Why does the flame rollout switch keeps tripping?
Rollout switches trip because flames are burning back where they are not supposed to be. Possible causes include a stopped up vent, a stopped up heat exchanger, low gas pressure, or a cracked heat exchanger.
Turning the power off for approximately 20 seconds and turning it back on again will reset most modern gas furnaces. Some furnace models can power on again after leaving the lockout for 1-2 hours. The cleanliness of the flame sensor of a furnace is very important.
If your limit switches trips repeatedly, it can enter a lockdown mode. That is, it shuts down completely. You can try resetting the furnace limit switch yourself if you have a newer model by turning off the furnace for 30 seconds and then turning it back on.
The flame rollout switch is a safety feature that shuts off the gas supply to the burner if the flame blows out. This can happen for several reasons, such as a dirty burner or a blocked flue. A flame rollout can also be caused by a faulty gas valve or a problem with the electrical igniter.
Check which switches or buttons have tripped to the OFF position and which rooms (circuit) have been affected. Switch off all the lights and appliances on the circuit. Then put the trip switch or buttons back to the ON position. If the trip goes again, it is probably because one of your appliances is faulty.
Each time you press on it, the switch should go from OPEN to CLOSED with each closure being a reliable 0.1 Ohms or less. Anything higher is cause for replacement (Fig.
Furnaces have a safety component that will detect when a flame rollout occurs — the flame rollout switch. This switch stops the supply of gas to the furnace if the temperature outside the combustion chamber exceeds a certain level.
A furnace limit switch is a part of a forced-air furnace that turns on the blower after the furnace has reached the specified temperature. A furnace cannot adjust the temperature in combination with a thermostat without a working furnace limit switch.
The flame rollout switch is normally closed and opens on high temperature from the flame. The switch is meant to open if the flame is pushed backward away from the heat exchanger area where the flame should be traveling toward. When the switch opens, the control board stops sending power to the electrical gas valve.
The flame rollout switch needs to be reset manually by pressing a button on the switch. The high limit switch detects if there is a high temperature in your furnace's heat exchanger. The high limit switch will reset automatically when the temperature inside of the heat exchanger falls below a certain level.
Will cracked heat exchanger cause flame rollout?
If you have a crack in your heat exchanger, your furnace will start up like normal, but air could blow the fire out of your fire box into the burner chamber. Because of a safety sensor called the Flame Rollout Safety Detector, the fire rolling out to your burner chamber would result in your furnace shutting off.
If the sensor insulation is intact but looks burnt or has a small amount of corrosion on it, the sensor might simply need cleaning. The best way to clean it is by using a dollar bill. 7. If the porcelain insulation is cracked, or if cleaning doesn't fix the issue, the sensor must be replaced.

- Locate the furnace power switch near the furnace and turn it off. If there's no switch, turn off the main circuit breaker to the furnace.
- Wait for about 10 seconds.
- Turn the switch or breaker back on and check to see if the furnace is running properly.
Well, while disappointing to some readers, here is the answer: No, bypassing the flame sensor isn't a solution. You won't find steps to bypass the flame sensor anywhere.
Remove the high limit switch by removing the two screws that hold it to the plenum. If the flame sensor rod is dirty, you can try cleaning it gently with steel wool or sandpaper, or replace the part with an identical new part.
A limit switch is a device that's located on your furnace below the supply plenum. The limit switch on today's furnace acts as a safety device. If the temperature inside the furnace gets too hot, the limit will open up, resulting in the burners shutting off.
If your furnace reset button keeps tripping, it's most likely that your heater is overheating. This may indicate a need for heating system repair work that needs to be addressed.
...
This can happen for several reasons:
- Soot buildup prevents combustion gases from exiting the combustion chamber.
- The flue pipe is blocked somewhere, preventing combustion gases from being. vented outside.
- The heat exchanger is cracked.
Tapping noises are one of the most common signs of a bad inducer motor. These noises may be the result of dirt or soot collecting around the fan shaft. They might also come from the bearing in the motor clicking together. Vibrating noises are another sign of a bad inducer motor.
- Unplug the furnace or switch off the power at the breaker.
- Locate and unscrew the furnace flame sensor to carefully remove it.
- Touch the probes of the multimeter (volt-ohm meter) to the sensor's wire ports.
- The device should read a low resistance.
What happens if too much air goes into the burner?
Too much excess air leads to lower flame temperature. That means less heat gets into the system. Also, excess air must heat up to flue gas temperature, which consumes extra energy.
A common cause for flame impingement is either damaged burner parts (tips and tiles, for example) or poor combustion. Poor combustion generally results from an inadequate supply of air, or poor mixing of fuel and air at the burner throat.
- Remove the flue cap to check for blockages such as debris or birds' nests.
- Replace and secure the cap tightly to the end of the flue pipe. ...
- Look for signs of blockages by examining the pipe itself – water streaks or rust on the flue pipe may indicate a blockage, causing moisture to back up.
The first step in finding a short circuit is to look for physical signs. This may include visible burns or melted metal on wires, burning smells, or flickering lights. Once you've identified a potential short, use your multimeter to confirm the voltage by placing it on its resistance or continuity setting.
- Dimming lights.
- Buzzing outlets or switches.
- Warm outlets or switch covers.
- Burning smells from or marks on outlet covers/switches. (This can also be a sign of other serious wiring issues!)
- Power tools, appliances, or electronics aren't as powerful as they once were.
As venting is increasingly obstructed and the air supply further diminishes, unburned burner gas exudes from the combustion chamber, instead igniting at the entrance to the chamber when it contacts oxygen. This results in the burner flame “rolling out” of the chamber.
- Press the "Reset License" button.
- Start Flame.
- Select the desired activation type from the "Let's Get Started" window:
Often, flame-rollout is caused by the furnace's blower-fan forcing air into the combustion-chamber through a crack in the heat-exchanger.
The meter should read between "0" and "0.1" Ohms. Remove the switch or at least disconnect the wires from it and connect an Ohmmeter-set it to the lowest possible range-across the switch.
Don't hit “reset” more than twice. The process pumps oil into the burner chamber, where it can accumulate if you have no ignition. Then when the furnace finally does start, it can do so explosively. So if the button won't reset, or quickly pops up again, it's time to call a professional repair service.
How do I manually reset my furnace?
- Locate the furnace power switch near the furnace and turn it off. If there's no switch, turn off the main circuit breaker to the furnace.
- Wait for about 10 seconds.
- Turn the switch or breaker back on and check to see if the furnace is running properly.
Either way, restarting a furnace is a relatively simple task that takes no longer than 10 minutes to complete. Follow these steps to reset your gas furnace: Turn the circuit breaker off and switch the furnace power button off too. Never touch the breaker with wet hands and use only one hand to do it.
It's unsafe to bypass any control on a furnace unless your an experienced service tech and this is for troubleshooting only. My suggestion is that you call a licensed professional to repair your furnace.