Quick answer: Carrier code 13 (one long flash, three short) is a limit circuit lockout: the overheat limit opened repeatedly or stayed open too long. Code 14 (one long, four short) is an ignition lockout: the furnace failed to light four times in a row. Both lockouts usually clear on their own after about three hours, but the furnace will lock out again until the cause is fixed. Bryant and Payne furnaces use the same codes.
Safety first: if you smell gas, do not reset or relight anything. Leave the home and call your gas utility (Nicor Gas 1-888-642-6748, or North Shore Gas 1-866-556-6005) or 911 from outside.
Code 13: Limit Circuit Lockout
Code 13 follows repeated code 33 limit faults. The causes are the same: a clogged filter, closed vents, a dirty blower wheel, a weak blower motor, or a rollout switch that tripped. See our code 33 guide for the full list.
Code 14: Ignition Lockout
The furnace tried to light four times without proving a flame. The most common causes are:
- A dirty flame sensor, by far the most common. The burners light for a few seconds, then shut off.
- A cracked or weak hot surface igniter that does not glow or glows weakly.
- A gas supply problem, such as a closed valve or low gas pressure.
- A failing gas valve that does not open.
- Poor grounding or reversed polarity that weakens the flame signal.
Safe Checks You Can Do
- For code 13, replace the filter and open vents.
- For code 14, make sure the gas valve handle at the furnace is parallel with the pipe and other gas appliances work.
- Reset power once to clear the lockout. If it returns, call for service.
What Lockout Repairs Cost
| Repair | Flat-rate price |
|---|---|
| Flame sensor cleaning and flame signal test | $245 |
| Flame sensor replacement | $275 |
| Hot surface igniter replacement | $305 |
| High limit switch replacement | $340 |
| Gas valve replacement | $505 to $1,120 |
Prices are flat-rate with parts and labor, as of November 2026. The $75 diagnostic is waived when you approve the repair, and Comfort Club members save 10 to 15% on repairs. Exact pricing depends on your furnace model and whether the part is in stock on our trucks.
Seeing a Carrier code in the Northwest Suburbs?
Pure Comfort Heating and Cooling services every major furnace brand from our shop in Streamwood, IL. Diagnostics are $75, or $99 on evenings, weekends and holidays, and the fee is waived when you approve the repair. You approve a flat-rate price before any work starts, and phones are answered 24/7.
Other Error Code Guides
- Furnace blinking light codes by brand
- Lennox furnace error codes
- Carrier, Bryant and Payne furnace codes
- Goodman, Amana and Daikin flash codes
- Trane and American Standard blink codes
- Furnace pressure switch errors
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Carrier lockout last?
Codes 13 and 14 usually reset automatically after about three hours. Turning the power off and on clears them sooner.
Why does my Carrier furnace light then shut off?
If the burners light for a few seconds and then go out, the flame sensor is usually not proving the flame. Cleaning the sensor fixes many of these calls.
Can I clean the flame sensor myself?
It is possible, but it involves removing a component near the burners. We clean and test the flame signal for $245, and the visit includes checking why it happened.
We diagnose and repair furnaces from our shop in Streamwood across Streamwood, Bartlett, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Elgin, Hanover Park, Roselle, Arlington Heights and the rest of the Northwest and West Suburbs. See our furnace repair page for flat-rate prices.