What cause my furnace to go into lockout?
Why does furnace go into lockout?
- Blockage in air filter
- Dirty burner
- Clogged vent pipe
What does "lock out" mean on a furnace?
What Does "Lock Out" Mean on a Furnace?
- No Ignition. Common causes of furnace lock outs are a defective igniter or defective flame sensor. ...
- No Flame. If the igniter does activate but the flame sensor doesn't report the presence of flame within a few seconds, the furnace stops the ignition sequence.
- Limit Switches. ...
- Resetting Furnace. ...
How to fix the ignitor problem on a furnace?
What causes a bad furnace ignitor?
- Inspect the circuit breakers. When you notice a problem with the furnace, inspect your home’s circuit breakers. ...
- Test the gas lines. Check other gas-powered appliances in your home to ensure the gas lines are functional. ...
- Check the furnace drip pan. ...
- Dirty air filter. ...
- Age of furnace ignitor. ...
- Too much power. ...
- Dirty furnace ignitor. ...
What does "ignition lockout" mean?
Ignition lockout basically means the complete shut-off of the furnace's power. This shut-off of power doesn't occur without any reason. A furnace has certain types of sensors installed inside.
What causes a furnace lockout?
If fuel pressure is too low or if the temperature in the heat exchanger is too high, the switch closes. This tells the furnace to shut down and go into lockout mode. Sometimes a dirty air filter can reduce air flow through the furnace to a point where the heat exchanger limit switch trips.
How do I reset my electronic ignition furnace?
How to Reset an Electric FurnaceFirst, turn off the power supply to the furnace by turning off the breaker in the circuit box.Locate the reset button on the furnace and press it to reset the furnace. ... If the button is popped up, press it down.Return the cover to the blower compartment and turn the power on.
What causes oil furnace to lockout?
When an oil boiler detects that there is a fault in the system (usually via the flame sensor) it will automatically lockout or shut down. It does this when it senses that the fault would cause damage to internal components and/or present a safety risk if the boiler were to continue operating.
How do I fix the lockout on my Trane furnace?
High Temperature Limit Lockout If the error light on the Trane is flashing four times, lower the thermostat to just above air temperature, and press the red "Reset" button. If the problem occurs again, disconnect power, and contact a qualified service professional for help.
Where is furnace reset button?
Locate the reset button on the furnace and press it to reset the furnace. It is usually located inside the blower compartment on the side of the blower motor. Be cautious as the housing may be hot. If the button is popped up, press it down.
What causes a gas furnace not to ignite?
If your gas furnace initiates the start cycle but does not fire up, it's likely because of a faulty, damaged, or dirty ignitor/sensor. This is a very common furnace problem—you can try to clean the sensor and replace the ignitor.
How do I reset my oil burner lockout?
Hold the reset button down for 15 seconds. When the reset light goes out, release the button. The control will reset.
How long does it take for a furnace to reset?
Press and hold the reset button for about 30 seconds. Raise your thermostat to the desired temperature. This should ignite your furnace. If there's no ignition, then it's time to call a professional.
Is there a reset button on a Trane furnace?
Turn off the power and open up the control panel to access the reset buttons on these models. Next, lift the cover to the blower compartment, and you should see the reset button sitting next to the blower motor and blower wheel.
Where is the ignitor on my furnace?
1:5213:08Furnace Not Igniting - How to Check and Replace Ignitor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipQuick how to check the hot surface igniter. And how to replace one so mine you can see that littleMoreQuick how to check the hot surface igniter. And how to replace one so mine you can see that little shiny stuff right there that's my igniter right there it'll generally be behind your burners.
How do you reset a furnace ignitor?
Once the power is off you can remove the burner door to reveal the ignitor. Turn this to “off” and leave it off for at least 5 minutes. After this time, turn the ignitor back to the “on” position and replace the burner door. You can then turn the power source back on and restart the furnace.
