What a Flame Sensor Is and Why It Matters
Receiving your seasonal furnace maintenance helps keep your heating equipment operating up to 30 percent more efficient and helps extend the life of the equipment. But things can still go wrong, and when they do, you might feel like it’s always something else.
This time it’s your heat exchanger, next time it’s your pressure switch. Now your find out the flame sensor has to be replaced.
Also, what is a flame sensor?
A flame sensor is a crucial safety component on your gas heating system. During the ignition sequence, your gas furnace undergoes a process where a spark or a hot surface ignitor actually ignites 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 proper 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 impede the flame sensor’s ability to function properly, which can result in a malfunction of the furnace.
The way to diagnose if a soiled flame sensor is the reason 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 offender, the technician will clean the sensor with steel wool. If dirt was the only factor, we will see a notably higher amp reading. If the reading doesn’t change, the technician will carry on with the heating system repair diagnostic process.
If you aren’t sure your heating equipment is going to survivie 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 no-charge in-home estimate on a new heating system.
-
A Good Spring Cleaning: An HVAC Maintenance Checklist for March
You’ve been hibernating during the colder months, but March is a time of year when things start happening. If you’re like many homeowners, you may be anxious to brush off the cobwebs of winter and throw open the windows. Amid the flurry of decluttering and cleaning, don’t ignore your HVAC... Continue reading
-
7 Energy-Efficient HVAC Strategies for Early Spring
As icy winter days become rarer and the mild warmth of early spring takes hold, you may start thinking about how you’ll keep your home cool and comfortable when summer arrives. Spring is a great time to adopt energy-efficient cooling solutions to help you save big in the hotter months... Continue reading
-
Prepare Your HVAC System for Spring
As the days and nights get warmer this spring, your focus shifts from home heating to air conditioning. Preparing your HVAC system for the changing seasons is critical if you want to maintain home comfort and energy efficiency. Stick to these HVAC system transition suggestions from the HVAC pros... Continue reading