Knowing 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 overlooked part of your heating system—but without it, your furnace won’t run properly.

In this blog, Perfect Air & Water Services will share the key signs of a bad gas valve. Whether you’re trying to diagnose a suspected problem or thinking proactively, this guide for Morganville, New Jersey, homeowners will help you understand when you may need furnace gas valve replacement—and when to contact the professionals at Perfect Air & Water Services.

What is a Furnace Gas Valve and What Does It Do?

To start, it's important to learn what a furnace gas valve is and what it does. The furnace gas valve regulates the flow of natural gas or propane into the unit's burner assembly, providing the fuel necessary for the combustion process to occur and make heat. If gas isn't flowing, a gas-powered furnace can't make any heat.

Also a beneficial safety feature, the furnace gas valve is engineered to close automatically when an issue arises—preventing a potentially deadly gas leak. A typical furnace gas valve lifespan is about 10 to 20 years on average. Though replacement price varies depending on the type of furnace and if any additional repairs are needed, 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 provides fuel for the flame. Without enough gas flow through the system, a furnace won’t start up. Sometimes, 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 damaged sensor, a malfunction in the thermocouple or low gas pressure. If you notice these signs, 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 the furnace won't ignite.

Gas Smell Coming from Furnace

One major sign of a broken furnace gas valve is a noticeable gas smell in your residence. This isn’t just a furnace maintenance problem—it’s an urgent safety risk. A gas leak can create a fire, explosion or even CO poisoning. If you smell gas, evacuate the home immediately, call your gas company or 911, and then contact Perfect Air & Water Services for emergency furnace repair.

Furnace Keeps Short Cycling

Faulty gas valve symptoms also include short cycling. Short cycling describes when a furnace turns off and on frequently instead of running a full cycle. This might be occurring because a faulty furnace gas valve can cause inconsistent gas flow. The valve malfunction also could trigger your furnace to turn off to avoid causing a gas leak.

At the same time, sometimes furnace short cycling is caused by other mechanical issues, so it's important to seek out a licensed furnace specialist for evaluation and possible furnace repair. 

What to Do If You Think 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, turn off the gas supply to stop the flow of gas, then turn off your furnace. Don’t attempt to repair the valve on your own. DIY gas valve repair can pose a safety risk and also could void your warranty and gas valve coverage. Whether the gas valve is stuck open, closed or has some other issue—gas valve repair isn’t a DIY job. In addition, when it comes to weighing gas valve repair and gas valve replacement, it's almost always recommended to replace a gas valve instead of fixing the broken one. 

Call Perfect Air & Water Services to Make Sure Your Furnace is Ready for the Morganville, New Jersey, Chill

To replace your furnace gas valve safely, contact the professional Morganville, New Jersey, HVAC company—Perfect Air & Water Services. Our trained technicians know just what to do when it comes to gas valve troubleshooting. We'll identify the problem, perform the gas valve replacement safely and ensure your system is running at peak performance. To save even more power, we can even match your system with one of our smart thermostats or offer furnace installation service to help you replace your old, unsafe furnace.

Don’t delay critical repairs. Call 848-361-4516 today for gas valve replacement services from Perfect Air & Water Services.