How Many Attempts Should the Furnace Igniter Require? (2024)

Scarecrow

2017 LTV Unity Murphy Bed
  • Dec 6, 2017
  • #1

I switched the Fan to Auto.
And chose Furnace for Heat.
And it works great!

But what I call the Igniter can be heard clicking in an effort to start the Blower or Furnace., each time. And this might take 4 attempts. Or 7.

How many attempts should it take?

And are repeated attempts normal?

alichty

2014 LTV Unity TB
  • Dec 6, 2017
  • #2

Scarecrow said:

I switched the Fan to Auto.
And chose Furnace for Heat.
And it works great!

But what I call the Igniter can be heard clicking in an effort to start the Blower or Furnace., each time. And this might take 4 attempts. Or 7.

How many attempts should it take?

And are repeated attempts normal?

I am not used to hearing a lot of ignition efforts other than when I first fire up the furnace after pulling mine out of storage. Performing maintenance on the Suburban furnaces is not something I have tried myself.

The Good News(TM) is that you are hearing clicks. When my propane regulator went south my furnace would go into a shutdown mode and pulling/reinstalling the fuse was the only way to make it kick back on again. There were no clicks at all when it went into shutdown mode.

M

mikeme

2015 LTV IB: 2015 3500 V6
  • Dec 6, 2017
  • #3

I noticed clicking when I tried to set the thermostat for a temperature differential of one degree

changed it back to the default two degrees, and it went back to normal.

autostaretx

Erratic Member
  • Dec 6, 2017
  • #4

I don't know if this applies to your heaters, but the clicking sound of the Espar Aux Heater in the older T1Ns was merely its fuel pump.
The furnace itself was diesel-fed and had a (silent) glow plug as the actual ignition device.

The above does not apply to a propane furnace.

--dick

M

Mike DZ

2016 View 24V (2015 3500)
  • Dec 6, 2017
  • #5

E

edfrompa

2008 ROADTREK on F/L 2500
  • Dec 6, 2017
  • #6

Scarecrow said:

I switched the Fan to Auto.
And chose Furnace for Heat.
And it works great!

But what I call the Igniter can be heard clicking in an effort to start the Blower or Furnace., each time. And this might take 4 attempts. Or 7.

How many attempts should it take?

And are repeated attempts normal?

Imho, there are a variety of answers to your question depending on circumstances, let's say:
1. it was on yesterday and you turned it on today -- a couple of clicks;
2. you ran yourself out of propane on the heater or generator last time and now your starting it--maybe a few or more clicks;
3. the system has been laid up for month or more-- ditto;
4. tank is low or very cold weather--ditto;
5. used it for a while and haven't either had it professionally serviced OR researched online for the simple procedures to service it yourself--WHY?? Self-inflicted pain is the worst kind!
My personal bottom line is that we enjoy the freedom of the RV experience because we are inclined to learn the basic systems and their routine care/repair. BUT, if this doesn't fit you preferences, most reputable RV dealers can do a season startup check of all systems for less than $200.00, or so----and, it is worth every penny!!

Just my $0.02, others may see it differently.
Good luck//Ed

2

220629

Well-known member
  • Dec 6, 2017
  • #7

Scarecrow said:

...

But what I call the Igniter can be heard clicking in an effort to start the Blower or Furnace., each time. And this might take 4 attempts. Or 7.

How many attempts should it take?

And are repeated attempts normal?

How Many Attempts Should the Furnace Igniter Require? (4)

The combustion control should first start the blower for a set time period as a purge cycle. The purge cycle blows air through the combustion chamber to assure that there isn't any residual combustible gases present. After the purge cycle is complete the igniter is activated and then the propane gas is introduced. The combustion control then allows a set time for a flame to be established.

If the combustion fan isn't operating first the clicking that hear you may be a control relay and not the igniter.

Questions, not intended as a diagnosis.

vic

CB1945

Member
  • Dec 7, 2017
  • #8

edfrompa said:

Imho, there are a variety of answers to your question depending on circumstances, let's say:
1. it was on yesterday and you turned it on today -- a couple of clicks;
2. you ran yourself out of propane on the heater or generator last time and now your starting it--maybe a few or more clicks;
3. the system has been laid up for month or more-- ditto;
4. tank is low or very cold weather--ditto;
5. used it for a while and haven't either had it professionally serviced OR researched online for the simple procedures to service it yourself--WHY?? Self-inflicted pain is the worst kind!
My personal bottom line is that we enjoy the freedom of the RV experience because we are inclined to learn the basic systems and their routine care/repair. BUT, if this doesn't fit you preferences, most reputable RV dealers can do a season startup check of all systems for less than $200.00, or so----and, it is worth every penny!!

Just my $0.02, others may see it differently.

Good luck//Ed

I think your $0.02 is worth two bits.
RV's are not like your automobile, they require maintenance. It is incumbent on the owner to learn how these systems operate and how they Must be maintained.
If this is not something in your wheelhouse, for your safety, find a good RV service dealer.

M

mikeme

2015 LTV IB: 2015 3500 V6
  • Dec 7, 2017
  • #9

Mike DZ said:

Mike,

how did you set the thermostat for a one degree swing?

