuel might not be the best place to start as far as DIY home repairs. A manufacturer’s warranty can help mitigate the cost, and a home warranty can potentially save even more money in the long run, especially if other systems and appliances in your home are a little bit worse for wear these days.
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