Furnace Igniter Replacement Cost

The igniter lights the gas in a modern furnace. When it cracks or wears out, the furnace clicks and runs the inducer fan but never lights. HomeGuide puts replacement at $100 to $250, with a national average of $175, a minimum of $90 and a maximum of $400.

Part and labor

Because the part is cheap, most of the bill is the minimum service fee.

Cost by igniter type

Source: HomeGuide, part prices only.

Angi's figures

Angi's furnace repair guide lists igniter replacement at $150 to $250 in its text and up to $500 in its table. An after-hours igniter replacement runs $350 to $500.

Flame sensor: the other cheap fix

If the burners light and then shut off after a few seconds, ask the technician to check the flame sensor during the same visit. Cleaning it is part of a standard furnace tune-up.

Signs of a bad igniter

• The furnace clicks, the inducer motor runs, but the burners never light.
• The furnace tries to start several times, then locks out.
• On a hot-surface igniter, no orange glow through the sight glass.
• A visible crack in the igniter.

DIY?

Replacing an igniter is a simple swap for a confident DIYer, but HomeGuide notes that DIY work may void some warranties. Always shut off power and gas first.

When it is not the igniter

If a new igniter does not fix it, the problem may be the control board or gas valve. See furnace control board replacement cost and furnace gas valve replacement cost.

What the igniter does

Most modern furnaces have no standing pilot light. Instead, an electronic igniter lights the gas each time the furnace starts. The two common types are hot surface igniters, which glow red-hot, and spark igniters.

More on signs of a bad igniter

• The furnace blower runs, but there is no heat.
• You can see the igniter, and it does not glow.
• The furnace tries to start several times and then locks out.
• The control board shows an ignition-failure code.

Why igniters fail

Hot surface igniters are fragile. They crack with age and repeated heating and cooling, and they can break if touched during maintenance. Oil from bare fingers can shorten their life. Short cycling, often caused by a dirty filter or an oversized furnace, also wears them faster.

What affects the price

• Igniter type (silicon carbide, silicon nitride or spark).
• A universal part versus one made for your furnace model.
• How easy it is to reach inside the burner compartment.
• Whether the visit includes cleaning the flame sensor, which is a common related fix.

Questions to ask

1. Is the igniter actually broken, or is it a flame sensor or control board issue?
2. Are you installing a more durable igniter type if one fits my furnace?
3. Did you check for a cause, such as short cycling, that could make the new one fail early?

In Texas

Because many Texas furnaces run only a few months a year, the igniter is often the first part to fail when the heat is switched on in the fall. A fall tune-up gives a technician the chance to look at the igniter before it is needed.

Hot surface igniters vs. intermittent pilots

Most furnaces built in recent decades use a hot surface igniter, a small ceramic element that glows red-hot to light the gas. Two common types are silicon carbide, which is more fragile, and silicon nitride, which is more durable and often used as a replacement. Some furnaces use an intermittent pilot instead, where a spark lights a small pilot flame that then lights the burners. Older furnaces may still have a standing pilot that burns all the time.

The type affects the part and the repair. The furnace's model number tells the technician which igniter it uses.

The startup sequence and where it fails

When the thermostat calls for heat, the inducer motor starts, the pressure switch confirms the venting is clear, and the control board sends power to the igniter. The igniter glows for several seconds, the gas valve opens and the burners light. The flame sensor confirms the flame, and the blower turns on.

If the igniter does not glow, the furnace will try a few times and then lock out. Watching through the sight glass on the furnace door can help: if you do not see the igniter glow during startup, it may have failed, or the board may not be sending power to it.

Handling an igniter

Hot surface igniters are fragile. Touching the ceramic element with bare fingers can leave oils that create hot spots and shorten its life. Technicians handle them by the base and are careful not to bump them during installation. A cracked igniter is often visible as a hairline crack across the element.

More on why igniters fail

Igniters wear out with use, especially in furnaces that cycle often. Short cycling from an oversized furnace, a dirty filter or a thermostat problem means more ignition cycles and shorter igniter life. High voltage from the electrical supply can also shorten igniter life.

Flame sensor vs. igniter

If the burners light but then shut off after a few seconds, the problem is usually the flame sensor, not the igniter. A dirty flame sensor cannot confirm the flame, so the furnace shuts the gas off for safety. Cleaning the sensor is a quick, inexpensive fix. Telling the technician what you see during startup helps them diagnose the problem faster.

Keeping a spare

Some homeowners keep a spare igniter for winter.

How long the repair takes

Igniter replacement is usually quick, often under an hour once the part is on hand.

Sources

1. HomeGuide: Furnace Ignitor Replacement Cost (Sep 5, 2023)
2. Angi: How Much Does the Average Furnace Repair Cost? (updated Sep 25, 2026)