Lighting Furnace With Broken HSI With Match

[exneophyte]

My furnaces hot surface ignitor is shot. I've got one on order that should arrive sometime tomorrow. The temperature is going to drop tonight and I'm hoping to keep the house above 50 degrees. The house has cooled to about 52 right now. My question is, do you see anything wrong with lighting it once with a long fireplace match?

I'm thinking if I can light it once and let it warm the house up to about 68-70 that it will get me by until the new HSI arrives. Would attempting to light it with a match be a REALLY bad idea?

[paul52446m]

My furnaces hot surface ignitor is shot. I've got one on order that should arrive sometime tomorrow. The temperature is going to drop tonight and I'm hoping to keep the house above 50 degrees. The house has cooled to about 52 right now. My question is, do you see anything wrong with lighting it once with a long fireplace match?

I'm thinking if I can light it once and let it warm the house up to about 68-70 that it will get me by until the new HSI arrives. Would attempting to light it with a match be a REALLY bad idea?

Normally a dealer like me would say no don't try it. If you try it make sure you know the sequence of operation. On call for heat the inducer comes on to purge
any gases out, that goes for a while 30 to 60 seconds then you have 15 to 30 seconds of glow bar heating up, which you will not be able to see. and then you will hear a little click which is gas coming on for about 6 seconds. during this 6 seconds is the only time it can be lit. If you try this, be very careful. Don't stand close in front of furnace in case the flame comes out the front. I have done it many times, just be careful. Paul

[exneophyte]

Thanks a lot! I figured it was similar to lighting a pilot light, but I guess my question should have just asked if a pro would do it. I went ahead and did it and it wasn't a big deal.

It all happened like you said and I'm safe, sound, and warming up.

Thanks!