I have a Lennox (10 yrs. Old) furnace with a high quality air cleaner. (Filter new)

My flame sensor has to be cleaned every 2 - 4 days (as the furnace goes out and blows cold air). It is continually getting corroded. The ceramic is totally intact.

I clean the sensor with a fine wire brush. The repair man says that there are too many girls in the house and that hairspray, laundry detergent and cleaning supplies are causing the constant corrosion. He says that the sensor is simply a conduit and does not need to be replaced. I'm tired of waking up to a cold blower and a house that is 60 degrees. ANY ADVICE?? Michelle

((The repair man says that there are too many girls in the house and that hair spray, laundry detergent and cleaning supplies are causing the constant corrosion.))

There can never be to many girls in the house since I have daughters but the repair man can be correct. Hair spray is definitely a killer of furnace parts especially heat exchangers. All the furnaces we sold years ago to beauty shops had ceramic coated heat exchangers to prevent the hair spray and other beauty shop chemicals from causing damage.

Next time try to use a non metallic item like sandpaper to clean the sensor.

The next question is do you remove the sensor or just try to clean it the best you can with the sensor still in the furnace?

Last question. Have you tried replacing the sensor so as to start with a new one?

The problem actually started a couple of years ago. At that time I would clean it the best I could while it was still in (the furnace only went out a couple of times during the season). I've had constant problems this winter. I now remove the sensor, clean it with the brush and secure it tightly when I put it back in (I have never detached it from the wire).. . That lasts for 2 to 4 days.

I have asked the repair man to replace it. (I wondered if maybe a good rub with a small bit of alcohol would resolve it?) The "build-up" is black (burn) and white powdery "ash".

((I wondered if maybe a good rub with a small bit of alcohol would resolve it?))

I do not think that would help the sensor but it might get the repair guy to replace the sensor. I would definitely get it replaced so you have a base line to start from.