When using heating equipment, there are definitely common problems that you can run across. This article will help want you through the process of solving a common problem with direct fired heaters , which is a dirty flame sensor rod . First, let’s go over what a flame sensor rod is.
A flame sensor rod will tell the heater that the main gas burners have ignited. If this sensor doesn’t detect a flame after a certain amount of time, it will close the gas valves turning off the fuel source. If your flame sensor rod is dirty, then the heater won’t keep your heater lit.
This takes us to a real life example of what may be happening to your direct fired heater. If you’re turning your heater on and the flame lights, but then quickly goes out, chances could be that flame sensor rod is dirty. The good news is, it is an easy fix. To resolve your problem your will only need:
A.) Your direct fired heater B.) A piece of emery cloth or sand paper.
VIDEO
Instructions Problems with Your Heater So you’ve tried to start your heater and the flame lights, but then quickly shuts off. The first thing that you will want to do is attempt to start your heater again. It could be that you just had a bad start. If the problem persists, continue to the following steps.
Cool Your Heater Down Before moving onto the next step, we’re going to turn off the heater. Unplug the electrical cord, then turn off the gas valve. Next, let your heater cool completely before attempting to clean your dirty flame sensor. Remember that there was just a flame lit in the heater, even if it wasn’t for very long, the system could still be very hot.
Heater PositionTurn your heater upright so you are able to get to the internal parts.
Finding the Flame Sensor Rod Once you have your heater tipped upright, you’ll find the flame sensor rod at the top of the heater. The flame sensor rod is the small skinny rod. The picture to your right highlights exactly what you’re looking for. You may notice dirt and corrosion on the rod, which is what we’ll need to clean off.
Cleaning Things Up Take your emery cloth or sand paper to clean off all that dirt and corrosion.
Starting it up Again Once your rod is thoroughly cleaned off, plug the heater back in, turn on the gas and fire it up to see if you’ve fixed the problem.
If your heater still doesn’t fire after taking these steps, then you may have a different problem with the heater that needs to be fixed. If you have rented your heating equipment from On Site Companies, please contact your customer service representative to ask for further assistance.