Rheem R802VA07542117MSA Error Code A013_F: Flame Lost after Established

What Does Code A013_F Mean?

Your two-stage, variable-speed R802VA07542117MSA lights its burners, then relies on the Bluetooth Communicating IFC (Integrated Furnace Control) to keep proving the flame throughout the burn using the flame sensor rod. Each time the flame signal disappears mid-burn during a single thermostat call, the control relights and counts the event. Code A013_F is the alarm-level fault logged once that flame has been lost five times in the same heat call. At that point the IFC stops retrying and imposes a one-hour lockout, which is reported on this board as code A114_F.

The most common cause is a dirty or weak flame sensor. A rod coated with oxide or soot can still prove flame at ignition but then let the flame current drift below the detection threshold during the burn, so the furnace repeatedly relights and loses the flame until the five-strike counter trips. Because A013_F is essentially T013_F happening over and over in one cycle, the same flame-sensor cleaning that addresses a single flame-loss event is the first thing to try here. Inconsistent gas pressure and, less commonly, a cracked heat exchanger disturbing airflow across the burners can also drive repeated flame loss, but those require a technician.

A013_F is the alarm-level escalation of T013_F on this same board: T013_F records a single flame-loss event and usually self-recovers, while A013_F is only logged after five losses in one call and forces the one-hour lockout. It is also different from A011_F, where a flame is never confirmed across four ignition trials. A013_F always means the burner did light each time and was then lost, so the problem is holding the flame, not starting it.

What You'll Notice

• The furnace lights and produces heat briefly, but the flame keeps cutting out and relighting before finally shutting down
• The alphanumeric LED blinks "A013_F" one digit at a time with a roughly three-second pause between digits
• After several flame losses the furnace stops trying and delivers no heat for about an hour
• The furnace ignores the thermostat during the one-hour lockout, then attempts to run again on its own
• You may hear the burners cycle on and off repeatedly during the failing heat call

Common Causes

How This Is Diagnosed

Because A013_F only logs after a flame is repeatedly established and lost, the first homeowner check is the flame sensor rod, since a dull gray or blackened coating is the most common reason the flame signal keeps drifting below the detection threshold mid-burn. If the rod is already clean and the five-strike lockout keeps returning, the cause is more likely fluctuating gas pressure or an airflow disturbance across the burners, which a technician confirms with a manometer and combustion instruments.

How to Fix It: Clean the Flame Sensor to Stop Repeated Flame Loss

What You'll Need

• Scotch-Brite pad
• 1/4-inch nut driver or screwdriver
• Flashlight
• Clean, dry cloth

Steps

1. Shut off power and gas before opening the furnace Turn off electrical power to the furnace at the breaker or the switch on or near the unit, and turn the manual gas shutoff valve to the OFF position. If you smell gas, leave immediately and call your gas company.
2. Open the burner compartment and find the flame sensor Remove the furnace's lower access panel to reach the burner compartment. The flame sensor is the thin metal rod with a white porcelain base mounted at the burner, secured with a single screw, with its tip positioned in the flame path.
3. Clean the flame sensor rod Gently clean the flame sensor rod with a Scotch-Brite pad until the metal is dull-bright. Rheem's guide lists fine steel wool as the cleaning material, but many HVAC technicians prefer a Scotch-Brite pad because it leaves no abrasive residue on the rod. Do not clean or scratch the white porcelain base, and take care not to bend the rod.
4. Wipe the rod and reinstall it Wipe the cleaned rod with a clean, dry cloth to remove any loosened residue, then reinstall it in its original position and orientation so the tip sits back in the flame path, and snug up the single mounting screw.
5. Restore power, clear the lockout, and watch a full cycle Reinstall the access panel, turn the gas valve back on, and restore electrical power, which also clears the one-hour lockout. Set the thermostat to call for heat and watch the burner run through a complete cycle without the flame dropping out or the LED reporting A013_F again.

When to Call a Professional

Contact a licensed HVAC technician if:

• The five-strike A013_F lockout keeps returning after the flame sensor has been cleaned
• The furnace repeatedly relights and loses the flame even with a clean sensor rod
• The flame visibly flickers, roars, or lifts off the burners rather than burning steadily
• You notice soot, a yellow or lazy flame, or unusual smells around the furnace
• You smell gas at any point near the furnace or gas piping

✓ Verified against manufacturer service manual — March 2026