How to Change the Ignitor on a Trane Heater

Trane heaters, or furnaces, use a type of ignitor known as a glow plug. The component heats rapidly through an electrical connection to ignite gas flowing through the valve. A bad ignitor is one of the most common malfunctions in a furnace system, although replacing the part takes less than half an hour using simple hand tools. Do it yourself and save money on a heating repair bill. Buy a new ignitor from Trane or an HVAC supply retailer.

Nut driver set
Phillips-head screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Switch the wall thermostat that controls the Trane heater to the "Off" position. This shuts off the furnace.
- 2
  Cut the electricity to the Trane at the circuit breaker.
- 3
  Close the gas valve in the line connected to the Trane heater. Look for the red lever on the valve control. Turn the lever 90 degrees to the right to shut the valve.
- 4
  Take off the service panel on the side of the Trane, using the nut driver to remove the bolts. The ignitor system is inside the furnace, near the bottom. It consists of a tube with a metal tip wired on the other side to an electrical plug.
- 5
  Grab the plug with the wires connected to the ignitor and pull the plug out of the socket.
- 6
  Remove the screw in the bracket holding the ignitor.
- 7
  Pull the old ignitor out of the bracket in the direction of the wires and power plug.
- 8
  Insert the tip of the new ignitor through the hole in bracket and secure the part by tightening the screw into the bracket. Avoid touching the ignitor tip, which can crack or break easily.
- 9
  Connect the wired power plug to the socket in the Trane heater.
- 10
  Attach the service panel to the side of the furnace and secure it with the bolts and nut driver.
- 11
  Turn the lever in the gas valve 90 degrees counterclockwise.
- 12
  Switch on the circuit breaker.
- 13
  Turn the thermostat control to the "On" position.

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