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A flame sensor is one of the most important safety features of your furnace. This component is responsible for ensuring that your furnace doesn’t create a dangerous gas leak or explosion.
Skip the search and connect with an HVAC expert. By understanding why the furnace flame sensor is crucial to the unit’s operation, you’ll be better prepared to recognize when a flame sensor is bad. Our guide will walk you through cleaning the sensor and furnace flame sensor replacement.  What is a flame sensor?The flame sensor is a safety component of a furnace located on the interior of the burner assembly. It monitors and verifies whether a flame is burning inside the unit. If the sensor does not detect an active flame, then it will shut the furnace off to avoid a potential gas leak. The furnace flame sensor helps prevent explosions that could occur if gas were allowed to continue to flow into the home as well as carbon monoxide poisoning of those inside the home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that at least 430 people die in the U.S. from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning each year and some 50,000 visit the emergency room because of the gas. While home furnaces are responsible for only a small percentage of these cases, it’s a worthwhile reminder to install a carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home. Flame sensor vs. thermocoupleA flame sensor and thermocouple are often referred to as the same or interchangeable parts, but that’s not the case. While they both serve as a safety feature on the furnace, you would need to know which you have in order to replace or repair the component. A thermocouple is often found on older model gas furnaces with a standing pilot. It has a small flame that burns continuously, keeping the top of the thermocouple at a high temperature. If the flame goes out and the tip of the thermocouple cools, it will automatically shut off the furnace’s gas valve. Flame sensors are used in modern furnaces that operate via an electronic ignition rather than a standing pilot light. These models use electronic igniters to light the gas. As mentioned above, the flame sensors ensure the burners are operating properly and have ignited the gas. If the sensor detects that the burner has failed, it will turn off the gas.
Skip the search and connect with an HVAC expert. Furnace flame sensor locationWhen trying to determine how to find a flame sensor, you’ll want to remove the furnace access cover to begin. Depending on the model of your furnace, you may have to remove screws or bolts to release the access cover. The sensor is located just outside the burner assembly and looks like a small rod with porcelain surrounding the end that connects to the burner. Some furnace flame sensors are straight while others bend at a 45-degree or 90-degree angle. The sensor leads into the fire chamber where the flame burns. Signs of a bad flame sensorAs with any other component in your heating and cooling system, the flame sensor can go bad. If your furnace stops working properly, look for warning signs that your flame sensor has failed:
If a flame sensor replacement is necessary, it’s a low-cost fix that you can likely handle yourself if you feel comfortable working with the unit. Most furnace flame sensors cost less than $20, but if you opt to have a professional HVAC technician make the repair, you can expect to pay between $75 and $250. Flame sensor lifespanIf you’ve just replaced the sensor or had a new furnace installed, you can expect the flame sensor to last for about five years. The average lifespan of a furnace is 15 to 30 years, so you can anticipate a flame sensor replacement once or twice over the course of your homeownership. To extend the lifespan of the sensor, seasonal furnace maintenance and cleaning the flame sensor is necessary. Even if the furnace seems to be operating smoothly, cleaning the sensor each year can prevent you from calling for emergency heating services in the middle of winter. Furnace flame sensor cleaningBefore you begin the flame sensor cleaning process, turn the gas and electricity off to the unit. The valve handle on the gas pipe will allow you to stop the gas flow and turning off the furnace breaker at your electrical box will ensure all power is shut down. If the furnace has been running, wait at least 30 minutes before attempting these steps:
Skip the search and connect with an HVAC expert. Test the furnace to see if cleaning the flame sensor was the solution you needed. If the unit turns on and off properly, a flame sensor replacement may not be necessary. Replace furnace flame sensorDuring the sensor cleaning process, if you discover the tip of the sensor is black or the component is misshapen or broken in any way, replace rather than repair the part. Follow the flame sensor cleaning steps, but install the new sensor instead of cleaning the old one. Your furnace will only operate with a certain type of flame sensor. Ensure the component you purchase is compatible with your unit. Check the owner’s manual for guidance on the type of sensor you need. If working with a furnace or handling the gas line is not within your DIY comfort level, take the safe route and call an HVAC expert. A furnace specialist will test the flame sensor and replace it if needed. To avoid being caught in a situation where furnace service is needed immediately, schedule routine inspections. Seasonal maintenance can support your unit in working properly when you need it most and expanding the lifespan of the furnace. Explore our top furnace brands if it’s time to replace your unit.
