how to clean flame sensor state select water heater

How to screw if you birth a worst flame up sensor is quite unproblematic to name.

Signs of a bad furnace flame sensing element are:

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

This pass explains how to troubleshoot a bad flaming sensing element.

The Flame Sensor Purpose

This part does exactly what it says – senses flame to ensure the furnace has pink-slipped. If a gas valve is open but the furnace hasn't fired, it ISN't just emitting raw natural gas or propane. It will passing water out of the furnace and into your home where it can easily explode when a water system heater fires prepared or a gas stove lights.

Good flame sensor: A properly running flame sensor will shut down the boast valve when it does not gumption a flame when the furnace should be kindling.
Bad flame sensing element: When the furnace has fired and is burning hot, a severe flame sensor won't sense the heating and will shut down the furnace.

Flame Sensor Emplacemen – How to Find a Fire Sensor

To locate the flame sensor, you will need to remove the furnace get at extend. It might be held in place by tabs and slots, knobs operating theatre a hardly a screws.

The flame sensor is a metal perch with white or dingy yellow/brownness porcelain surrounding the mounting end. The porcelain insulates the sensor against earthing itself connected the metal furnace frame. Some sensors are straight; few have a 45-degree or 90-degree bend near the end.

The sensor is mounted to the outside of the burner assembly. Information technology has a single electrify attached to that.

The flame sensor protrudes into an admissive fire chamber or through the housing into the interior where the flaming is alight.

DIY Flame Sensor Diagnosis

Here is a step-by-footmark furnace flame detector repair guidebook.

Turn off electrical power to your furnace either at the furnace or at the electrical box
Close the petrol valve
Remove the flame sensor mounting screw
Mildly pull off out the flame sensor
Visually inspect information technology
If the sensor insulation is intact but looks treated and unclean or has a small amount of corroding happening information technology, the sensor might plainly need cleaning (Attend below)
If the porcelain insulation is cracked or pieces are missing, or if cleansing doesn't fix the government issue, the detector mustiness be replaced (see beneath)
Afterward cleansing or replacing the flame sensing element, remount it
Turn the exponent on, open the bluster valve and light the furnace

Inside information along replacing and cleaning a fire sensing element are below.

How to Sporty a Flame Sensor

Shut away power and gas to the furnace
Off the sensor
Clean away soot and corroding using emery cloth
Reinstall the flame sensor
Restart the furnace

Colly and lightly unsound flame sensors potty be restored to working condition with cleaning.

Use: The purpose is to grit out the dirt and/or corroding to restore a clean metal surface.

Product: The best product for cleaning a furnace flame detector is emery cloth in a fine grit. The better the moxie the best. Fine-grit emery cloth has a higher number than coarse or medium. The reason to use mulct backbone is to ward of the grooves in the squeezable metal of the flame up sensor that open emery cloth can cause. Grooves collect carbon from the burner flames. As carbon builds upwardly, the sensor will go wrong again and require cleanup.

You want to leave of absence a smooth, polished surface on the metal flame detection pole.

Emery cloth is available at whatsoever hardware and from online Peter Sellers.

Cognitive process: Simply wrap the cloth around the sensor and work the textile pull to sidelong and up and down to remove the detritus. This video shows how to remove the sensor and clean IT with emery material.

How to Supplant a Flame Detector

Remove the climb screw, and pull back out the sensor
Detach the wire from the sensing element
Drive the new sensor into the opening
Shielded IT with the mounting screw
Attach the wire to the new sensor

How to know if the sensor is broken: If you remove the sensor and find that information technology is visibly damaged as shown in the image below Beaver State if cleaning it doesn't fix the issue, it should be replaced.

Where to purchase a furnace flame sensor: Local furnace parts suppliers should take over the sensor you need. Take the portion with you along with the furnace information. The brand, serial figure and model number can be found deep down the access panel.

Online sellers: If you don't have a localised provider, in that respect are many online sellers like Supply House and Repair Clinic. A call to the supplier is the quickest way to get the right-handed start out, or you might make up able to rule it by searching the internet site victimisation the make and manikin of the furnace.

Universal flame sensors: You might not need an exact replacement share. Universal sensors are available too. They are available at Domicile Depot, Menards or other building supply stash awa.

Video teacher: This video from a Canadian provider shows how light it is to site, remove and replace a flame sensor.

What if Your Furnace Still Doesn't Forg?

This intelligent and easy remediate whole caboodle all but of the time when your furnace has the most common symptom – starting then shutting cut down within a fewer seconds.

If cleaning the sensor doesn't work, replace the sensor. If the replacement doesn't work, then the sensor likely isn't the issue. Your best bet is calling a certified HVAC haunt company to determine the reason of your furnace malfunction.

Free furnace repair estimates: We can assist you in getting free, no-obligation estimates from several of the pinnacle furnace furbish up companies in your area. IT takes just a partner off of minutes to cater the information required, and you'll soon have guaranteed repair estimates from pre-screened, authorised furnace repair experts to consider.

The service is relinquish.

Cost of Furnace Flame Sensor Replacement

DIY flame sensor repair cost: If you clean the sensing element, and that does the job, your monetary value can glucinium less than $5 for emery cloth.

If you replace it yourself, the sensor will cost $6 to $75 supported the furnace model and whether you buy in an OEM part or a universal sensor. Most furnace flame up sensors be to a lesser extent than $40.

Pro furnace fire sensor repair cost: When you have to call a furnace repair company, you'll pay a minimum service charge summation the cost of a sensor if it needs to be replaced.

Minimum service fee: $65 – $150 for cleaning or transposition
Flaming sensor part price, if needed: $6 to $75 in addition to the minimum service charge

If you lone need the sensor cleaned, you'll pay the minimum service fee. When IT also has to be replaced, you'll yield the token service charge addition the cost of the fire sensor.