BTW, I don't even heard furnace ignition in my 24V. First thing I hear is the furnace blower.

DZ


To set the temperature differential the system must be Off. Press
the “―” button and, while holding it, also press and hold the On/Off
Mode button for three seconds. Release the On/Off Mode button.
Then release the “―” button. Press the “+” button to toggle between
“d1” and “d2”, “d1” for 1 degree F differential and “d2” for 2 degrees
F differential.​

above from the dometic thermostat manual
https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/Th...6H3Jz6ft5VCq6VAUSByEmYCjQ3UJ4_jWbBXI2DWhB_gDU

M

Mike DZ

2016 View 24V (2015 3500)
  • Dec 7, 2017
  • #10

mikeme said:

To set the temperature differential the system must be Off. Press
the “―” button and, while holding it, also press and hold the On/Off
Mode button for three seconds. Release the On/Off Mode button.
Then release the “―” button. Press the “+” button to toggle between
“d1” and “d2”, “d1” for 1 degree F differential and “d2” for 2 degrees
F differential.​

above from the dometic thermostat manual
https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/Th...6H3Jz6ft5VCq6VAUSByEmYCjQ3UJ4_jWbBXI2DWhB_gDU

I see why my instructions don't have this - its a coleman mach thermostat - no "On/Off Mode" button.

H

hoosierrun

Well-known member
  • Dec 7, 2017
  • #11

I am actually surprised you can hear the igniter process over the sound of the blower.

Scarecrow

2017 LTV Unity Murphy Bed
  • Dec 7, 2017
  • #12

It very well could be a relay I'm hearing.

The coach is, just next week, one year "In Service", but has only been used less than half that time.

I'm not sure I follow the concept of setting the temperature to be 1 degree different. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something. It does not apply here, anyway.

I am amazed how little LP is actually used over a week's time of running the furnace most every night. I did not need it in Death Valley, where I just left from. Even with cooking breakfast on the stove each morning.

Thanks for all the replies!

2

220629

Well-known member
  • Dec 8, 2017
  • #13

Scarecrow said:

It very well could be a relay I'm hearing.

...
Thanks for all the replies!

If it is a relay clicking you should follow up on why. It could be as simple as a loose connection. That could eventually result in no operation.

When the control calls for propane furnace heat the first thing that should happen is a blower running for an air purge cycle. I'm not familiar with your particular furnace. It is not uncommon in RV furnaces that the combustion air is supplied by the same motor as the duct fan, but it can be a separate blower in which case would be much quieter. Perhaps quiet enough that you don't notice a combustion blower running first. How Many Attempts Should the Furnace Igniter Require? (7)

The relay that initiates the combustion chamber purge cycle should not be doing multiple clicking.

How Many Attempts Should the Furnace Igniter Require? (8) vic

Last edited:

bcislander

'07 Mercedes-badged Dodge
  • Dec 8, 2017
  • #14

hoosierrun said:

I am actually surprised you can hear the igniter process over the sound of the blower.

FWIW, I can hear the igniter 'sparking' and the flame igniting, over the fan noise, if I consciously listen for it.

Scarecrow

2017 LTV Unity Murphy Bed
  • Dec 11, 2017
  • #15

I woke up at 4am this morning, after the heater ran one of its cycles. I then waited about 39 minutes for the automatic cycle to start, again. The clicking or relay I'm hearing is coming from the roof. I think it's the installed heater unit outside up on the roof.

I pulled the drawer above the register in the bath. The unit inside with the red LEDs is not showing any error codes. At first, I thought it was coming from that area. Nope!

Ideas?

Sounds like a Dealer visit is next.

This clicking does not happen when I first start the heater manually. It only occurs when the automatic function kicks in.

Last edited:

2

220629

Well-known member
  • Dec 11, 2017
  • #16

Scarecrow said:

...

Ideas?
...

This clicking does not happen when I first start the heater manually. It only occurs when the automatic function kicks in.

Something to do with the auto change over mode. Certainly not normal or ignition related.

Scarecrow said:

Sounds like a Dealer visit is next.

Especially true if still under warranty.

vic

Last edited:

Scarecrow

2017 LTV Unity Murphy Bed
  • Dec 11, 2017
  • #17

Also, if I change the temperature after it's run an auto one - - say, bump it up to 73 from 65 - - it does not do any clicking. Only when it's triggered by the thermostat on Auto.

M

mikeme

2015 LTV IB: 2015 3500 V6
  • Dec 11, 2017
  • #18

what is the thermostat set for D1 or D2?

M

mikeme

2015 LTV IB: 2015 3500 V6
  • Dec 11, 2017
  • #19

(I am not sure at all you need to see the dealer.)

remember the thermostat will turn on the fan in the rooftop AC for the furnace if the mode is set to low or high fan.

so it is not out of the question that it would click a relay.

we heard this, and it was driving us nuts, but then I reset the thermostat to a 2 degree differential.

Scarecrow

2017 LTV Unity Murphy Bed
  • Dec 11, 2017
  • #20

mikeme said:

what is the thermostat set for D1 or D2?

I'm not sure what you are asking. I have never noticed a D1 or D2 designation.

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