When a Burnham boiler fails to ignite, the fault sits somewhere in gas delivery, the ignition source, or flame confirmation.
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Quick answer
A Burnham boiler that fails to ignite is typically stopping at one of three points in the startup sequence: gas is not reaching the burner reliably, the igniter is not producing enough spark or heat to establish a flame, or the control board never confirms flame presence and halts the sequence as a safety measure. Homeowners can safely confirm the gas shutoff valve is open and that no breaker or emergency switch has tripped, but diagnosing beyond that requires a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter with pressure and combustion test equipment, since misreading an ignition fault can mean overlooking a venting or gas supply problem.
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On a Burnham boiler, a call for heat triggers a fixed sequence: pre-purge, gas valve opening, ignition, and flame confirmation through a sensor, usually a flame rectification rod. If the board does not detect a confirmed flame within its programmed window, it closes the gas valve, may retry a limited number of times, and then locks out rather than continuing indefinitely. This is intentional; a boiler that kept attempting ignition without flame confirmation could allow unburned gas to accumulate in the combustion chamber or vent run, so the shutdown behaviour exists specifically to prevent that.
Check that the gas shutoff valve near the boiler is fully open, that the mechanical room's emergency switch has not been bumped off, and that no relevant breaker has tripped. It is worth noting whether the fault started after other work in the home, such as renovation, a new appliance sharing the same gas line, or exterior work near the vent termination, since that context helps a technician narrow the cause faster.
If you smell gas at any point, do not continue troubleshooting. Leave the home and call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 from outside.
Do not open the burner compartment, adjust the gas valve, or attempt repeated forced resets. Cycling power repeatedly on a boiler that has failed ignition increases the risk of unburned gas accumulating during a failed attempt.
Diagnosis starts with pulling the fault history from the control board, since Burnham boilers typically retain a log of recent lockout events. The technician then verifies gas pressure at the inlet and manifold using a manometer, inspects the igniter and flame sensor both visually and electrically, and checks vent and intake terminations for obstruction. Combustion analysis with a flue gas analyzer is often used once ignition is restored to confirm the burner is combusting cleanly, rather than simply clearing the fault and hoping it holds.
| Symptom pattern | Likely area | What gets checked |
|---|---|---|
| No spark or glow detected at all | Igniter or ignition control circuit | Igniter continuity, wiring, control board output |
| Igniter activates but flame never develops | Gas delivery | Gas valve operation, inlet and manifold pressure |
| Flame appears then drops, lockout follows | Flame sensing or venting | Sensor condition/position, vent obstruction |
| Failures cluster with certain weather | Vent termination | Termination clearance, wind/snow blockage |
Most ignition faults are component-level repairs: an igniter, flame sensor, or gas valve, always verified against the manual or rating plate for your specific model rather than assumed interchangeable across production years. Replacement becomes the more sensible option when ignition faults recur on a boiler already well into its service life and showing other age-related issues, such as heat exchanger corrosion or repeated control faults. At that point, chasing intermittent faults on an aging unit can approach the ballpark of a new install, and a boiler replacement, ballpark $7,500–$15,000+ depending on venting, sizing, and access, not a quote, is often the more sensible investment.
Safety note
If you smell gas near the boiler, do not touch switches or attempt a reset. Leave the home and call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911. Gas ignition and combustion work must be performed by a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter; CANRO holds gas licence LGA0043870 and boiler licence LBP0046450.
This is built-in behaviour. The control board allows a limited number of ignition attempts before locking out, preventing repeated release of unburned gas into the combustion chamber if a genuine fault exists.
A single reset after checking basic items like the gas valve and breakers is reasonable. Repeated forced resets without addressing the cause are not safe and can mask a developing issue.
Coverage depends on your specific warranty terms and whether the fault is a manufacturing defect versus wear or installation related. Verify your certificate before assuming coverage applies.
Yes, indirectly. Cold snaps can cause vent terminations to ice over or condensate lines to freeze, interfering with the ignition and flame-sensing sequence even though the igniter itself is fine.
It depends on which component has failed and the access required, so there is no fixed figure without an on-site diagnosis.
If ignition faults are recurring alongside other wear signs on an aging unit, replacement often makes more financial sense than repeated repairs. A licensed technician can walk through that comparison based on the unit's actual condition.
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