Control Board
Furnace and mini-split boards, fuses and LED codes.
Furnace Inducer Motor: Testing, Noises and When It's Really the Pressure Switch
How a furnace draft inducer works, how to test one that won't start, runs noisy or runs but won't prove, and how to tell an inducer problem from a pressure switch or venting problem.
Heat Pump Defrost: How It Works and How to Troubleshoot It
How heat pump defrost works on time-temperature and demand defrost boards, what's normal during defrost, and how to diagnose a heat pump that ices up or defrosts too often.
How to Test a Furnace Hot Surface Igniter (and Why They Keep Failing)
How to test a hot surface igniter by watching the sequence, checking voltage and measuring resistance, the difference between silicon carbide and silicon nitride igniters, and what shortens their life.
How to Test a Blower Motor: PSC, Constant-Torque ECM and Variable-Speed ECM
How to tell which kind of blower motor you have and test it the right way, from capacitor and amp checks on PSC motors to control signals on constant-torque and variable-speed ECMs.
How to Test an HVAC Transformer: 24-Volt Checks, VA Rating and Shorts
How to test the 24-volt control transformer in a furnace or air handler, how to size a replacement by VA, and how to find the short that killed the last one.
Thermostat Blank or No Power: Finding the Missing 24 Volts
How to troubleshoot a blank thermostat: batteries, the C wire, the furnace door switch, a blown board fuse, a tripped float switch, the transformer and power to the air handler.
Furnace Flame Sensor: Microamp Readings, Cleaning and When to Replace
How flame rectification works, how to measure flame sensor microamps, what readings are normal, and how to fix weak flame signal.
Furnace Control Board Fuse Blown (3A): Finding the 24V Short
Why a furnace control's low-voltage fuse blows and how to find the short in thermostat, outdoor unit or accessory wiring before replacing it.
Furnace Ignition Lockout: Failed Ignition Troubleshooting Step by Step
Diagnose a furnace that tries to light and locks out by following the ignition sequence: inducer, pressure switch, igniter, gas valve, flame sense.
Furnace Blinking Light Codes: How to Read Them on Any Brand
How furnace control boards report faults with LED flashes, how to read the code correctly, and what the common code categories point to.
Mini-Split Communication Errors: How to Troubleshoot Indoor-to-Outdoor Faults
A step-by-step approach to mini-split communication faults between the indoor and outdoor units, covering wiring, polarity, voltage and boards.