E5
Kelvinator
Flame Sense Loss / Flame Signal Weak
Furnace displays E5 and shuts down after a few seconds of burner operation
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Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
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Possible Causes
Contaminated flame sensor rod, Poor burner ground connection, Reversed line/neutral polarity, Faulty integrated furnace control board flame circuit
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Turn OFF power and gas before removing the burner access panel.
- Clean the flame sensor: Remove the flame sensor using a nut driver. Lightly polish the metal rod with fine steel wool or a Scotch-Brite pad to remove oxidation. Do not sand aggressively. Reinstall securely.
- Check ground connections: Inspect the green ground wire from the control board to the furnace chassis. Tighten any loose screws and clean off rust where the ground lug contacts metal.
- Verify polarity: At the furnace disconnect or junction box, ensure the hot (black) and neutral (white) wires are correctly connected. Incorrect polarity can cause weak flame sensing. If unsure, have an electrician verify.
- Inspect burners: Make sure burners are seated properly and flame is even across all burners. Rust or debris can cause poor flame carryover and weak sensing.
- Test operation: Restore power and gas, call for heat, and observe. If burners light but shut off within a few seconds and E5 returns, the control board flame sensing circuit may be defective and require replacement.
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Repair Difficulty
Medium
3/5
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