No. However, they perform the same function, which makes many people confuse it with being the same thing. For example, a flame sensor is found in furnaces with an electronic controller.
What does a flame sensor do on a gas furnace?
The flame sensor is a safety device designed to prevent the unnecessary flow of gas from the furnace unit. It's essentially a confirmation mechanism. When a furnace's main burners ignite, the sensor picks up the heat and signals the main furnace control board that it's ok to allow that main burner to stay on.
What is the difference between different types of flame sensors?
Differences are few among flame sensors. Most look like straight pencils, though some–such as ProTech models–are L shaped. Beyond that, the only fundamental differences are lengths of the sensor itself and the porcelain housing. The actual replacement of the flame sensor is very easy, as it's just a rod held in place by a screw or two.
What are the symptoms of a bad flame sensor?
This is the classic symptom of a bad flame sensor. A faulty sensor doesn’t detect the heat that turning on a furnace makes, and subsequently closes the gas valve, shutting down the furnace. We see this as furnace short cycling in a few seconds.
How to tell if your furnace flame sensor is out of order?
With the full ability to detect heat due to a layer of corrosion or dirt on the sensor, you will often see your furnace short cycling. As you can see, the easiest way to tell if your furnace flame sensor is out of order is to detect short cycling.
Is there a difference in flame sensors?
There are different types of furnace flame sensors, but they all work in a similar way. They consist of small metal rods that are powered by electricity.
What are the three main types of flame sensors?
Optical flame sensors are divided into three groups depending on which range of the total radiation band they are designed to detect: Visible light sensors. Infrared sensors. Ultraviolet sensors.
Can you run a furnace without the flame sensor?
Without a flame sensor, your furnace will keep emitting gas even when there's nothing to ignite it, resulting in hazardous gas buildup. If your flame sensor is dirty or faulty, it will automatically shut down the heating unit if it doesn't detect a flame.
How often should you replace flame sensor on furnace?
The service life of a furnace is 10 to 20 years on average. This means you'll have to replace a flame sensor once, twice or three times over the course of the furnace's life. Having a bad flame sensor is completely normal–you just need to know how to properly identify when it's gone bad so you can replace it on time.
How do I know if I need a new flame sensor?
6 Signs of a Malfunctioning Gas Furnace Flame SensorYellow Burner Flames. Open up or glance through the peephole of your gas furnace to see the color of the flames firing up in the burner. ... Rusted Flue Lines. ... High Utility Bills. ... Water Leaks. ... Old Age. ... Constant Thermostat Adjustments.
Can you replace flame sensor?
Flame sensors and thermocouples are simple parts that wear out and fail over time, and most are easy to replace.
How do you test a flame detector?
Point at the Flame detector within the test range and on the central axis of the cone of vision of the detector. Press the switch and wait until the Flame detector is activated. For IR or UV/IR detectors the switch should be intermittent operated in a 1 second pulse (0.5 sec on, 0.5 sec off).
How many types of flame detectors are there?
There are four primary optical flame-sensing technologies in use today: ultraviolet (UV), ultraviolet/infrared (UV/IR), multi-spectrum infrared (MSIR), and visual flame imaging.
How do I know if my furnace flame sensor is bad?
Signs of a bad flame sensor Furnace burners turn on but go out after a few seconds. Soot and other debris is covering the end of the sensor (cleaning the flame sensor may fix this issue rather than a flame sensor replacement) Tip of flame sensor is black. Porcelain/sensor casing is cracked.
How do I bypass flame sensor temporarily?
But how to bypass flame sensor on furnace? You can do this by removing the furnace's access cover, identifying where the flame sensor is, then disconnecting the furnace from the power source. After that, switch off the gas control valve, remove the flame sensor, and check where the problem is.
What symptoms would a furnace with a dirty flame sensor exhibit?
Signs of a bad furnace flame sensor are: The furnace lights but then shuts down after a few seconds (short cycles) The porcelain on the flame sensor is cracked. The flame sensor is sooty or corroded.
Should I clean or replace flame sensor?
Because your furnace's safety is of the utmost importance, it is always better to be safe than sorry and replace the flame sensor if it is malfunctioning. Even if the flame sensor is in proper working order, it is advised that you replace it every two or three years as a preventative measure.
How much does it cost to replace a flame sensor on a furnace?
Flame Sensor If the sensor is bad, it won't be able to sense heat and will turn the furnace off. The average cost to repair or replace a flame sensor is between $75–$200.
Can you clean a flame sensor?
0:334:00Proper Cleaning of a Furnace Flame Sensor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAs far as cleaning the sensor itself. There the factory recommended way of cleaning them is eitherMoreAs far as cleaning the sensor itself. There the factory recommended way of cleaning them is either with a piece of steel wool or actually scraping them with a straight edged knife.
What causes a flame sensor to go bad?
It is a sensitive sensor so any type of dust or carbon buildup could cause it to malfunction. Most people have their furnaces in a basement or laundry area where there is excess dust in the air. This dust could stick to the sensor making it dirty and causing your furnace to shut down.
What can I use to clean my flame sensor?
1:022:39How To Clean a Flame Sensor - Furnace Troubleshooting - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow there's the flame sensor. And all we have to do to clean this is just to take a little piece ofMoreNow there's the flame sensor. And all we have to do to clean this is just to take a little piece of Emery paper. And sand it slightly.
What is the difference between a thermocouple and a flame sensor?
Thermocouples are used on standing pilot furnaces that have pilot lights. The thermocouple sits near the pilot light and gauges whether it's working properly, while the flame sensor detects that the burners are lit once they start to emit gas and the igniters light them up.
Are furnace thermocouples universal?
Universal Gas Thermocouple includes universal adapter fittings and is compatible with screw-in, push-in or clamp-type pilot burners. It is designed for gas furnaces and 30 mV systems. The element is built for reliability and long life.
How many types of detectors are there?
The four types of fire detectors are heat, optical (ionisation), photoelectric, and ionisation/photoelectric. The differences in each of these are how they detect fires, heat being from temperature, and the other three being from smoke. The best detector is the combination ionisation/photoelectric.
What is flame sensor and function?
A flame sensor is a crucial safety component on your gas heating system. During the ignition cycle, your gas furnace goes through a process where a spark or a hot surface ignitor will actually ignite the gas. As the gas is ignited, the flame sensor creates a current of electricity.
Why are flame sensors used?
A flame detector is a type of sensor that can detect and respond to the presence of a flame. These detectors have the ability to identify smokeless liquid and smoke that can create open fire. For example, in boiler furnaces flame detectors are widely used, as a flame detector can detect heat, smoke, and fire.
What is IR flame sensor?
The IR flame sensor is used to detect the presence of fire or other infrared source (Flame or a light source of a wavelength in the range of 760 nm to 1100 nm can be detected). It can be used in fire fighting robot or heat seeking robot.