How Much Does a Furnace Ignitor Cost?

Written By: Alexis Bennett

Edited by: Andrew Dunn

Looking for accurate cost information for replacing a furnace ignitor?

Perfect you’re in the right spot. In this guide you’ll learn:

• How much will it cost to replace my furnace ignitor?
• Can I just get the furnace ignitor repaired?
• Will a warranty help cover the cost of replacing a furnace ignitor?
• … and answers to all your questions about furnace ignitors

There are so many things that can go wrong with your furnace–from a thermostat to a gas valve, to a circuit board or control board, to a blower motor. Potential furnace problems are many, and furnace repair costs can get expensive, but what about a simple ignitor? 

An ignitor replacement for your HVAC system’s furnace is not the most expensive fix on the list, and it is one of the more common problems that occur. But money will be exchanged for parts, labor, or both in order to get your furnace back up and running. So you should know what you are getting into. The ignitor is a small but mighty piece of equipment. Without proper ignition, you will have both safety and efficiency concerns with your furnace, so a faulty ignitor should be taken care of as soon as possible. 

With that in mind, let’s explore the various considerations you’ll need to be aware of to understand the cost of replacing a furnace ignitor.

Average Cost To Replace a Furnace Ignitor?

There’s no getting around it; home improvement always comes at a cost. And yes, an ignitor is not the most expensive, but you have to know what you are getting into. 

Which brings us to the question, how much will it cost to replace one? Average HVAC technician service fees run around $75 an hour. Here’s the bottom line: Whether for a natural gas furnace, oil, or a propane furnace, replacing a furnace ignitor–including parts and labor–will cost you around $300 – $425 for a qualified contractor to install. Compare that to, say, a draft inducer motor, which will cost $400 – $1,500 to replace. So, not the end of the world, but something most of us will need to plan and budget for.

The furnace ignitor part itself is around $25 – $50. 

It could definitely be worse. A new furnace will set you back thousands of dollars, whether purchasing a unit from Trane, Amana, Bryant, Lennox, or some other company. The cost of the repair of a furnace with a bad furnace igniter is minuscule compared with the installation cost of a new furnace. 

When your hot surface ignitor or electronic lighter goes bad, the furnace can’t fire, and it will shut down immediately. Fortunately, a furnace ignitor replacement is a very common repair. 

If you’re looking for a trusted, industry-leading home warranty company, we recommend American Home Shield. American Home Shield is an industry leader in providing home warranties for HVAC systems, and right now you can take advantage of their current promotions that get you $50 Off and The Service Fee of Your Choice. Get a free online quote or contact a specialist at 866-464-7521 before these deals end.

Your next best option is Choice Home Warranty which offers $50 Off + 1 Free Month and Free 30-Day Cancellation. Get a free quote online or request more information directly at 929-400-6169.

You might even want to have the ignitor plus the flame sensor replaced during routine maintenance if your furnace is 10 years old or older. This can be considered preventative maintenance. And it’s better than having to have your HVAC repair company come back when it is an emergency fix. 

The Department of Energy notes that replacement of intermittent ignition devices on older furnace units can be less cost-effective than on newer units. Depending on the age of your furnace, it might be time for an upgrade. 

Repair vs Replacement of a Furnace Ignitor?

Gas furnace repair, whether for a natural gas or propane system, can get pricey. Fixing a blower motor or heat exchanger can cost you well over $1,000. 

What about just repairing the furnace ignitor? Is that even possible? An ignitor that sparks the pilot light is not the kind of thing that can be repaired easily. Once it’s broken, it’s broken, and as furnace parts go, this is one of the less expensive replacement parts. So in this case, you might as well replace it than try to repair it.

But you budget your money and don’t want to just throw around $400+ when furnace tragedy strikes. What’s the alternative? What about using a warranty to replace that faulty ignitor? 

Let’s take a look at your options.

What’s The Cost To Replace a Furnace Ingitor If You Have A Warranty?

How on earth are you supposed to keep track of a furnace ignitor? It’s not the sort of thing you are likely to notice just living everyday life, so when an ignitor problem happens, it will likely be an emergency repair. 

At around $400, the replacement cost is not huge, but not insignificant. If you have some sort of warranty on your furnace, that is great news. But it does not necessarily exempt you from out-of-pocket costs. Here is the lowdown on a few warranty scenarios and how they might affect the cost of repairing your furnace ignitor. 

Manufacturer’s Warranty

A furnace manufacturer’s warranty is for a limited amount of time, usually 10 years. They generally cover defective parts and malfunctions caused by poor workmanship on the assembly line. A manufacturer’s warranty will most likely not cover labor. Also, if the installer is not qualified, or if furnace maintenance has not been consistent and documented, that might void the warranty. 

So take advantage of what is covered under a manufacturer’s warranty, but read the stipulations carefully and understand what is and is not covered. 

If you are paying for labor costs but not the ignitor itself, you can expect to pay between $200 and $350 to have it replaced under a manufacturer’s warranty. 

Home Warranty

Is a home warranty worth it for just a furnace ignitor? The short answer is no, with some caveats. The replacement of a furnace ignitor alone will be a lower cost than you would spend on an average home warranty. Replacement might run around $400, whereas a home warranty would start at around $350 and could go as high as $600 or even the mid $700s. 

Here are those caveats: The thing is, with a home warranty, you are covered for wear and tear on systems and appliances well beyond your furnace. And if a furnace ignitor is going bad, will other parts of your furnace be far behind? A home warranty can come in handy for minimizing the cost of a furnace ignitor replacement and go well beyond that in saving you money on wear and tear in common appliances and systems in your home. Also, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has safeguards for you as a consumer regarding service contracts like a home warranty. 

If you choose a home warranty prior to a furnace malfunction (home warranties don’t pay for fixing pre-existing conditions), you will be paying an annual premium for a home warranty, probably somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 – $600 depending on the coverage you choose, and a service call fee of around $60 – $100 for a qualified HVAC contractor to replace your ignitor. 

So, for example, Choice Home Warranty offers a Platinum Combo Plan for around $50 a month, with an $85 service call fee, and a $1,500 cap for heating system repairs. Or Select Home Warranty offers a Platinum Combo Plan for around $54 a month, a $60 service call fee, and a $2,000 cap. These prices are based on our most current research, but you’ll want to get a free quote specific to your location and needs. 

DIY vs Hiring A Professional To Replace a Furnace Ignitor?

A small, inexpensive part for your furnace — what could go wrong? Why not do it yourself? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of DIY vs. hiring an HVAC company to take care of the project for you. 

DIY Replacement

An ignitor may be something you could tackle as a DIY project on a Saturday afternoon. It’s a small, manageable part, but it takes some finesse and know-how to replace it. You’ll want to educate yourself before attempting this on your own. With that in mind, here is a video showing how to check and replace an ignitor: