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Hot Surface Igniter or Spark Igniter? What's the difference?

Hot Surface Igniter or Spark Igniter? What's the difference?

Posted by McCombs Supply on 20th May 2026

If you have a gas range oven, dryer, furnace, or boiler in your home, there’s a good chance it relies on an igniter to safely light the gas burner. But not all igniters work the same way. Two of the most common types are Hot Surface Igniters (HSI) and Spark Igniters — and understanding the difference can help you diagnose problems, maintain your appliance, and choose the correct replac … read more

What To Do If Gas Dryer Won't Start

Posted by By Eric G. Stark on 23rd Aug 2018

Editor's Note: This is the first of a two part series. We will talk about gas dryers not working in this article and the second article will deal with electric dryer issues.   "Our gas dryer won't heat - the igniter doesn't heat up." - this was a statement posted on the McCombs Supply Facebook page a few weeks ago. The Facebook follower/customer wanted to know w … read more