Understanding Stove Ignitions: Which One is Right For You?
Another important part of your stove selection is selecting your ignition type. But now, you might ask how you determine how you want to start your fire. There are four main ignition types for stoves. They are manual, millivolt, electronic, and electric ignitors. Now, let's break down each ignition type and what they mean for you.
- Manual Ignition: Manual ignition, also called match light, means that you will manually light the fuel for your stove, typically with a match. Stoves with this ignition type are typically less expensive than their more advanced counterparts.
- Millivolt: Also known as a standing pilot, this type of ignition features a pilot light that is always on. Thanks to its standing pilot light, stoves with millivolt ignitions can still be used partially or completely while the power is out. Many consider a millivolt ignition the most reliable and easiest ignition system for a stove. If you want to know more, please check out What Is A Standing Pilot, written by an NFI-certified technician.
- Electronic Ignition: Also known as an IPI ignition, this type of ignition uses electricity to open and close the gas valve. It turns your fireplace off and on by igniting or extinguishing the pilot light. Many praise electronic ignitions for being cost-efficient because they can save money on fuel costs.
- Electric Ignitor: An electric ignitor is similar to electronic ignition but lacks a pilot light. Instead, it simply ignites the fuel source and lets it burn as long as possible. This type of ignition system is mostly used for wood or pellet stoves.
Next, we'll discuss the control types you can select for your stove. For more detailed information about pilot light types, check out our Pilot Light Types article.
