www.hvactechgroup.com - forums

General Forums => General => Topic started by: S2727 on January 11, 2022, 01:25:47 PM

Title: flame sensor
Post by: S2727 on January 11, 2022, 01:25:47 PM
Hi
My furnace doesnt start properly and I think I need to clean the flame sensor . 3 years ago the furnace didnt start at all , and when I touched the sensor ,it just felt apart , so I changed the sensor , and it did work . Now the furnace sometimes starts ok , sometimes it takes time before it starts . I saw a video on YouTube how people clean it . Mine is Honewell  . How do I clean it , without breaking it ?
thanks
Title: Re: flame sensor
Post by: Admin on January 11, 2022, 04:11:12 PM
I think you may be confusing the ignitor and the flame sensor.  If you replaced the ignitor 3 years ago it should not have failed so soon.

A dirty flame sensor would cause the burners to go out within a minute after starting.  You just remove it and clean it with some steel wool.
Title: Re: flame sensor
Post by: S2727 on January 11, 2022, 05:22:15 PM
You are right, it was an ignitor flame assembly, does it contain and flame sensor? I don't know why, but sometimes it doesn't start, or works for long time with flame on and of
Title: Re: flame sensor
Post by: S2727 on January 11, 2022, 06:15:29 PM
I opened it and and the furnace worked in normal mode, and it did work for about 15 minutes, but according to
Ecobee, it sometimes works more then 1 hr before it reaches the set point.
I recently changed my  Honeywell thermostat to Ecobee.
Any ideas why it works sometimes ok sometimes not.
Thanks
Title: Re: flame sensor
Post by: Admin on January 11, 2022, 08:45:53 PM
What model of furnace do you have and are there any LED lights that flash a code when there is a problem.  Sometimes this light is on the gas valve or control board.
Title: Re: flame sensor
Post by: S2727 on January 12, 2022, 08:36:18 AM
I had to change my thermostat back to Honeywell  , somehow Ecobee didn't work on my furnace. It seems works ok now , but still takes time before the start . I can hear multiply clicks . No, there are not any leds , old model, almost 23 years old . Should I try Nest ?
Title: Re: flame sensor
Post by: NoDIY on January 12, 2022, 06:40:47 PM
It's not a thermostat problem.
Does it have a separate flame rod(sensor) the ignitor at one end of the burner manifold and flame rod at opposite end?

Some old models did flame rectification through the ignitor only.. Many had issues and had conversion kits available to add in a flame rod to improve reliability.
Post a model number for us.