Can you manually light a gas furnace with electronic ignition?
If your furnace is equipped with an electronic igniter, you cannot light the furnace manually. However, you may be able to get the furnace working by turning off the igniter and resetting it. Find the paperwork for your particular furnace to locate the reset button or switch.
How can I tell if my furnace ignitor is bad?
Here are a few indications that you have a faulty ignitor.No Cold Air. ... The Furnace Won't Come On. ... The Furnace Suddenly Stops Blowing. ... Starts, Then Stops, Then Starts Again. ... Tripping the Breaker More Than Once. ... I Hear the Click, But Nothing Happens. ... Flame Sensor Problems. ... Short Circuit.More items...•
Can hear your furnace click on but it does not fire up?
You Have a Faulty Ignition Sensor (Pilot Light) The pilot light or ignition sensor is usually the most common issue when your furnace will not ignite. This is typically the problem if you can hear your furnace click on but it does not fire up.
1. Defective Flame Sensor
A defective flame sensor is a prime suspect when it comes to a furnace ignition lockout. Here, the sensor is responsible for checking if there is a fire once the furnace starts up. Therefore, if the sensor malfunctions, it won’t detect the flame.
2. Faulty Igniter
A faulty igniter is one of the common culprits when you’re facing a furnace ignition lockout in your HVAC system. If the igniter isn’t functioning properly, the flame sensor will not detect the fire within the first few seconds of start-up, and subsequently shut the machine down. After a few retries, the furnace will go into lockout.
3. Limit Switch
Dirty air filters attached to your gas furnace can also trigger an ignition lockout. In this case, a limit switch that monitors fuel and air pressure gets tripped due to poor airflow and circulation. Although this is harder to spot, modern HVAC systems come with status lights which indicate which sensor is failing during a failed ignition.
Conclusion
Regardless of how you got into a furnace ignition lockout, a reset is mandatory. The best way to reset your furnace is to power it off and on again after about half an hour. If that does not work, you will have to get in touch with HVAC maintenance professionals and follow their instructions from there.
What is a lockout on a gas furnace?
If one of these sensors detects an unsafe condition, the furnace controller shuts off fuel and power to the unit to prevent unsafe operation, which is known as a lockout.
Why does my furnace go into lockout?
Gas furnaces with pilot lights will go into lockout if the pilot light goes out or if it fails to light up the main burner.
What happens when a furnace sensor is locked out?
If one of the sensors reports an unsafe condition, the furnace controller shuts off fuel and power to prevent unsafe operation. This condition is known as lock out. Your furnace normally will remain in the locked-out state until you manually reset it.
How to prevent lockouts in furnace?
You should regularly clean or replace your igniter and flame sensor, clean or change your air filter, and make sure your vent pipe is clean and not obstructed by debris.
What happens if the furnace controller doesn't activate?
If the igniter doesn't activate within a few seconds, the furnace controller stops the ignition sequence. In most furnace models, the controller will retry the ignition sequence twice more before going into lock out.
Why does my furnace shut down?
If fuel pressure is too low, or if the temperature in the heat exchanger is too high, the switch closes. This tells the furnace to shut down and go into lock out mode. Sometimes a dirty air filter can reduce air flow through the furnace to a point where the heat exchanger limit switch trips.
What happens if the flame sensor doesn't work?
If the igniter does activate but the flame sensor doesn't report the presence of flame within a few seconds, the furnace stops the ignition sequence. It will try twice more for ignition but if the flame sensor doesn't report flame, the furnace goes into lockout.
How can you fix an ignition lockout on your furnace?
The specific procedure to get your furnace out will vary depending on who is responsible. Here’s what you can do before resetting your furnace:
What causes furnace ignition locking out?
The majority of furnaces that go into ignition lockout are caused by problems with flame sensors, igniters or limit switches. Here are some of the most common causes of lockouts.
What is the difference in a hard lockout and a soft lockout?
