A cracked or failed hot surface ignitor is one of the most common reasons modern furnaces won't start — a straightforward, affordable fix once diagnosed.
Active units staged across Houston, Katy, Sugar Land & The Woodlands.
A common but affordable point of failure.
These components reach very high temperatures to ignite gas but are made of thin, brittle material — normal vibration, age, and even oils from bare-hand contact during installation can cause premature cracking.
| HVAC Services Houston, TX | Industry Average |
|---|---|
| Free diagnostic with any repair | $89–$150 diagnostic fee |
| Live line answered 24/7 | Voicemail after 6pm |
| ~35-min average dispatch | 2–4 hour arrival windows |
| Written price before repair starts | Verbal quote, surprise total |
| NATE-certified technicians | No certification requirement |
| 1-year written repair warranty | 30-day or no warranty |
Every technician holds NATE certification and Texas TACLB licensing before ever stepping on your property.
Live tech walks you through breaker and thermostat checks while a truck is routed.
Refrigerant pressure, electrical, and airflow tested — not a guess.
You approve a flat, itemized price before any part is touched.
Most repairs completed same-visit from a fully stocked truck.
We confirm supply-air temperature drop before we leave.
Fast diagnostics for warm air, no cooling, and dead systems.
SIZED RIGHTLoad-calculated systems, not oversold tonnage.
SEASONALTune-ups that catch failures before peak summer.
WINTER READYFurnace and heat pump service for cold fronts.
Nights, weekends, and holiday dispatch.
Sealing and repair for even cooling and lower bills.
AIR QUALITYPurifiers and humidity control for cleaner indoor air.
COMMERCIALRooftop units and multi-zone systems for facilities.
One of the more affordable common furnace repairs.
Most common hot surface ignitor replacement.
Higher-durability silicon nitride ignitor upgrade.
Additional cost if flame sensor also needs replacement.
Houston's short heating season means fewer but more stressful startup cycles per ignitor.
Ignitors have a limited lifespan regardless of climate.
Power surges can accelerate ignitor wear.
Ignitors touched with bare hands during past service can fail prematurely.
"AC died at 9pm in July. Tech was at our door in 30 minutes and had it running again within the hour."
"Gave us the price upfront, no surprise charges. Compressor was clearly explained before they touched it."
"Called three companies at 11pm — only one picked up. Real technician walked me through safety steps."
The ignitor is the single most replaced furnace part in Houston, and the reason is the climate. It sits idle for most of the year, then is asked to fire on the coldest night of the season.
Most modern furnaces use a silicon nitride ignitor that glows white-hot to light the gas. They are fragile — a touch with bare hands or a bump during filter changes can crack them.
Older systems use a spark electrode. When it is coated in carbon or out of position, the spark jumps to the wrong place and the burner never lights.
Eight months of dust settles on the ignitor and the burner area. On first startup the ignitor works harder, runs hotter, and fails sooner.
A furnace that starts and stops constantly — often because of a clogged filter — cycles the ignitor far more than designed, wearing it out in a single season.
Ignitor replacement is one of the fastest furnace repairs we do. The technician confirms the ignitor is the fault with a meter — not a guess — fits the correct part for your furnace model, and tests three full heating cycles before leaving.
Our trucks carry the common ignitor types for Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Rheem, Goodman, American Standard, Amana, and York, so most ignitor calls are finished on the same visit with no return trip.
Same-day heating and AC service across the Houston metro, 24/7. If you are inside the loop or out in the suburbs, a stocked truck is already nearby.
We dispatch across Houston, TX, including ZIP codes 77002, 77003, 77004, 77005, 77006, 77007, 77008, 77009, 77019, 77027, 77056, 77057, 77063, 77077, 77079, 77080, 77081, 77082, 77084, 77090, 77095, 77098, 77099. Call (281) 549-0799 and we will route the nearest available technician to your door.
If your furnace's blower runs but no heat is produced, and you can see the ignitor doesn't glow, this points to ignitor failure.
Most last 3-7 years depending on type and usage, though sudden failure can happen at any time.
While technically possible for some DIYers, proper diagnosis to confirm the ignitor (not another component) is the actual cause is valuable, plus careful handling matters for longevity.
This can happen from improper handling (oils from bare hands) or an underlying electrical issue causing repeat failures.
This depends on your furnace's specific warranty terms — we check this before quoting.
Same-day dispatch open now across Houston, TX.
Talk to a live technician now — ~35-min dispatch, free diagnostic with repair. No overtime fees, nights & weekends.
Call (281) 549-0799