Rheem
Flame Sensing Failure
Burners light but go out after a few seconds; furnace retries several times then stops
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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
Dirty flame sensor, Poor ground connection, Low microamp flame signal, Faulty control board
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Turn off power and gas before removing the flame sensor.
- Clean flame sensor: Remove the sensor and gently clean the rod with fine steel wool. Avoid sanding the porcelain insulator.
- Check wiring and ground: Ensure the flame sensor wire is intact and firmly connected. Tighten burner and cabinet ground screws.
- Measure flame signal (advanced): A technician can measure flame rectification current in microamps. If low despite clean sensor and good flame, the board may be faulty.
- Re-test operation: After cleaning and tightening, restore power and observe several heating cycles.
If the problem persists, professional testing of flame signal and board is recommended.
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Repair Difficulty
Medium
3/5
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