Knowing when to replace your furnace gas valve is a vital part of keeping your home safe, cozy and energy smart. The gas valve is an often ignored part of your heating system—but without it, your furnace simply won’t work.

In this blog, Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning will break down the key signs of a bad gas valve. Whether you’re troubleshooting a potential problem or planning ahead, this guide for Kearney, Nebraska, homeowners will help you recognize the need for furnace gas valve replacement—and when to contact the professionals at Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning.

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 controls the flow of natural gas or propane into the unit's burner assembly, enabling the combustion process to occur and generate heat. If gas flow is blocked, a gas-powered furnace is unable to warm your home.

Also a beneficial safety feature, the furnace gas valve is supposed to cut off gas flow in the event of a mechanical issue—preventing a potentially dangerous gas leak. The typical furnace gas valve lifespan is about 10 to 20 years on average. Although replacement price depends on the type of furnace and whether any additional repairs are needed, replacing a furnace gas valve costs an average of between $300 and $800.

The Furnace Won't Light

One of the clues it could be time 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 notice 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 might also indicate  other mechanical issues, such as a faulty flame sensor, a malfunction in the thermocouple or insufficient fuel supply. If you experience these problems, 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 your furnace won't light.

Gas Smell Coming from Furnace

One serious sign of a gas valve problem is a strong odor of gas coming from your furnace. This isn’t just a furnace maintenance concern—it’s an urgent safety risk. A gas leak can lead to fire, explosion or even CO poisoning. If you smell gas, leave the home right away, call your gas company or 911, and then reach out to Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning for emergency furnace repair.

Your Furnace Keeps Starting and Stopping

Faulty gas valve symptoms also include short cycling. Short cycling is when a furnace runs in short bursts rather than turning on and continuing through its cycle as usual. This may be because a faulty furnace gas valve can produce inconsistent gas flow. A valve malfunction also could cause your furnace to shut down to prevent causing a gas leak.

At the same time, sometimes furnace short cycling is the result of different underlying issues, so it's important to call a licensed furnace specialist for evaluation and possible furnace repair. 

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

If you believe your furnace gas valve is broken, it’s crucial that you take action immediately.

First, cut off the gas supply to stop the flow of gas, then turn off 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 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 good do-it-yourself task. In addition, 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 Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning to Be Sure Your Furnace is Ready for the Kearney, Nebraska, Cold

To replace your furnace gas valve safely, contact the professional Kearney, Nebraska, HVAC company—Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning. Our HVAC experts know just what to do when it comes to gas valve troubleshooting. We'll identify the problem, handle the gas valve replacement safely and ensure your heating equipment is running efficiently again. To save even more power, we can even match your system with one of our smart thermostats or connect you with furnace installation service to help you replace your aging, inefficient furnace.

Don’t put your home at risk. Call 308-624-3485 today for gas valve replacement services from Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning.