Furnace Ignitor Replacement and Flame Sensor Repair in Chicago

City & Suburban Heating & Cooling does this work on every make, across its listed Chicago neighborhoods and suburbs. The company has been family-owned since 1952 and is based in West Town. Its NATE-certified technicians diagnose before quoting, and the company holds a 4.98 average across 204 Google reviews. Robert F. described a no-heat morning in a Nov 2025 Google review: "technician showed at 8:30 to verify the issue and what part was needed." Call (773) 238-3838 or text (312) 821-6809, and describe what the burners do.

No single figure fits, because the furnace sets it. The igniter type matters most: silicon nitride usually costs more than silicon carbide, and some furnaces need the maker's own part. Access and whether the part is on hand also move the price. City & Suburban agrees the price upfront.

Cleaning usually costs less, since no new part goes in. The cost is mostly the visit and the time. A new sensor adds the part, and flame sensors are among the smaller furnace parts. The figure climbs only if the real fault sits elsewhere, such as a bad ground or a weak flame. City & Suburban gives the price with no hidden fees, so a homeowner can approve or decline it first.

Not by default. The two parts fail for different reasons, and a test shows which one stopped the furnace. On an older furnace with a worn igniter, a spare replacement can make sense while the panel is open. That should be the homeowner's choice, stated with its price. City & Suburban diagnoses before quoting. Lena H. wrote in a Jan 2026 Google review: "C&S Heating look for solutions to fix vs selling you unnecessary spare parts."

Watch the order of events through the sight glass, if the furnace has one. No orange glow after the inducer starts points to the igniter, its wiring or the board. A glow with no flame points to gas or a weak igniter. Burners that light and then go out within seconds usually point to the flame sensor. These are clues, not proof. A meter settles it, and City & Suburban diagnoses before quoting.

No. A lockout means the furnace failed to prove a safe flame several times. One reset is reasonable. Repeated resets send more gas to a burner that is not lighting properly. A flame sensor must never be jumped or bypassed. A wavering flame can also point to a cracked heat exchanger, which calls for a heat exchanger inspection before the furnace runs again. A gas smell or CO alarm means leaving first and calling from outside.

An igniter should not be cleaned. Brushing or vacuuming can crack a silicon carbide element, and a clean worn igniter is still worn. A flame sensor can be cleaned with the power and gas off and the furnace cool. The rod must not be bent, and a low signal afterward needs a meter. Many homeowners prefer a visit for that reason.

No. Swapping an igniter, sensor or thermocouple is repair work, and Chicago does not require a permit for HVAC repair or maintenance. Replacing the whole furnace is different and can bring a permit. Suburbs set their own rules, so the 8 suburbs on the service list can differ. Whether a permit applies, and who files it, is worth settling at the quote.

As general guidance, igniter maker White-Rodgers lists typical replacement at 2 to 5 years for silicon carbide and 5 to 10 for silicon nitride. A flame sensor often lasts many years with cleaning. Dust and indoor chemicals can shorten that, so a basement near a renovation or laundry products may coat a rod faster. A yearly tune-up can catch a weak signal before a cold night. City & Suburban maintenance plans add seasonal check-ups.

Often the part, less often the labor. A furnace's parts warranty may still cover the igniter, and the terms depend on install date and registration. The model and serial number on the rating label settle it. Replacement igniters carry their own part warranties, which vary by type. City & Suburban offers a satisfaction guarantee.

Because the part was not the whole fault. A poor ground weakens the flame signal even with a new rod. Dirty burners or low gas pressure can keep the flame off the sensor. A blocked vent or a wet condensate trap can stop the same start at the pressure switch. City & Suburban looks for the cause before quoting. Sarah A. wrote in a Mar 2024 Google review about a furnace that kept going out: "He came, identified the problem, double-checked his work and was back with the part the same night." A repeat lockout after a new part calls for a full run of the start sequence.

As general guidance, a sensor cleaning or igniter swap often takes under an hour once the fault is found. A part that must be ordered adds a return trip. City & Suburban offers same-day service when the schedule allows, and emergency service runs every day till midnight, except Sundays. Erin J. wrote in a Jan 2023 Google review: "He diagnosed the problem, ordered the necessary part, and had it finished the next day when the part came in."

A standing pilot is a small flame that burns all the time, and a thermocouple proves it to the gas valve. Repair usually means a cleaned orifice, a new thermocouple or a pilot assembly. Building age says little here: the Cook County Assessor dates 83.0 percent of West Chicago township's houses and small multi-family buildings before 1940, but a standing pilot marks an old furnace. Past about 20 years, pricing both is worthwhile. City & Suburban repairs all makes. Jessica F. wrote in a Nov 2025 Google review: "Furnace is nearing its useful life but not yet!"

The idea is similar, but the parts and controls differ. Water heaters and fireplaces use their own thermocouple or thermopile and gas control, so a furnace part will not fit. A pilot that keeps going out on any appliance deserves a look, and a gas smell always means leaving first. Fireplace pilots fall under gas fireplace repair which City & Suburban lists as its own service.

Usually the building owner, where the owner supplies the heat or the equipment. A furnace that will not light gives no heat, so the Chicago Heat Ordinance can apply. It runs from September 15 until June 1. It generally requires at least 68 degrees from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and 66 degrees overnight. A tenant should tell the owner first, then call 311. City & Suburban gives the price to whoever approves the work.