As we’ve already explained, your furnace controller will stop the ignition sequence and prevent unsafe operation if the sensor doesn’t detect the flame within a set time period. This semi-shutdown is known as a soft lockout, and you will be able to attempt to start the furnace again, usually two more times.
What does it mean when a furnace is locked out?
Ignition lockout basically means the complete shut-off of the furnace’s power. This shut-off of power doesn’t occur without any reason. A furnace has certain types of sensors installed inside. When any of these sensors identify any inconvenience or an unsafe condition, it sends a signal to the furnace controller.
Why is my ignition lockout the same as the lockout due to retries?
In terms of cause and solution, Ignition lockout due to recycles is the same as the lockout due to retries. The root cause for both is a dirty flame sensor.
How can the safety lockout be reset?
The simplest way of resetting the safety lockout is to set the thermostat below the room temperature.
Why does my furnace lock out?
A defective flame sensor is a prominent reason for such lockouts. The purpose of this sensor is to detect flame once you start the furnace. However, if this sensor is somehow broken or dirty, it can’t properly identify the flame and send a false signal that will in turn stop the ignition sequence.
What does it mean when your furnace shows an error code?
Are you worried about your furnace? It’s normal to freak out when your furnace shows error codes such as “Ignition lockout due to retries ”. If you don’t know how to deal with this error code, it can destroy your furnace. You definitely don’t want that.
What happens if the ignitor does not get activated?
If the ignitor does not get activated within seconds of turning your device on, the flame will identify this absence. And just like the previous point, the sensor will send a signal to turn off the device.
Why is my blower motor not working?
Solution: There are a few things that can be the reason for this issue. Dirty filler, incorrect blower speed setting, faulty duct system, faulty blow er motor are the typical reasons for this issue.
How to reset a furnace after lockout?
Though lockout mode errors and resets do vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, most use a simple reset procedure that involves turning power off to the furnace for thirty seconds or longer and turning it back. The interrupted power supply clears the lockout and will allow the unit to attempt normal operation again. However, some manufacturers have different or multiple lockout reset procedures. For example, some furnaces may be reset from lockout by reducing the call for heat setting on the thermostat for twenty-thirty seconds. Finally, some furnaces will reset themselves from lockout after a period of one or three hours has passed. Considering each manufacturer utilizes a specific lockout restoration process, it is wise to refer to your owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer directly.
Why is my furnace locked out?
Another common problem that can cause a furnace lockout is a dirty flame sensor. The flame sensor comes into contact with the flame, and it is quite common for debris to buildup on it. In fact, most annual furnace inspections involve a technician cleaning the flame sensor as part of the preventative service visit.
What happens if a furnace drain pipe is plugged?
If the condensate drain pipe becomes plugged, the furnace may detect a buildup of condensate in the secondary portion of the heat exchanger/drain box and actuate a pressure switch that disables the furnace for safety. All furnaces need to have adequate ventilation and a dirty air filter can cause a system lockout to occur.
How long does it take for a furnace to reset after lockout?
Finally, some furnaces will reset themselves from lockout after a period of one or three hours has passed.
What to consider before a lockout reset?
Conditions to Consider Before Performing a Lockout Reset. If the controller on your furnace has detected an unsafe operating condition, or failure , you should first remedy the problem before performing a lockout reset. The reason for this is simple – your safety.
Why does my furnace stop working?
Occasionally a defective blower door safety switch can cause the furnace to stop working. We’ve encountered a number of situations where manually pressing and releasing the safety switch was enough to get the furnace back up and running again. However, this fix is not common and often requires that the switch be replaced.
Why is my PVC vent blocked?
Though people using the PVC vent screens sold in our store are less likely to encounter this problem, others with wide open vents are more likely to suffer from occasional blockages caused by leaves, animals and insects. Ice may also cause a blockage, which is normally an indication of improperly sloped PVC vent pipes.
