Knowing when to replace your furnace gas valve is a critical 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, Mayeuxs AC & Heating will highlight the key signs of a bad gas valve. Whether you’re dealing with issues or just want more information about how a furnace works, this guide for Norco, Louisiana, homeowners will help you recognize the need for furnace gas valve replacement—and how to reach out to the trusted team at Mayeuxs AC & Heating.

What is a Furnace Gas Valve and Why is It Important?

To start, it's important to know what a furnace gas valve is and what it controls. The furnace gas valve manages the flow of natural gas or propane into the unit's burner assembly, allowing the combustion process to occur and generate heat. If gas flow is blocked, a gas-powered furnace is unable to warm your home.

Also an important safety feature, the furnace gas valve is supposed to shut if a problem is detected—preventing a potentially deadly gas leak. A typical furnace gas valve lifespan is about 10–20 years. Although replacement price can change based on the kind of furnace and whether any other components need fixing, replacing a furnace gas valve costs an average of between $300 and $800.

Your Furnace Won't Ignite

One of the indications 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 is what fuels the burner. Without enough gas flow through the system, a furnace won’t start up. Occasionally, homeowners also hear 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 also could be signs of  other mechanical issues, such as a faulty flame sensor, a malfunction in 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 light.

Gas Leak

One clear sign of a gas valve problem is a gas smell in your home. 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, evacuate the home immediately, call your gas company or 911, and then reach out to Mayeuxs AC & Heating for emergency furnace repair.

Furnace is Short Cycling

Faulty gas valve symptoms also include short cycling. Short cycling is when a furnace turns off and on frequently rather than turning on and continuing through its cycle as usual. This might be occurring 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.

That said, 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 If Your Furnace Gas Valve Isn't Working?

If you believe your furnace gas valve is broken, it’s important to act quickly and safely.

First, shut off the gas supply to avoid additional danger, then shut down your furnace. Don’t try to fix the valve yourself. DIY gas valve repair can result in dangerous situations if done incorrectly and also might 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. Plus, 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 repairing it. 

Call Mayeuxs AC & Heating to Be Sure Your Furnace is Ready for the Norco, Louisiana, Cold

To replace your furnace gas valve safely, contact the professional Norco, Louisiana, HVAC company—Mayeuxs AC & Heating. Our HVAC experts know exactly what to do when it comes to gas valve troubleshooting. We'll pinpoint what's wrong, handle the gas valve replacement safely and make sure your system is running smoothly. To save even more power, we can even connect your system with one of our smart thermostats or connect you with furnace installation service to help you replace your outdated heating system.

Don’t compromise your safety or comfort. Call (985) 764-2426 today for gas valve replacement services from Mayeuxs AC & Heating.