Honeywell Water Heater Igniter Not Sparking
On this page (6 sections)
The Short Answer: Most residential water heaters with a Honeywell (now Resideo) gas control have a standing pilot lit by a push-button piezo igniter, not an automatic spark module. If pressing the button gives no spark at the pilot, the cause is the igniter, its wire, or the electrode at the pilot. On some Honeywell-equipped heaters the igniter is part of the gas control assembly, so replacement is technician work.
Honeywell is the control, not the heater
Honeywell/Resideo gas controls appear on water heaters from several manufacturers. The control is the box on the front of the tank with the temperature knob and, on most current models, a small status light. It runs on power from a thermopile heated by the pilot flame, so it doesn’t plug into the wall. Lighting the pilot is manual: you turn the knob to pilot, hold it, and press the igniter button.
Power-vent heaters and some high-efficiency models light automatically instead. If yours has a power cord and no igniter button, see gas hot water heater power-vent problems.
Checking for a spark safely
You can check for a spark without lighting anything:
- Make sure you don’t smell gas. If you do, stop and leave.
- Turn the control knob to OFF. On a Honeywell control with a status light, if the light is on solid after turning it off, wait until it goes out before relighting, as the label says.
- Darken the room and look through the sight glass at the pilot while pressing the igniter button several times.
- A visible spark at the pilot means the igniter works; the problem is gas to the pilot or the pilot itself. No spark means the igniter, wire, or electrode.
Bradford White’s service manual (opens in a new tab) describes the same visual check as the first step. Its further steps involve removing the outer door and testing the igniter on its own, which is service work.
What the results mean
| What you find | Likely cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| No click when pressing the button | Igniter button worn out or broken | Service |
| Click, no spark at the pilot | Wire off or damaged, electrode cracked or out of position, or igniter weak | Service |
| Spark, no pilot flame | Gas supply off, knob not on pilot, or blocked pilot | Check supply; see GE water heater pilot light won’t light for the gas-side checks |
| Pilot lights but goes out on release | Thermopile or pilot problem, not the igniter | See why won’t my gas water heater stay lit |
Lighting it another way
Don’t light a pilot with a match or lighter unless the lighting label on your heater specifically allows it. Most flammable-vapor-resistant tanks have a sealed combustion chamber and say not to. See can you manually light a water heater with an electronic pilot.
What the technician will check
A technician removes the outer burner cover and tests the igniter separately from the pilot. If the igniter sparks on its own, the pilot assembly (including the electrode) is replaced. If it doesn’t, the igniter is replaced; on Honeywell controls covered by Bradford White’s manual, that means taking apart part of the gas control. They will also check the inner door gasket, which has to seal properly on these tanks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I replace a Honeywell igniter button myself? A: Not on controls where it is part of the gas control assembly. Taking the control apart or opening the sealed burner door is technician work.
Q: The status light is blinking. Does that mean the igniter is bad? A: No. The status light reports the control’s own conditions, such as low thermopile voltage or a temperature problem. Use the label on your heater to read it; see Honeywell water heater reset.
Manuals and supporting references
These links distinguish general safety information from model-specific documentation. A manual directory helps you locate your unit’s instructions; it does not establish that every model uses the same parts, codes, or test values.
- Bradford White: service manual 238-51542-00A (piezo igniter and Honeywell gas control procedures) (opens in a new tab)Bradford White FVIR gas models covered by that manual; other brands using Honeywell controls may differ in detail.
- PG&E: recognizing and responding to a gas leak (opens in a new tab)Emergency actions for suspected fuel-gas leaks.
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