What a Flame Sensor Is and Why It Matters
Setting up your routine furnace maintenance helps keep your heating system running up to thirty percent more efficient and helps extend the life of your system. But things could still stop working, and when they do, you might feel like there is always something else.
This time it’s your motor, next time it’s your control board. Now you need to replace your flame sensor.
Also, what is a flame sensor?
A flame sensor is a crucial safety component on your gas heating system. During the ignition pattern, your gas furnace goes through a process where either a hot surface ignitor or a spark will actually ignite the gas. When the gas is ignited, the flame sensor creates a current of electricity. This is calculated in micro amps. If the furnace’s control board doesn’t read the right level of micro amps, the furnace will quit giving the system fuel to avoid an explosion.
Over time, if the flame sensor is not adequately cleaned, oxidation or carbon buildup can interfere with the flame sensor’s ability to operate properly, which can end up causing the heating system to malfunction.
The way to determine if a dirty flame sensor is the reason for a furnace malfunction is to take a micro amp draw reading, which an expert furnace technician can provide you. If a dirty flame sensor is the guilty party, the technician will clean the sensor with steel wool. If dirt was the single factor, we will see a notably higher amp reading. If the reading does not change, the technician will continue with the furnace repair diagnostic process.
If you aren’t sure your furnace is going to survivie these last few weeks of winter, give Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning a call and we’ll come out and give you a full furnace maintenance or a complimentary in-home estimate on a new HVAC system.
