Carrier · Status code
Carrier 59TP7A status code 22.1: false flame
Status code 22.1 means the control detected a flame signal at a time when the gas valve was not open and no flame should exist. The control treats this as a false-flame condition and refuses to proceed with ignition.
Smell gas?
- Do not operate light switches, appliances or phones inside.
- Leave the building and leave the door open behind you.
- From outside, call the FortisBC emergency line at 1-800-663-9911 or 911.
- Only after that, call BC Wide about the furnace.
A furnace that will not run is a breakdown, not a gas emergency. Gas smell, a CO alarm, soot or scorching are.
On the control
- Code
- 22
- Minor
- 22.1
- Door LED
- 2 short flashes then 2 long
- Controller
- 59TP7A integrated furnace control with 3-digit LCD display and door LED
- Applies to
- Carrier Performance 97 (59TP7A)
- Manual
- 59TP7A-01SI
What each minor code says, verbatim
| Display | Manufacturer wording |
|---|---|
| 22.1 | False flame |
A code is a condition, not a diagnosis
A false flame signal can come from a genuine gas leak or valve fault (gas flowing when the valve is off), from the flame sensor seeing another light or heat source, from a shorted or contaminated flame-sensor circuit, from moisture on the sensor or burner, or from a failing control. Because one possible cause is gas flowing without a call, this code is treated seriously until the valve circuit and sensor are proven clean.
Which furnaces this applies to
Documented for Carrier 59TP7A furnaces (all nine sizes) in installation instructions 59TP7A-01SI REV A, edition 06/23. The flame is sensed by the flame-sensing electrode through the flame-sensing circuit.
Scope: Carrier 59TP7A Performance 97 furnaces with the on-board 3-digit display control. Not sure which control you have? Send us the full model number from the rating plate.
Safe things to look at first
- Read the full code on the control display through the door, including any minor digit (for example 33.2), and write it down.
- Look, without touching, for obvious conditions you can report: snow or ice at the vent terminations, water on the floor, a loaded filter, a condensate pump that is full or off.
- Note whether the furnace still heats at all, and how long it runs before the code returns.
- Do not put your face near the furnace; if you smell gas or hear gas flowing when the furnace is off, leave the building and call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 or 911.
Do not
- Do not bypass or jumper the door switch, limit switches, rollout switches or pressure switches.
- Do not open the burner compartment, disconnect tubing, or adjust the gas valve or gas pressure.
- Do not keep cycling power to force the furnace to relight; repeated resets hide the fault and can allow unburned gas to build up after ignition failures. If the code returns, stop and call.
Homeowner-safe checks (look and read only)
- Leave the furnace off at the thermostat and wall switch
- If you smell gas or hear gas flowing while the furnace is off, leave and call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 or 911
When to call a technician
- Immediately, if you smell gas or suspect the valve is passing gas
- Otherwise, call for service and do not run the furnace
What a technician does
- A technician verifies the gas valve is closed and holds closed with power off, checks the flame sensor and its wiring for shorts, moisture or contamination, and tests the flame-sensing circuit before resetting.
- If the valve or control fails testing, they are replaced with manufacturer parts and the furnace is verified through a full cycle.
Related components and symptoms
Questions people ask
What should I do while waiting for service on a false-flame code?
Leave the furnace off at the thermostat and the wall switch, and keep people away from the unit. If any gas smell develops, leave the building and call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 or 911.
Is false flame the same as a failed flame sensor?
A false flame is a signal when there should be none; a fouled sensor usually causes a missing signal when there should be one (an ignition or flame-loss fault). The technician tests the circuit either way.
Seeing code 22 on your Carrier?
Tell us the full code, the model number and whether the furnace still heats on low. BC Wide prioritizes no-heat calls across Greater Vancouver.