Scheduling your annual furnace maintenance helps keep your heating system operating up to thirty percent more efficient and helps extend the life of your furnace. But things could still stop working, and when they do, you may feel like you’re always hearing about something else.
This time it’s your blower, next time it’s your control board. Now you need to replace your flame sensor.
A flame sensor is an important safety feature 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 correct level of micro amps, the furnace will stop giving the system fuel to prevent an explosion.
Over time, if the flame sensor is not cleaned appropriately, oxidation or carbon buildup can interfere with the flame sensor’s ability to function properly, which can result in a malfunction of the furnace.
The way to diagnose if an unclean flame sensor is to blame for a furnace malfunction is to take a micro amp draw reading, which a professional furnace technician can provide you. If a dirty flame sensor is the culprit, the technician will clean the sensor with steel wool. If dirt was the single factor, we will see a much higher amp reading. If the reading doesn’t change, the technician will continue with the heating system repair diagnostic process.
If you aren’t confident your heating system is going to make it through these last few weeks of winter, give Parker Pearce Service Experts a call and we’ll come out and perform a full furnace maintenance or a free in-home estimate on a new heating system.
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There’s no reason to skip your seasonal maintenance that saves energy and helps ensure your air conditioner and heater will work reliably all season long.
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