Understanding when to replace your furnace gas valve is an essential part of keeping your home safe, cozy and energy smart. The gas valve is an often ignored part of your heating system—and without it, your furnace simply won’t work.

In this blog, Controlled Comfort HVAC will share the key signs of a broken gas valve. Whether you’re dealing with issues or planning ahead, this guide for Carpentersville, Illinois, homeowners will help you understand when you may need furnace gas valve replacement—and when to call the experts at Controlled Comfort HVAC.

What is a Furnace Gas Valve and How Long Does It Last?

To begin, it's important to learn what a furnace gas valve is and what it is responsible for. The furnace gas valve manages the flow of natural gas or propane into the unit's burner assembly, allowing the combustion process to occur and make heat. If gas flow is blocked, a gas-powered furnace won't give off any heat.

Also an important safety feature, the furnace gas valve is designed to shut if a problem is detected—preventing a potentially life-threatening gas leak. A typical furnace gas valve lifespan is about 10 to 20 years on average. While replacement price varies depending on the type of furnace and if any other components need fixing, replacing a furnace gas valve costs an average of $300 to $800.

The Furnace Won't Light

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 can't ignite. Occasionally, homeowners also notice 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 also could be signs of  other mechanical breakdowns, such as a faulty flame sensor, a malfunction in the thermocouple or insufficient fuel supply. If you experience these problems, it's important to call 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 your furnace won't start or the pilot light won't stay lit.

Gas Smell Coming from Furnace

One serious sign of a malfunctioning furnace gas valve is a strong odor of gas in your residence. This isn’t just a furnace maintenance concern—it’s an urgent safety risk. 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 Controlled Comfort HVAC for emergency furnace repair.

Furnace is Short Cycling

Faulty gas valve symptoms also include short cycling. Short cycling is when a furnace starts, but then quickly stops instead of going through its full cycle. This may be because a faulty furnace gas valve can produce inconsistent gas flow. The valve issue also could trigger your furnace to shut down to avoid causing a gas leak.

However, sometimes furnace short cycling has other causes, so it's important to seek out a licensed furnace specialist for evaluation and possible furnace repair. 

What to Do When Your Furnace Gas Valve Isn't Working?

If you believe your furnace gas valve is broken, it’s crucial that you take action immediately.

First, shut off the gas supply to avoid additional danger, then turn off your furnace. Don’t try to fix the valve without a professional. DIY gas valve repair can result in dangerous situations if done incorrectly and also may 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 DIY job. Plus, 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 Controlled Comfort HVAC to Be Sure Your Furnace is Ready for the Carpentersville, Illinois, Winter

To replace your furnace gas valve safely, contact the professional Carpentersville, Illinois, HVAC company—Controlled Comfort HVAC. Our trained technicians know just what to do when it comes to gas valve troubleshooting. We'll pinpoint what's wrong, handle the gas valve replacement safely and ensure your heating equipment is running at peak performance. 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 224-335-9783 today for gas valve replacement services from Controlled Comfort HVAC.