Before you go through the expense of having it replaced, you may want to call you local gas company to ask if they light furnaces free of charge -

Here where I'm at the gas company prefers to light furnaces, it also gives them an opportunity to check for carbon monoxide. Ours is also free of charge -

I have 2 electric heating & cooling systems due to the size of the house; they cost $10,000 -

OMG, I know what you mean, the thought of that going out and me having to light its scares me....I told my friend who services my furnace that if that ever happens he can expect a call from me no matter the time of day.....it is the little things that I find get to me the most...my vacuum started smoking and I nearly had a break down...Mike, my late husband would have come home, taken it to his workshop and put on a new belt...I cried like a baby realizing that he wouldn't be coming home doing that.....Hugs....Lin

During my husbands dying..... my water pipe broke in the 2nd bath..... I went outside, turned it off at the road. Bought bottled water, took showers at hospital. Finally my oldest son took pity on me, and fixed it for me. Also gas furnice pilot light went out (why the water pipe broke) I bought electric heater to put in rooms I used.....Alas, I have a fuse box. o f course a fuse blew.... I changed it myself. I am proud of myself...Sometimes I wonder if it would be easier to close the house up, and rent a apartment. But I don't like being close to neighbors. I love my outside spaces.

BTW, not only do we get to learn how to take care of ourself, we get to learn how to take care of house, car, kids, etc. on our own -

*SCREAM*

I cried every time something broke ... it was just too much! One damn thing after another. That was then ...

In January, my washer & dryer broke at the same time - Yippy! I just love my front loading washer & dryer, they also have the cutest chiming sounds when they're done. Now I don't have to use a steep stool to retrieve clothing from the bottom of the tub -

A widow friend of mine learned to build a barn, another overhauled her car engine while another built a 2000sqft home for herself & kids & yet another learned to negotiate a great deal on a new car -

Its amazing the things we can learn when finances force us to -

I've been successful w/my own home repairs thanks to the Man Store (Home Depot) - they are so helpful. If you're not able to do the repairs they have a list of contractors ready for hire to do the work -

In time when the grief doesn't feel like you're dragging around a ball & chain, you'll be to do/try things you never imagined or thought possible -

It will be a great lift to your self confidence -

One baby step at a time -

(((HUGS)))

*Hugs*

I haven't had gas furnaces in years because I live in Florida and its all electric here. having said that, I think you can get a retrofit kit to change it from a gas pilot light to electric start. Its kinda like the spark starter on a gas grill if you are familiar with that.

I almost blew myself up with a gas furnace in a mobilehome that the pilot went out in. I tried to light it not knowing the flue was blocked. I burned my hand really bad. Just be careful.

I almost blew myself up, trying to change the gas thingy on my gas grill.... and there a squeeling noise on it.... can't get anyone to help on that...

Thanks for the tip, Dot and Jeff. It's still working now, but I'm going to get a new electric pilot furnace next year. Didn't know they had one. Until then, I think I'll check into the retrofit thing. Guess I can go to home depot and find out who does it.