What a Flame Sensor Is and Why It Matters

Setting up your annual furnace maintenance helps keep your heating equipment working up to thirty percent more efficient and helps extend the life of the equipment. But things could still stop working, and when they do, you could feel like there is always something else.

This time it’s your motor, next time it’s your control valve. Now your find out the flame sensor has to be replaced.

By the way – what is a flame sensor?

A flame sensor is a critical safety element on your gas heating system. During the ignition sequence, your gas furnace undergoes a process where either a spark or a hot surface igniter actually ignites the gas. When the gas is ignited, the flame sensor creates a current of electricity. The electricity is calculated in micro amps. If the furnace’s control board doesn’t read the correct level of micro amps, the furnace will stop giving the system fuel to prevent an explosion.

Over time, if the flame sensor is not cleaned properly, oxidation or carbon buildup can impede the flame sensor’s ability to operate properly, which can result in a malfunction of the furnace.

The way to diagnose if an unclean flame sensor is to blame for a furnace malfunction is to take a micro amp draw reading, which an expert heating technician can supply you. If a dirty flame sensor is the culprit, the technician will clean the sensor with steel wool. If dirt was the only factor, we will see a much higher amp reading. If the reading doesn’t change, the technician will continue with the heating equipment repair diagnostic process.

If you aren’t confident your heating equipment is going to outlast these last few weeks of winter, give Freschi Service Experts a call and we’ll come out and provide you with a full furnace maintenance or a complimentary in-home estimate on a new HVAC system.