Where is my furnace flame sensor?
A furnace flame sensor is a very basic part of your furnace. It’s located on the burner assembly and is just a thin metallic rod. It’s usually bent, and it sits just in front of the pilot flame inside the furnace.
How do you bypass the flame sensor on a furnace?
We have a different solution:
- Remove the access cover on the furnace.
- Locate the flame sensor.
- Cut the power to the furnace.
- Shut off the gas control valve.
- Take out the flame sensor by removing the mounting screw.
- Examine the part to see if it’s compromised, either by damage or dirtiness.
What causes a flame sensor to go bad?
What are causes of a dirty flame sensor? As with any piece of equipment a simple reason could be that dirty flame sensor just goes bad. However a more common reason is that it is just dirty. It is a sensitive sensor so any type of dust or carbon buildup could cause it to malfunction.
What happens when a flame sensor fails?
Without a flame sensor, your furnace will keep emitting gas even when there’s nothing to ignite it, resulting in hazardous gas buildup. If your flame sensor is dirty or faulty, it will automatically shut down the heating unit if it doesn’t detect a flame.
What happens when a flame sensor goes bad?
How do you tell if a flame sensor is bad on a furnace?
6 Signs of a Malfunctioning Gas Furnace Flame Sensor
- Yellow Burner Flames. Open up or glance through the peephole of your gas furnace to see the color of the flames firing up in the burner.
- Rusted Flue Lines.
- High Utility Bills.
- Water Leaks.
- Old Age.
- Constant Thermostat Adjustments.
What happens when flame sensor goes bad?
If your flame sensor is dirty or faulty, it will automatically shut down the heating unit if it doesn’t detect a flame. Most furnaces will go into a safety ignition lockout when a shutdown happens three times.