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 under appreciated part of your heating system—and without it, your furnace won’t run properly.

In this blog, Integrity AC & Heating LLC will highlight the key signs of a bad gas valve. Whether you’re trying to diagnose a suspected problem or just want more information about how a furnace works, this guide for Phoenix, Arizona, homeowners will help you know when it’s time for furnace gas valve replacement—and when to call the experts at Integrity AC & Heating LLC.

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

First, it's important to understand what a furnace gas valve is and what it does. The furnace gas valve manages the flow of natural gas or propane into the unit's burner assembly, providing the fuel necessary for the combustion process to occur and produce heat. If gas isn't flowing, a gas-powered furnace is unable to warm your home.

Also a key 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. A typical furnace gas valve lifespan is about 10–20 years. While replacement price can change based on the type of furnace and whether any other service is required, replacing a furnace gas valve costs an average of between $300 and $800.

Furnace Not Igniting

One of the signs 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 provides fuel for the flame. Without enough gas flow through the system, a furnace can't ignite. Occasionally, homeowners also report 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 damaged sensor, an issue with the thermocouple or low gas pressure. If you experience these problems, it's important to call a certified HVAC technician for an inspection. They'll accurately assess whether the problem a thermocouple vs gas valve issue, or if there's another reason your furnace won't start or the pilot light won't stay lit.

Furnace Smells Like Gas

One major sign of a gas valve problem is a gas smell in your home. 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 phone Integrity AC & Heating LLC for emergency furnace repair.

Furnace Keeps Short Cycling

Faulty gas valve symptoms also include short cycling. Short cycling is when a furnace runs in short bursts instead of running a full cycle. This may be because a faulty furnace gas valve can cause inconsistent gas flow. The valve failure also could trigger your furnace to power off to avoid causing a gas leak.

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

What to Do When 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, cut off the gas supply to prevent any further risk, then cut power to your furnace. Don’t attempt to fix the valve yourself. DIY gas valve repair can create a deadly gas leak if not done right and also may void your warranty and gas valve coverage. Whether the gas valve is stuck open, closed or malfunctioning in some other way—gas valve work isn’t a task for someone without specialized tools and training. Besides, 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 fixing the broken one. 

Call Integrity AC & Heating LLC to Make Sure Your Furnace is Ready for the Phoenix, Arizona, Winter

To replace your furnace gas valve safely, contact the professional Phoenix, Arizona, HVAC company—Integrity AC & Heating LLC. Our trained technicians know exactly what to do when it comes to gas valve troubleshooting. We'll diagnose the issue, handle the gas valve replacement safely and ensure your heating equipment is running efficiently again. To save even more power, we can even pair your system with one of our smart thermostats or provide furnace installation service to help you replace your outdated heating system.

Don’t compromise your safety or comfort. Call 602-971-0567 today for gas valve replacement services from Integrity AC & Heating LLC.