A few days ago I got this question…

“Hi, I bought an igniter from you a few months ago for our 2003 Avalon Astoria pellet stove and after my husband installed the new igniter, it still won’t light. The run lights come on and spit out pellets, it just doesn’t t Is there a way to check the igniter? Is there a way to check the circuit board? Is it typical that the misfire is a faulty circuit board? If so, do you sell circuit boards or are they only available through the specific company? Thanks for your help.”

Sometimes you can install a new igniter and experience similar problems. This can be an easy thing to figure out if you have some experience with electricity and can test the voltage. Remember that an ignition element is very similar to a light bulb; when you put power into it; lights up if it is working. Lighters get red hot when operating, so the first thing to do is a visual check.

If you have a voltmeter, you can verify that the cigarette lighter has the proper voltage of 110-120 volts AC. If it’s not getting power, then you have a problem with the circuit board and not the cigarette lighter. Check all the fuses on the circuit board. Usually the cigarette lighter has a fuse that can fail. If all the fuses are good, you will need to contact an authorized dealer for your stove and see if they have access to a circuit board.

If your igniter lights but your pellets don’t, then there’s a chance the stove is too dirty to operate. This happens when an excess of ash accumulates in the stove that prevents the air from coming out of the chimney. It occurs in all pellet stoves and must be cleaned at least once a year.