Can You Bypass A Flame Rollout Switch?

Furnaces are designed not only to warm your house and make it comfortable, but also to be as safe as possible. One of the safety functions every furnace has is a flame rollout switch, which will trip and stop the furnace when something is wrong. You must reset the flame rollout switch to make the furnace work again, but some homeowners wonder if they can bypass it.

It is not recommended that you bypass a flame rollout switch, for several reasons. Flame rollout switches trip when the heat exchanger is damaged, or the vent is clogged. If there is a fluctuation in gas pressure within the furnace, it can also cause the flame rollout switch to trip and can be temporarily reset.

Resetting the flame rollout switch is only a temporary fix. Either inspect the furnace or contact a professional to see what caused the switch to trip. Let’s explore why it is not a good idea to bypass a flame rollout switch, and what you should do instead.

Each of the above causes can lead to an increase in temperature, thus tripping the flame rollout switch. You can check the furnace yourself to see what you think may be the cause by inspecting the vent and heat exchanger. The vent and heat exchanger can become clogged with debris, cobwebs, and dust which can increase heat and cause combustion.

If there is debris or dust that heats up and combusts, it creates smoke and gases that trip the flame rollout switch. Even more serious, however, is if your heat exchanger is clogged or damaged.

A heat exchanger is made up of tubes that effectively warm up the air. When a heat exchanger is damaged or clogged, temperatures rise, along with combustion gases, and trip the flame rollout switch.

It is not safe or recommended that you bypass a flame rollout switch. Bypassing a flame rollout switch leaves your home vulnerable to some significant fire hazards. Certain problems, such as a damaged heat exchanger, are leading causes of furnace fires and are detected by rollout switches.

Without your flame rollout switch, you wouldn’t be able to catch fire hazards within your furnace. Because of that, bypassing your flame rollout switch is a bad idea. However, when a flame rollout switch trips, you can reset it, but that does not solve the problem.

Double-check to make sure that the furnace has fully cooled down since the flame rollout switch tripped. Now, look at the flame rollout switch above the burner, and notice the button, usually in the center of it. On most furnaces, the flame rollout reset button is red, so it is hard to miss.

Press the reset button, then restore the power and gas. If the first attempt did not work, power the electricity and gas back down, and repeat the process. Check again, and if it did not work, enlist the help of a furnace repair professional.

Either the reset button is faulty, or the problems in the furnace that caused the rollout switch to trip are serious.

Where your filter is located can vary depending on the furnace that you have. Typically, however, you can find the furnace filter by the blower that is concealed by the furnace cover. If your furnace filter is made of cotton, you may be able to get by with simply washing it as opposed to replacing it.

However, if the furnace filter is made of fiberglass, it must be replaced as it can’t be washed. Furnace filters cost between $2 and $10 at most hardware stores. Buy a furnace filter that is the same size as the old one.

You can easily remove the furnace filter by hand, in many cases. However, expect the furnace filter to be caked in dust, which can be quite messy. It’s a good idea to be ready to dispose of the old filter as soon as you remove it, so keep a garbage can nearby.

Before you dispose of the old filter, pay attention to which side of it was facing the furnace. Many manufacturers print words or arrows denoting its position to the furnace.

You should never bypass your flame rollout switch because it can alert you to problems with your furnace. If and when your flame rollout switch trips, turn off the electricity and gas so that you can inspect it.

It could be that your furnace filter simply needs to be replaced, or that your heat exchanger is damaged. Anytime that heat exceeds 350 degrees Fahrenheit, your flame rollout switch will trip. You can reset your furnace using the reset button on the flame rollout switch above the furnace.

Resetting your flame rollout switch is only a temporary solution, and you should diagnose the problem by inspecting the furnace. Good luck and be safe!