Can’t do my own window film install

Perhaps your furnace tries to run for a few seconds before it shuts off suddenly, pilot and all. You may panic in this situation. Nobody wants to spend thousands of dollars on a new furnace. Good news may be on the way. There may be a simple fix that is not only inexpensive but also one that you can diagnose on your own. Professional HVAC technicians receive most furnace repair calls of this kind that involve a simple, basic flame sensor cleaning. Flame sensors are a fundamental part of your furnace. It's located on the burner assembly and is a thin metallic rod. In the furnace, it sits just in front of the pilot flame and is usually bent. Whenever the furnace kicks on, the gas valve opens and gas is fired into the combustion chamber, where the pilot light or ignitor lights the burners. When the gas valve is open, the sensor confirms there is a fire. Without it, you could lose your pilot light and fill your house with dangerous gas. Gas can build up and be deadly for many reasons, including gas poisoning and explosions. The flame sensor is a safety measure. It automatically shuts down everything when it doesn't detect a flame when the gas is on. In modern units, this shutdown can happen up to three times before the system locks out and sits for an hour before it tries again. This lets any gas buildup dissipate. As a result, if there is a flame but the sensor cannot detect it, it can result in being without heat for an hour, and even worse, causes wear and tear on other parts of your furnace. It will reduce efficiency and result in more expensive repairs. You can easily detect when your flame sensor is fouled, corroded, or otherwise damaged. Watch for your gas burners to light up and go out after a few seconds. A sensor issue is most likely to cause this. Second, if you see soot covering the sensor tip, it's time to clean it. If the tip is black, it's time for service. If you see cracked porcelain on the sensor casing, you will need to replace it. It prevents the sensor from being grounded on the bracket of the furnace by acting as an insulator. Cleaning a furnace flame sensor is a multi-step process that's not difficult but can be very exact. If you aren't sure about any aspect of it, you should probably consult a professional.

Signs of an Underperforming Furnace   air conditioning professional