You will find gas valves on gas-fired hot water and steam boilers, gas furnaces, and gas fired hot water heaters. Modern, state-of-the-art heating systems utilize gas valves that are controlled by an electronic ignition or a printed circuit board. Conversely, older units often have a standing pilot.
When They Fail
Gas valves control the flow of gas from the gas supply line into the heating unit. If your furnace is not producing heat, a faulty gas valve could be the problem. There are several reasons this valve may stop working properly. The valve itself may have simply worn out or may be damaged due to basement seepage or submersion. Alternately, one of the electronic gas ignition components or a glitch in the safety circuit may be to blame. If your furnace has a standing pilot light, the thermocouple could be worn out.
Safety Concerns
Gas fueled heating systems have many built in safety features to prevent your home or business from filling with gas if another part of the furnace is malfunctioning for any reason. Therefore, it may be difficult to figure out exactly what is causing the system to fail. Testing the flow in and out of the valve may indicate the problem lies within the valve itself, necessitating its replacement. However, this may not be the only issue that needs to be resolved.
If it is the gas valve, or any related component, this is a job best left to a professional HVAC technician. Any furnace repair can be problematic, but unlike replacing a thermostat, when you are dealing with the flow of gas into your home, even a small mistake could result in catastrophe.
What to Do
The best way to avoid an unexpected repair during the middle of a cold winter night is to schedule a thorough inspection before the heating season. However, sometimes something just plain wears out. When that happens, reach out to the best, most reliable, HVAC service team in Chicago, IL—the professionals at Heatmasters, where we always put your comfort and safety first!
