Rheem R802VA07542117MSA Error Code A044_F: Inducer Lo Pressure Switch Won't Open

What Does Code A044_F Mean?

The inducer pressure switch on your two-stage, variable-speed R802VA07542117MSA is a safety device that proves draft. Before the Bluetooth Communicating IFC (Integrated Furnace Control) starts an ignition sequence, it first checks that the low-stage pressure switch is OPEN while the inducer is off, then expects it to CLOSE once the inducer builds draft. Code A044_F is logged when that low-stage switch is found still closed at a point in the cycle when it should be open, so the control cannot verify the switch is working and refuses to proceed.

Because this is a two-stage furnace, Rheem fits two separate inducer pressure switches: a low-stage switch for normal low-fire draft and a high-stage switch for the stronger draft of high fire. A044_F concerns the low-stage switch specifically. Its high-stage counterparts, the switches that fail to open at high fire, are reported as codes T055_F and A055_F.

A "won't open" fault is the opposite condition from a "won't close" fault, and the distinction matters for the fix. A044_F means the switch is stuck CLOSED when it should be open, which typically points to a switch whose contacts are welded or whose diaphragm is jammed, or to a hose that is trapping pressure and holding the switch closed. That is entirely different from code T045_F, the low-stage "won't close" fault, where the inducer is running but the switch never closes because draft is not being proven, usually from a blocked vent.

That difference is why A044_F is not a homeowner venting-clearing job. Clearing the outdoor vent termination addresses a switch that cannot close, but it does nothing for a switch that is stuck closed. A044_F almost always requires replacing the pressure switch or correcting its hose, which is technician work involving a component that proves the furnace is venting safely.

What You'll Notice

• The furnace will not start a heating cycle at all, even before the inducer proves draft
• No burners light and no warm air is delivered on a heat call
• The alphanumeric LED blinks "A044_F" one digit at a time with a roughly three-second pause between digits
• The fault appears immediately at the start of the cycle rather than after the inducer has run for a while
• The condition persists no matter how many times the furnace is reset or the thermostat is cycled

Common Causes

How This Is Diagnosed

A technician confirms A044_F is a "stuck closed" condition rather than a draft problem, so the outdoor vent is not the focus. The technician measures the low-stage pressure switch contacts with a meter to see whether they are electrically closed when the inducer is off, which indicates welded contacts or a jammed diaphragm inside the switch.

If the switch itself checks out, the technician inspects its sensing hose for a kink, water, or debris that could trap residual negative pressure and hold the switch closed. The switch is typically replaced with the correct matched part for this two-stage model once it is confirmed to be stuck.

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 code appears at the very start of the cycle before the inducer has proven draft
• A044_F remains after the furnace has been reset several times
• The furnace never begins an ignition attempt on a heat call
• The low-stage pressure switch or its sensing hose is suspected of trapping pressure or water
• You smell gas or exhaust odor anywhere near the furnace or vent piping

✓ Verified against manufacturer service manual — March 2026