On the covered Trane XR95 direct vent condensing gas furnace, 5 flashes means flame sensed when no flame should be present. First, note whether the burners are lit or glowing when the furnace is not calling for heat. Then: Flame with no call for heat is a stop condition and points to the gas valve, which is technician work.
Differential
Likely causes of “Trane XR95 direct vent condensing gas furnace showing 5 flashes”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The furnace senses flame when none should be present (five flashes)
What separates it The LED flashes five times and the furnace shuts down
How to confirm Note whether the burners are lit or glowing when the furnace is idle
- 2
A gas valve that leaks through
What separates it The burners light with no call for heat
How to confirm Shut off gas and call a technician
- 3
A dirty or failing flame sensor
What separates it The control thinks it sees a flame
How to confirm A technician cleans or replaces it
- 4
A short in the flame sensing circuit
What separates it The sensor wire is damaged
How to confirm A technician checks the wiring
- 5
A control board fault
What separates it Everything else is fine
How to confirm The board is replaced
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- That the LED flashes five times
- Whether the burners are lit when idle
- Whether you smell gas
- The furnace model
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleNote whether the burners are lit or glowing when the furnace is not calling for heat.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleFlame with no call for heat is a stop condition and points to the gas valve, which is technician work.
Look at the burners
ReversibleWith the furnace idle, look through the viewing window, if there is one, to see whether the burners are lit or glowing when the thermostat is not calling for heat.
Turn the thermostat down
ReversibleSet the thermostat well below room temperature so that no call for heat is present.
Shut off the gas
ReversibleIf the burners stay lit, close the gas valve at the furnace and leave it off.
Check for the smell of gas
ReversibleIf you smell gas at any time, leave the house and call the gas company from outside.
Call a heating technician
ReversibleTrane lists flame sensed with no call for heat as a stop condition, and the usual cause is the gas valve, which is technician work.
Do not restart the furnace
ReversibleLeave the furnace off until the valve and the flame sensing circuit have been checked.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The code on this page
- Five flashes, flame sensed with no call for heat.
- Parts involved
- The gas valve and the flame sensor.
- Source
- Trane's service manual for the XR95.
- Why this is a stop condition
- A furnace should have flame only when it is asked to heat. Flame with no call for heat means the gas valve is not closing or the control is misreading a flame, and either way the furnace should be switched off until a technician has checked it.
- A flame sensor can mislead
- A dirty or damaged flame sensor can give a false reading, which is a cheaper fault than a leaking valve. A technician can tell the two apart by looking at the burners and testing the sensor, so do not assume the worst, but do not take chances either.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Flame with no call for heat is a stop condition and points to the gas valve, which is technician work
- !If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas company
- !Do not run the furnace
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does 5 flashes mean on a Trane XR95 direct vent condensing gas furnace?+
Flame sensed when no flame should be present.
Which part is at fault?+
Often the gas valve.
Can I fix it?+
No.
Is five flashes always a leaking gas valve?+
No; a faulty flame sensor can also cause it, but a technician must check, and the furnace should stay off until then.
Can I clean the flame sensor myself?+
Some owners do, but when the code is flame with no call for heat, leave it to a technician.