Goodman GMVM970803BN Error Code Ed: Rollout Switch Open

What Does Code Ed Mean?

An Ed code on the Goodman GMVM970803BN means the rollout limit switch is open. Rollout switches are mounted on the burner/manifold assembly and are there to catch "flame rollout" — flame or intense heat spilling out of the combustion chamber and back into the furnace cabinet where it does not belong. This is one of the most serious conditions a gas furnace can report, because escaping flame can start a fire and the same restricted combustion that causes it can release carbon monoxide. When the switch senses that heat, it opens and shuts the furnace down.

Flame rolls out when combustion gases cannot follow their normal path through the heat exchanger and out the flue. On this furnace Goodman lists the causes as a blocked heat exchanger (the most common), an orifice plate shifted out of position, burners out of alignment, or a cracked/defective heat exchanger. Any of these forces hot gases and flame backward out of the burner ports instead of drawing them through the heat exchanger tubes.

Unlike most codes on this board, the rollout switch is a MANUAL-RESET device — it does not clear on its own even after everything cools down, and it must not be reset until the cause is corrected. It shares its root causes with the EC code (inducer motor OVERCURRENT), because the same blockage that makes the inducer strain against backpressure is what pushes flame out of the chamber; the two are different safety devices reacting to the same underlying problem. Ed is also different from an E0 lockout, which the board declares only after three failed ignition attempts in a single call for heat — Ed is a physical thermal switch tripping, not an ignition count.

What You'll Notice

• The dual 7-segment display on the control board shows Ed and the furnace produces no heat
• The furnace stays completely off and does not restart on its own even after it has cooled down (the switch is manual-reset)
• You may see soot, scorching, or heat discoloration on or around the burner compartment
• You may notice unusual flame behavior — flames that appear to lift or roll toward the front of the burners just before shutdown
• A burnt or unusually hot smell around the furnace cabinet

Common Causes

How This Is Diagnosed

A technician treats Ed as a combustion-safety investigation, not a switch to simply reset. With the gas and power off, they inspect the heat exchanger for blockage or cracks, confirm the orifice plate is in its correct position, and check burner alignment — the conditions Goodman lists as causes of rollout. Because a cracked or blocked heat exchanger can also release carbon monoxide, this inspection comes before anything is re-energized.

Only after the root cause is found and corrected does the technician manually press the reset button on the rollout switch and confirm the switch has continuity. They then run the furnace and watch the burners through a full cycle to verify flame is being drawn correctly into the heat exchanger and does not roll out again. If the heat exchanger is cracked or defective, the furnace should stay out of service until that part is replaced.

When to Call a Professional

This code involves components that are not homeowner-serviceable, so have a licensed HVAC technician diagnose and repair it. Keep in mind:

• The Ed code is present at all — treat flame rollout as an urgent safety condition
• There is any soot, scorching, melted wiring, or heat damage around the burner compartment
• A carbon monoxide alarm has sounded, or anyone in the home has headaches, nausea, or dizziness (leave and call for help first)
• The furnace was recently serviced and the burners or orifice plate may not be seated correctly
• The furnace shut off and will not restart on its own after cooling

✓ Verified against manufacturer service manual — March 2026