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—however, without it, your furnace simply won’t work.

In this blog, Farris Heating & Air will highlight the key signs of a malfunctioning gas valve. Whether you’re trying to diagnose a suspected problem or thinking proactively, this guide for Bartlesville, Oklahoma, homeowners will help you recognize the need for furnace gas valve replacement—and how to reach out to the trusted team at Farris Heating & Air.

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

To begin, it's important to understand what a furnace gas valve is and what it does. The furnace gas valve controls the flow of natural gas or propane into the unit's burner assembly, providing the fuel necessary for the combustion process to occur and generate heat. If gas can't flow, a gas-powered furnace won't give off any heat.

Also an important safety feature, the furnace gas valve is engineered to cut off gas flow in the event of a mechanical issue—preventing a potentially deadly gas leak. The typical furnace gas valve lifespan is about a decade or two. While replacement price can change based on the model of furnace and whether any other components need fixing, replacing a furnace gas valve costs an average of roughly $300–800.

The Furnace Won't Light

One of the indications you may need 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 enough gas flow through the system, a furnace won’t start up. Sometimes, homeowners also hear 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 can sometimes be symptoms of  other mechanical breakdowns, such as a bad flame sensor, an issue with the thermocouple or a pressure drop in the gas line. If you notice these signs, it's important to reach out to a certified HVAC technician for an inspection. They'll safely determine 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 serious sign of a malfunctioning furnace gas valve is a strong odor of gas in your residence. This isn’t just a furnace maintenance problem—it’s an emergency. A gas leak can cause a fire, explosion or even carbon monoxide poisoning. If you smell gas, evacuate the home immediately, call your gas company or 911, and then phone Farris Heating & Air for emergency furnace repair.

Your Furnace Keeps Starting and Stopping

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 might be occurring because a faulty furnace gas valve can cause inconsistent gas flow. A valve issue also could force your furnace to stop to prevent creating a gas leak.

At the same time, sometimes furnace short cycling has other causes, so it's important to reach out to a qualified heating expert for evaluation and possible furnace repair. 

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

If you think your furnace gas valve isn’t working properly, it’s important to act quickly and safely.

First, turn off the gas supply to prevent any further risk, then turn off your furnace. Don’t try to fix the valve yourself. DIY gas valve repair can create a deadly gas leak if not done right 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 work isn’t a DIY job. Plus, when it comes to comparing options between gas valve repair and gas valve replacement, it's usually recommended to replace a gas valve instead of repairing it. 

Call Farris Heating & Air to Be Sure Your Furnace is Ready for the Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Winter

To replace your furnace gas valve safely, contact the professional Bartlesville, Oklahoma, HVAC company—Farris Heating & Air. Our trained technicians know exactly what to do when it comes to gas valve troubleshooting. We'll pinpoint what's wrong, perform the gas valve replacement safely and ensure your system is running efficiently again. To save even more power, we can even connect your system with one of our smart thermostats or connect you with furnace installation service to help you replace your old, unsafe furnace.

Don’t put your home at risk. Call 918-333-0376 today for gas valve replacement services from Farris Heating & Air.