What a Flame Sensor Is and Why It Matters

Receiving your routine furnace maintenance helps keep your heating equipment working up to 30% more efficient and helps extend the life of your system. But things can still malfunction, and when they do, you could feel like there is always something else. 

This time it’s your blower, next time it’s your pressure switch. Now your find out the flame sensor has to be replaced. 

By the way – what is a flame sensor? 

A flame sensor is an important safety component on your gas heating equipment. During the ignition cycle, your gas furnace goes through a process where a spark or a hot surface ignitor actually ignites the gas. When the gas is ignited, the flame sensor produces a current of electricity. This is calculated in micro amps. If the furnace’s control board doesn’t read the correct level of micro amps, the furnace will no longer give the system fuel to avoid an explosion. 

Over time, if the flame sensor is not cleaned properly, oxidation or carbon buildup can hinder the flame sensor’s ability to operate properly, which can cause the furnace to malfunction. 

The way to establish if a soiled flame sensor is to blame for a furnace malfunction is to take a micro amp draw reading, which an expert furnace technician can give you. If a dirty flame sensor is the guilty party, the heating expert will clean the sensor with steel wool. If dirt was the only factor, we will see a notably higher amp reading. If the reading does not change, the technician will continue with the heating system repair diagnostic process. 

If you aren’t confident your heating system is going to outlast these last few weeks of winter, give Stevenson 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 furnace. 

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