When a boiler calls for heat and simply never lights, the igniter that starts combustion is one of the first parts a technician looks at.
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Quick answer
The igniter on a Triangle Tube boiler creates the spark or heat source that lights the burner each time the boiler calls for heat. A worn, cracked, or fouled igniter typically causes intermittent ignition failures, an audible clicking with no flame catching, or a complete failure to light that trips a safety lockout. Because a boiler's igniter cycles every time the system calls for heat throughout an entire season, it's a genuine wear component rather than something expected to last indefinitely.
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A residential boiler can cycle on and off many times over the course of a heating day, especially on a modulating system responding to a thermostat's fine adjustments rather than staying on continuously. Every one of those cycles is an ignition event, and the igniter — whether it's a spark electrode or a hot surface type — experiences a small amount of wear each time. Over a full heating season that adds up to a meaningful number of cycles, which is exactly why igniters are treated as a scheduled wear item on boiler maintenance rather than a part expected to outlast the appliance itself.
Combustion byproducts settling on the igniter surface over time can also degrade its performance well before it fails outright, which is why intermittent ignition trouble often shows up before a complete no-light situation.
A technician watches an actual ignition attempt with the burner cover open, which immediately shows whether a spark or glow is present at all. No spark or glow points to the igniter or its wiring; a spark that's present but weak, or one that doesn't align properly with the gas stream, points to a positioning or partial-failure issue rather than total failure. Continuity and voltage testing on the igniter and its harness follow to confirm whether the component itself is receiving proper signal and responding to it. If spark is confirmed present and correctly positioned but flame still doesn't establish, attention shifts to gas supply and the burner itself rather than the igniter.
A cracked ceramic housing, common on igniters that have been in service for years, is usually visible on close inspection once the burner assembly is opened for testing.
With gas and power isolated, the burner assembly is opened to access the igniter mount. The old igniter is removed, its wiring harness disconnected, and the replacement fitted at the correct position and gap relative to the burner — positioning genuinely affects reliability, since an igniter mounted even slightly out of place can spark weakly or miss the gas stream. After reassembly, several ignition cycles are run to confirm consistent, reliable lighting before the boiler is returned to service.
| Observation | Likely cause | What's checked |
|---|---|---|
| No spark or glow at ignition attempt | Dead igniter or wiring fault | Continuity, voltage, harness |
| Spark present, weak or intermittent | Fouled or partially failed igniter | Visual inspection, cycle testing |
| Spark present and strong, no flame | Gas supply or burner issue, not the igniter | Gas pressure, burner condition |
| Cracked igniter housing visible | Physical damage to igniter | Replace |
CANRO sees a somewhat higher rate of igniter and connector-related faults on boilers installed in basement mechanical rooms with chronic dampness, common in some of Metro Vancouver's older housing stock, compared to units in a dry, well-ventilated space. Moisture doesn't damage the igniter directly, but it does accelerate corrosion at the wiring connections feeding it, which can present with symptoms very similar to a failing igniter itself.
Safety note
Igniter diagnosis and replacement involves working inside a gas appliance's combustion chamber and should be done by a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter. If you ever smell gas near the boiler, leave the home immediately and call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 from outside.
Clicking with no flame usually means the igniter is sparking but the spark isn't catching the gas stream reliably, which can point to a weak igniter, misalignment, or a gas supply issue.
They're a wear item that cycles with every heat call, so their lifespan depends heavily on how often the boiler cycles through a season rather than a fixed number of years.
Watching an ignition attempt with the cover off can show whether a spark is present, but confirming voltage, continuity, and correct positioning needs a technician's testing equipment.
Not necessarily. It's a single, independently replaceable component, and swapping it typically resolves ignition problems without needing to touch the gas valve or heat exchanger.
It can, mainly through corrosion at the wiring connectors rather than the igniter itself, which is why CANRO checks connection integrity closely on boilers in damp basement spaces.
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