The flame sensor within a furnace was created to ensure that the gas valve is opening only while the flames are burning. Otherwise, toxic gas could build up and result in a leak or fire. Flame sensors can be found in all modern gas furnaces and other gas-powered heating systems. However, if you have an older model, you should take a look to see whether or not a flame sensor is included in the furnace before assuming so. Our expert technicians are here for youSchedule Online Today 6 Signs of a Malfunctioning Gas Furnace Flame SensorIf you notice any of these issues occurring with your furnace, you should find out how to tell if your flame sensor is bad. That’s because, when it comes to yellow burner flames, rusted flue lines, high utility bills, water leaks, old age, or constant thermostat adjustments; the root of the problem often lies at the flame sensor of the furnace. Yellow Burner FlamesOpen up or glance through the peephole of your gas furnace to see the color of the flames firing up in the burner. If they’re yellow, that means that the gas isn’t fully burning away. This is most likely because the carbon monoxide isn’t being vented out of the system effectively. Call a certified technician to mitigate the issue with a furnace flame sensor inspection or gas burner cleaning. In the meantime, monitor the reading on your home’s carbon monoxide detector. Rusted Flue LinesSimilar to yellow burner flames, another sign of poor furnace venting is rusted flue lines. The flue system is essential to leading the dangerous CO gas outside of your home. If there’s a leak causing your flue lines to rust and corrode, the CO gas can’t exit properly. If your flame sensor is shutting down your furnace operation, contact Snell to see if you need flue maintenance services. High Utility BillsIf your heating bills have been higher than usual—even in regular winter temperatures—then you should double-check that your air filters are clear. If they don’t need to be replaced, you could have a deeper issue with the flame sensor in your furnace that is making it difficult for your furnace to operate to its full potential. If that’s the case, have a certified contractor come over to check your flame sensor and other components in your heating system. Tips & Insights: When Should I Replace the Furnace In My Home? Water LeaksIf you see puddles of water sitting around the base of your furnace, you need to figure out right away where the leak is coming from. If the puddles are only appearing when your air conditioner is on, then it’s probably somewhere within the water condensate line. You can fix this yourself using Pan Tablets. However, if they show up whenever the heat is on, the solution will require the help of a professional. Old AgeAfter about 20 years of operation, you’re going to want to switch to a newer, more energy-efficient gas furnace model. This is so your aged furnace doesn’t fail on you unexpectedly. Save yourself the stress associated with a defective furnace flame sensor and contact a certified contractor to replace your heating system. Constant Thermostat AdjustmentsDo you feel like you have to constantly adjust the thermostat to get enough cool air running throughout your home? Don’t settle for an uncomfortable living situation—get a Snell representative on the case. Our technicians can look over your thermostat and furnace to determine where the trouble is coming from. From there, we can update you on the situation and determine the best course of action. How to Find the Flame Sensor in a FurnaceYou don’t need a professional handyman to find a flame sensor in a furnace. You’ll just need to check under the furnace access cover. This can be fastened by tabs, slots, knobs, or screws. Once it’s opened, keep your eyes peeled for a metal rod with white or discolored porcelain around its bent mounting end. It would also have a single wire attached to it. This will be your flame sensor. The porcelain serves as insulation to prevent self-grounding on the metal furnace frame. The furnace flame sensor will be right outside of the burner assembly. It will enter into the open fire chamber or interior flame. Tips & Insights: What Is a Gas Furnace Ignitor? Spotting a Faulty Furnace Flame SensorAre you unsure how to tell if a flame sensor is bad or just needs a good cleaning? Follow these steps with your furnace to see.
While it seems easy, we suggest having a certified, licensed technician from Snell Heating and Air Conditioning complete the replacement. This way, you can be sure your heater will be good to go for winter. The Process of Cleaning a Furnace Flame SensorIf all your furnace flame sensor needs is a good cleaning to restore functionality, we can walk you through the correct cleaning regime.
How to Test a Furnace Flame SensorOnce a licensed technician arrives at your house, they will follow a set of steps to test the flame sensor in your system
Furnace Repair & Installation ServicesNow that you know how to tell if the flame sensor of your furnace is bad, you’ll be able to contact the HVAC repair experts on our team to receive help. We offer dependable furnace repair and furnace tune-up solutions to homes in areas such as Arlington, Centreville, Alexandria, Reston, and Leesburg. In addition, our team of licensed contractors offers other types of HVAC services such as gas boiler repair, ultraviolet air purifier system installation, and air conditioning repair. Let’s go over your heating system and determine where we can make adjustments to maximize your savings. Reach us at (703) 543-9649 to get started. Tips & Insights: What Are The Differences Between Pedestal & Submersible Sump Pumps? |
What does a flame sensor look like on a furnace?
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