How Do You Know If Your Furnace Flame Sensor Is Bad?

The flame sensor is a furnace safety component positioned on the interior of the burner assembly. It monitors and confirms the presence of a flame within the device. If the sensor does not detect an active flame burning, it will turn off the furnace to prevent a gas leak. The furnace flame sensor prevents explosions that could take place if gas is permitted to continue to flow into the residence, as well as carbon monoxide poisoning of individuals within the home.

Locate Your Furnace Flame Sensor

To locate a flame sensor, you will need to remove the furnace access cover. Depending on the model of your furnace, you may need to remove screws or bolts to get access to the lid. The sensor, which resembles a tiny rod with porcelain covering the end that connects to the burner, is situated immediately outside the burner assembly. Some flame sensors in furnaces are straight, while others curve at a 45-degree or 90-degree angle. The sensor leads into the fire chamber, which is where the flame is burning.

Signs of A Bad Flame Sensor

Knowing when to update your furnace flame sensor is an important part of home fire safety practice. There are two methods to determine whether or not your flame sensor is defective: inspecting it or monitoring how your furnace operates. Both diagnosis methods can assist you in detecting. Let’s look at both ways –

When you suspect that there might be something wrong with your flame sensor, you need to locate it and take it out to see if the flame sensor is in good condition or not. These signs will tell you if your flame sensor has a problem or not –

• See if it is Dirty
  A soot-covered sensor will not do much good since the muck might make it difficult for the sensor to detect the existence of a flame.
• Wipe The Dirt off The Sensor
  Using a fine-grit emery cloth, remove the dirt. This may resolve your issue, but it also has a secondary function. When a sensor is coated with dirt, it is difficult to tell what is wrong with it! The emery cloth may also remove minor to moderate levels of corrosion, which will improve the performance of your sensor.
• Intense Corrosion or Cracks
  A flame sensor that has corroded owing to humidity in the air would be unable to perform its function properly. The same is true for a sensor that has been cracked or chipped as a result of impact or heat exposure.

If you discover evidence of damage to the flame sensor, you should replace it in your furnace. It has no ifs, and, or buts about it.

Your Furnace is Acting-Up

The other important symptom of a faulty flame sensor is the way your furnace operates. More precisely, most people become aware of a flame sensor problem when they notice their furnaces are not keeping them warm.

If your furnace lights up but then shuts off after a few seconds, you may have a faulty sensor. If your furnace flame goes out nearly instantly, it is fair to assume that the furnace sensor has failed. If you discover this problem, you should replace the furnace sensor as soon as possible.

LAC Heating & Air provides you with heating repair service in Whittier, CA. If your furnace needs a flame sensor replacement, call (562) 600-4311. They provide 24/7 heating maintenance in Whittier, CA, at affordable prices.