How To Clean Furnace Sensor

This is a safety mechanism.

How to clean furnace sensor.

Keeping the sensor clean is simple and requires just a few tools when you follow these easy steps. Lennox gas furnaces contain an important safety component known as a flame sensor. Remove this using the screwdriver. However the furnace still shuts off after only a few seconds of the burners operating.

To clean a furnace start by turning off the furnace then removing the access panel on the outside of the furnace and inspecting the filter for dirt or damage every 3 4 months. Step 2 clean the sensor. If cleaning your flame sensor did not work it s possible that the sensor is broken and that the furnace is operating as it should. I tried both cleaning my furnace s flame sensor and later installing a new flame sensor.

If your furnace flame sensor has become dirty with build up the furnace won t function properly. How to clean a furnace flame sensor. As long as the component senses the flame it sends a message to the main furnace control board telling it to keep the main burner on and the gas valve open. Step 1 turn off the power.

The rheem manufacturing company produces a line of water heaters air conditioners and furnaces for both homes and businesses. If the filter is dirty replace it or clean it with soap and water if it s not disposable. However the furnace still shuts off after only a few seconds of the burners operating. If the flame sensor can t sense the flame because it s too dirty the furnace may shut itself off.

First you will need a 1 4 inch hex screwdriver or even a wrench. The furnace door can be opened easily and once opened you can access the internal part of the furnace. When the sensor becomes blocked with debris the heater will not work properly. A burner with no flame may release gas into the air.

You may need to replace the sensor in which case you can follow these same instructions with the exception that no sanding is involved. Shut off the power. The sensor might have dirt and soot deposits on its body and it might have turned greenish. Just remove one sensor and replace it with a new sensor.

Get a small piece of sandpaper emery cloth or even steel wool as well as several pieces of clean paper towels.