How To Fix Ignition Lockout On Furnace

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In colder climates, nothing'south more worrying than facing a furnace lockout. Information technology'southward cold in the business firm, and yous tin can't seem to figure what to do. Where would you expect in the first place to solve the problem? Furnaces tin can lockout a for a few reasons. So, if you're wondering what to exercise, we've researched the matter for you lot!

Two types of lockouts tin can happen with a furnace—a soft and a hard lockout. Soft lockouts refer to the situation where your furnace will let you attempt to start it again. If it fails to ignite, the furnace will go into a difficult lockout. In this case, a manual reset volition exist required, which an HVAC professional should do. Furnaces tin become into lockout considering of iv reasons:

Flame sensors
Faulty igniters
Obstruction in vents
Muddy air filters

Of grade, there are more details to talk over. Now that y'all know the iii causes of a furnace lockout, you'll need to also learn most the adjacent steps to take. Additionally, if you have a hard lockout, you lot'll need to know what y'all tin do to reset the furnace. It isn't a complex result if yous go in with an idea of what to do. To learn more about the situation, proceed reading ahead.

A repairman working inside a home, repairing a furnace, Furnace Lockout - What To Do?

Why Does My Furnace Proceed Going To Lockout?

Before we get into the details, y'all'll about likely desire to know why your furnace is locking out. In some cases, your furnace won't allow you to plow information technology on again. In this state of affairs, you're likely facing a hard lockout.

Even so, if you didn't repeatedly try turning it on, in that location are a few more attempts earlier it goes into a hard lockout.

When you're still allowed attempts at turning it on, you're experiencing a soft lockout, meaning you should avoid trying again—or you or an HVAC professional will accept to perform a manual reset.

If you're wondering how many attempts you have, it will depend on the furnace. In general, there volition exist 3 attempts. Depending on your state of affairs, you'll take one or two more tries earlier it requires a reset.

Now permit's get into the four reasons for the lockout:

Flame sensors
Faulty igniters
Obstruction in vents
Dirty air filters

Flame Sensors

The showtime component that might give yous problems is the flame sensors. If you don't know what they exercise, flame sensors are an essential safety measure for your furnace. It works by detecting a flame's presence.

During the combustion process, the sensor sends out a current to detect the presence of rut. If it detects a flame, the operation will continue. However, if it detects goose egg for more than 10 seconds, it will close down. It will let you to attempt to plough the furnace on two more times.

In one case information technology fails to detect a flame three times, it will shut downward the command lath and lock out the system. Then, if all components in the furnace are in working order, a faulty sensor is what could exist preventing you from turning it on.

Read more than: Do Electric Furnaces Accept Flame Sensors?

The Fix

Depending on how often you maintain the furnace, it could be that it needs a cleaning. If you lot haven't kept upwardly with cleaning, it could have become oxidized. In other cases, information technology will have a carbon buildup. Regardless, both will inhibit a sensor'southward ability to work correctly.

There are few signs to check for if a sensor has gone bad. Check the burners of your furnace. If they go out after a few seconds, information technology can indicate the sensor isn't working correctly.

The 2d check to perform is visual observation. The sensor is a short and thin metal rod. Here are 3 signs to await for:

Covered in soot—if you see soot covering the flame sensor, you demand to clean it.
The tip—once you've cleared the sensor but the tip is completely black, you'll demand to call an HVAC professional to clean information technology upwardly.
Porcelain casing—cracks on the porcelain casing hateful you'll need to supervene upon the sensor. As some advise , the porcelain casing acts as an insulator. It keeps the sensor from getting grounded onto the subclass of the furnace.

Faulty Igniter

If the sensors are non the problem, we'll take to observe the component it keeps in check. The igniter sparks the combustion process. If it doesn't produce a spark, at that place's no flame. With no flame, the sensors will shut downwards the system.

In this case, you lot'll have to bank check for whatsoever problems with the igniter. The first way is through visual ascertainment. If the component is singed or croaky, it might accept burned out.

To confirm this is the case, you'll accept to remove the igniter from the furnace. You can do and then past shutting off the furnace. And then, you can remove the igniter itself. Make certain non to touch the metal part.

