Why is my furnace flame going out?

The most common causes for a furnace flame going out include: A dirty or malfunctioning sensor. Defective ignition board. Insufficient gas pressure.

Why won’t my flame stay lit on my furnace?





Probably the most common issue when dealing with a furnace that will not stay lit or ignite consistently is a dirty flame sensor. The flame sensor acts as a communication vehicle with the circuit board and tells it when a flame is lit inside the furnace.

Why does my carrier furnace keep shutting off?

If the thermostat settings are correct, a furnace that turns on and off constantly can be caused by a system that is not properly sized for the home, a thermostat that is placed too close to a heating source, or a faulty thermostat. These issues may need to be resolved by a professional service technician.

Why does my pilot light go out when I release the pilot light knob?

If you’re able to light the pilot light, but it goes out when you release the control knob, the thermocouple probably needs replacing. The thermocouple is a safety device that shuts off gas flow if it senses the pilot light is out, but when damaged it loses its regulatory ability.

What symptoms would a furnace with a dirty flame sensor exhibit?

Signs of a bad furnace flame sensor are:

  • The furnace lights but then shuts down after a few seconds (short cycles)
  • The porcelain on the flame sensor is cracked.
  • The flame sensor is sooty or corroded.





What are the symptoms of a dirty flame sensor?

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.


When the burners ignite the burner flame is normal until the blower starts at this time continuous roll out occurs what is the problem?

When the burners ignite, the burner flame is normal until the blower starts. At this time, continuous roll out occurs. What is the problem? A hole in the heat exchanger causing air in the blower to build up pressure in the heat exchanger.

Where is the flame sensor located?



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.

What would cause a pilot light to not stay lit?

The Buildup of Dirt or Debris Around The Pilot Light – Over the years it’s easy for dust, debris, and dirt to build up on the inside of the intake valve where the pilot light resides. This makes it difficult for the flame to breath and as a result causes the pilot light to go out suddenly.

How do I clean the flame sensor on my furnace?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So if you have a situation like this what you have 90% of the time is just a dirty flame sensor. So we'll go through the steps on how to clean it. So the right side of the furnace.

How do you test a bad flame sensor?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Usually has two once you've identified which one is the flame sensor you're going to disconnect the wire attached to it take your meter. And connect one of the probes. Coming off the meter to the wire

How often does a flame sensor need to be replaced?

Flame sensor lifespan



If you’ve just replaced the sensor or had a new furnace installed, you can expect the flame sensor to last for about five years. The average lifespan of a furnace is 15 to 30 years, so you can anticipate a flame sensor replacement once or twice over the course of your homeownership.

How much does it cost to replace a flame sensor on a furnace?

Flame Sensor



It stops your furnace from letting off large amounts of natural gas if it’s not working properly. If the sensor is bad, it won’t be able to sense heat and will turn the furnace off. The average cost to repair or replace a flame sensor is between $75–$200.

How often do you need to clean flame sensor in furnace?

The service life of a furnace is 10 to 20 years on average. This means you’ll have to replace a flame sensor once, twice or three times over the course of the furnace’s life. Having a bad flame sensor is completely normal–you just need to know how to properly identify when it’s gone bad so you can replace it on time.

What causes a dirty flame sensor?



It is a sensitive sensor so any type of dust or carbon buildup could cause it to malfunction. Most people have their furnaces in a basement or laundry area where there is excess dust in the air. This dust could stick to the sensor making it dirty and causing your furnace to shut down.

How do I know if my furnace needs cleaning?

5 Signs it’s Time for a Furnace Cleaning

  1. You’re Struggling to Get and Keep the Temperature You Want. Given that your furnace’s entire job is to warm your home, it’s frustrating when that isn’t happening. …
  2. Strange Odors from the Furnace. …
  3. Yellow or Orange Flame. …
  4. Strange Noises from the Furnace. …
  5. Reduced Indoor Air Quality.