Sta-Rite Marginal Flame Sensing

Heater starts but shuts off after a few seconds; no error code displayed

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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, Weak flame due to low gas pressure, Misaligned burner, Poor ground connection

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety: Turn off gas and power before removing burner access panels.

  • Clean flame sensor: Remove the flame sensor rod and gently clean with fine abrasive pad to remove oxidation. Reinstall in the same position.
  • Check burner flame: Observe flame through the sight glass. It should be blue and stable. Yellow or lifting flames indicate combustion issues.
  • Verify ground: Ensure the heater's ground wire is securely attached and that the burner assembly has a solid metal path to ground.
  • Have gas pressure checked: A licensed technician should verify inlet and manifold gas pressures meet Sta-Rite specifications.
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Repair Difficulty

Medium 3/5

Required Part

Flame Sensor
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