What causes a gas furnace not to stay lit?

Insufficient airflow into the furnace



For the burners to ignite, they need airflow. The airflow into the furnace comes from the blower fan that draws air through the return air ducts. But if this airflow is choked off because of a clogged furnace filter or faulty blower, the burners may not be able to stay on for long.

Why does my furnace light and then shut off?





The flame sensor does exactly what it sounds like, it senses when the flame of the furnace is on and sends a message to the control board to start blowing warm air. If dirt or dust covers the sensor, the flame isn’t detected, and the furnace shuts down.

Why does my furnace turn off after a few minutes?

A common reason a furnace short cycles is because the heat exchanger, the part that heats your air, is getting too hot due to a lack of airflow. Once the heat exchanger overheats, it trips the high limit switch, which shuts the furnace down to protect it.

Where is the reset button on a York furnace?

Locate the reset button on the furnace and press it to reset the furnace. It is usually located inside the blower compartment on the side of the blower motor. Be cautious as the housing may be hot. If the button is popped up, press it down.

Why does my flame sensor keep going out?

As with any piece of equipment a simple reason could be that dirty flame sensor just goes bad. However a more common reason is that it is just dirty. It is a sensitive sensor so any type of dust or carbon buildup could cause it to malfunction.

Do all gas furnaces have a flame sensor?





Not every furnace has a flame sensor. If your furnace has a spark ignitor and not a flame sensor rod, then that ignitor is acting as a sensor. HOW IT WORKS: The control board sends electricity to the flame sensor.

Why does my furnace keep shutting off after a few seconds?

So, if your furnace keeps turning off and on too quickly, your thermostat might be malfunctioning or broken. There are several things that could be causing your thermostat to not work properly. The wiring could be old and need replacing, it might need new batteries, or it could be the location of your thermostat.

Why does my furnace turns off before reaching temperature?

A lack of airflow can cause your furnace to stop heating before reaching the set temperature. Ensure there is nothing impeding airflow around your furnace, within your furnace and through your ducts. Check that registers are open, no ducts are damaged or crushed and replace your furnace filter.

How do you reset the pilot light on a York furnace?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: First set the gas valve to the pilot. Position hold down the bypass button to let gas into the pilot. Keep holding the button and use a barbecue lighter to insert a flame over the pilot.

Do all furnace blower motors have a reset button?



All furnaces are equipped with a reset button. They are generally red or yellow and are located inside the blower compartment. The reset button is a safety feature that will shut down the furnace when a problem is detected, often a hot or overheating furnace, before it trips the circuit breaker.

How do I reset my YORK heating system?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You're gonna come to a light switch it can be located on your left side of the furnace. Or on the right this happens to be on the right side.

Where is the pilot light on a York furnace?

Near the bottom of your furnace is a switch that normally says “Pilot,” “On” and “Off.” Find this switch and turn it to the “Off” position.

How do you restart a gas furnace?



How Do You Reset a Furnace? The Ultimate Guide

  1. Find the switch mounted on or near the furnace and turn the power off. …
  2. Wait about 10 seconds.
  3. Turn the switch or breaker back on and check the furnace to see that it has power again.


How do you reset the pilot light on a furnace?

How Can I Restart My Pilot Light?

  1. Step 1: Turn off your furnace. …
  2. Step 2: Locate your gas valve. …
  3. Step 3: Hold down the red button. …
  4. Step 4: Light the pilot light. …
  5. Step 5: Let go of the button. …
  6. Step 6: Turn your gas back on. …
  7. Step 7: Turn your furnace back on.


Why would pilot light go out?



Some of the possible serious reasons for pilot lights to go out include loose or broken gas valves, thermocouples or heat exchangers, faulty venting, low gas pressure, or high winds. If you believe there is a serious problem, don’t hesitate to contact a professional.

Can I relight my own pilot light?

If your pilot light goes out, your furnace will not be able to produce heat because its burners will not ignite. Often, homeowners can relight the pilot themselves.

Should the pilot light always be on in a gas furnace?

Should The Pilot Light Always Be On In A Gas Furnace? Yes, if the furnace is in operation, the pilot light will need to be on for it to be functional. However, some homeowners turn off their furnace’s pilot light in the warmer seasons when the gas furnaces aren’t in use.

Should you turn off furnace pilot light in summer?

Most modern mid to high efficiency gas furnaces no longer have a pilot light. It’s been replaced by an electronic ignition. As a result, the furnace will not need to continuously burn gas in order to keep a pilot light going, making it unnecessary to turn off your furnace for the summer.