Receiving your seasonal furnace maintenance helps keep your furnace working up to 30 percent more efficient and helps extend the life of your system. But things can still go wrong, and when they do, you might feel like you’re always hearing about something else.
This time it’s your blower, next time it’s your control board. Now you have to have your flame sensor replaced.
By the way – what is a flame sensor?
A flame sensor is an important safety component on your gas heating system. During the ignition cycle, your gas furnace undergoes a process where either a hot surface ignitor or a spark will ignite the gas. Once the gas is ignited, the flame sensor generates a current of electricity. This is quantified in micro amps. If the furnace’s control board does not read the correct level of micro amps, the furnace will quit giving the system fuel to prevent an explosion.
Over time, if the flame sensor is not adequately cleaned, oxidation or carbon buildup can restrict the flame sensor’s ability to function properly, which can result in a malfunction of the furnace.
The way to establish if a dirty flame sensor is causing a furnace malfunction is to take a micro amp draw reading, which an expert furnace technician can provide you. If a dirty flame sensor is the guilty party, the technician will clean the sensor with steel wool. If dirt was the sole factor, we will see a significantly higher amp reading. If the reading does not change, the technician will proceed with the furnace repair diagnostic process.
If you aren’t confident your furnace is going to make it through these last few weeks of winter, give Comfortech 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 HVAC system.