Goodman Furnace 6 Flashes: Flame Rollout Switch Open (Meaning, Causes, Fixes)

What the code means

Goodman's troubleshooting chart lists 6 flashes as "rollout limit circuit is open," with the symptom that the circulator blower runs continuously and the furnace doesn't heat. The flame rollout switch is a temperature-activated, manual-reset control mounted on the burner manifold. Goodman says it opens when flame rolls out of the burners, and that over-firing or flame hitting the heat shield can also open it. On some Goodman models the same 6-flash code also covers an open control board fuse, so check your model's label. Flash meanings differ between Goodman board generations: on some 90% boards a rollout or fuse fault shows as 5 flashes instead, and newer boards with a character display show an open rollout switch as E11 and an open fuse as EE5. The legend on the label inside your furnace's blower door is the final word for your unit.

Likely causes

• A blocked flue (vent) pipe or combustion air inlet pipe, such as a bird nest, debris, ice or snow over the termination, so exhaust can't leave and flame rolls out
• A failed or weak induced draft blower (inducer) that doesn't pull exhaust through the heat exchanger
• Misaligned burners or an orifice plate out of position, letting flame hit the heat shield
• Over-firing from gas pressure set too high or the wrong orifices for your gas type or altitude
• Air leaking into the burner compartment around the heat exchanger, or through a cracked heat exchanger
• A faulty rollout switch that won't stay closed, or loose or bad wiring in the rollout circuit
• On some models, a blown control board fuse, which Goodman reports with the same code

Safe DIY checks

1. Count carefully through the sight window on the blower door: 6 short flashes and a pause is this code. Write it down before cutting power, because Goodman notes the flash code stops when power is interrupted.
2. If anyone has a headache, nausea or dizziness, or a carbon monoxide alarm is sounding, leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. If you smell gas, do the same.
3. With the furnace off, go outside and look at the vent and air intake pipes (usually white PVC on 90% furnaces). Clear leaves, nests, snow or ice from the openings.
4. Make sure nothing is stacked against the furnace and the burner compartment door is in place, since an open burner door lets air disturb the flame.
5. If you found and cleared a clear blockage, you can turn power off, remove the burner door, and press the reset button on the small rollout switch on the burner manifold once. Restore power and watch a heat cycle with the burner door back on.
6. If 6 flashes comes back, or you found no obvious cause, leave the furnace off and call a technician. Don't keep resetting it.

Parts that commonly fix it

Always match the part number to your exact model.

Related codes

• 3 flashes Goodman Gas Furnace 3 flashes
• 4 flashes Goodman Gas Furnace 4 flashes
• 24 Carrier Gas Furnace 24
• 33 Carrier Gas Furnace 33
• CL Carrier Gas Furnace CL
• C2 Lennox Gas Furnace C2

All Goodman codes →

Sources

1. Goodman GKS9 installation manual, troubleshooting chart (6 flashes: rollout limit circuit open; causes and corrective actions; LED code ceases when power is interrupted)
2. Goodman Service and Troubleshooting RS6612020, checking flame rollout control (manual reset; causes of a trip; blower runs continuously)
3. Goodman GMEC96 service manual, fault codes (rollout switch or fuse open shown as 5 flashes on that board)
4. High Ground Service Pros, Goodman error codes from Goodman manual RS6621301 (6 flashes on single-stage 80% furnaces: rollout tripped, on some models open fuse; E11 open rollout, EE5 open fuse)