From hither, perform a continuity test. You volition need the help of a multimeter.

The Fix

Once yous've tested for continuity, yous'll know what to do adjacent. If it shows a continuous electrical path, the igniter is non the problem. However, if it shows no continuity, it will demand to exist replaced. For additional help, here'due south a YouTube video on how to test the igniter:

Dirty Air Filters and Obstruction in the Vents

Should the beginning ii parts above be in working lodge, you'll have to move to the air filters and vents. This state of affairs volition focus more on a component called the limit switch. It'due south in charge of monitoring fuel force per unit area and the internal temperature of the heat exchanger.

Regarding furnace lockouts, if the internal temperature of the heat exchanger is too loftier, the switch closes. In other words, it will force your furnace to get into lockout mode. To maintain temperature, the heat exchanger needs adequate airflow.

And so, you'll demand to clean or replace dirty air filters. As some propose , you'll demand to change one-2 inch filters every one-3 months. For iii-4 inch air filters, you'll demand to supercede them every 6-nine months. In addition, check the vents to make sure nothing is blocking the airflow.

How Practice I Reset My Furnace?

An Hvac personnel adjusting or fixing the inner wirings of the electric furnace

Regardless of what you might detect, y'all'll demand to reset the furnace if you want information technology to work again. Kickoff by shutting off the power. Depending on how sometime your furnace is, you might not have to practise this step. Locate the switch on your furnace. Information technology looks like a typical calorie-free switch. Flip it off.

Now motility on to the furnace'southward breakers. Go to your home's fuse box and turn off all electricity for the room. From hither, you lot can move on to accessing the airplane pilot calorie-free. There will exist an access panel that you will demand to remove.

Plough the gas control valve off and let it dissipate for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, turn it dorsum on. As some HVAC professionals propose , exercise not allow information technology build upwards longer than 5 minutes.

Depending on your furnace, yous might take to reignite the pilot calorie-free using a barbecue lighter. New models will not accept to do this. At present, y'all tin become ahead and turn on the power and the gas supply to the furnace. Finally, yous can hit the reset button—usually cerise or yellow—for xxx seconds.

If everything is in working social club, information technology should operate correctly. Notwithstanding, if it's even so giving you issues, consult an HVAC professional's help.

How Many Times Can I Hit the Reset Button on My Furnace?

The reset push button is a condom measure for the furnace. So, you should also treat it as 1. In other words, it should non be pressed multiple times. As some suggest , yous shouldn't striking the reset button more than twice. Doing so can consequence in an explosion for oil furnaces.

How Long Does It Have for a Furnace To Reset?

If you know what you're doing, resetting the furnace should take around 10 minutes. Otherwise, it could take up to half an hour to do the whole procedure.

What Would Cause a Furnace Not To Kick On?

Of class, you lot might come across a situation where the steps above won't work. In other cases, everything is working as intended, but the furnace is withal non kicking on. What would cause this?

You'll need to check other components outside of the furnace. Some problems that could exist the cause are:

The thermostat
The power to the furnace
Condensation problems
Blower motor issues
Insufficient fuel supply

At some point in the troubleshooting, it might be a wise choice to seek the guidance of professionals. This way, they can accurately pinpoint what is causing your furnace headaches.

Final Takeaway

Worker troubleshooting furnace problems, How Big Is An Electric Furnace?

Having a home with no estrus in the cold winter months is a problem that needs to be addressed immediately. Of course, you can troubleshoot it yourself. But, should you fail to diagnose the issue, it might be time to get a professional's help. Regardless, we promise you constitute the information higher up helpful.

Before you become, do you need aid resetting a specific model of a furnace? We have some information on resetting a Trane electric furnace. To acquire more, check out this post: How To Reset A Trane Electric Furnace

Do yous own a Goodman furnace? If information technology has problem igniting, we can assist notice the cause. If you lot'd similar to learn more than, check out this mail: Goodman Furnace Does Non Ignite - What Could Be Wrong

Until next time - skilful luck troubleshooting!