Goodman furnace: Flame Sensed With No Flame Expected — 1 Red Flash
Safety issue — act now
What does 1 red flash mean on a Goodman GMEC96 furnace? The GMEC96 control is detecting flame current when no flame should be present. This code belongs to the GMEC96 tri-color control; it is not the same as the one-flash ignition-lockout code used by older Goodman boards.
This condition involves the gas or combustion side. If you smell gas or a CO alarm sounds: leave, then call your gas utility. Diagnostic info here is reference — combustion repairs are for licensed technicians. All six emergency signs →
Turn the furnace off. If you smell gas or can see flame with no heat call, leave the area and call the gas utility; otherwise arrange same-day licensed service. DIY part cost: $90–200 — a pro visit for this class of fault typically runs $150–350.
What causes it (in order of likelihood)
- Gas valve leaking or closing too slowly TECH
- Flame-sense wire shorted to ground or control fault TECH
Parts referenced by this code
Always match parts against your model's parts list — part numbers vary within a series.
Applies to
GMEC96
Different Goodman generations use different code maps. If your series isn't listed, don't assume this meaning — check your blower-door label.
Verified against Goodman GMEC96 Service Manual, p.52/70-71
Last verified 2026-07-06 · how we verify
Related Goodman fault codes
These codes use the same gmec96 tri-color control — red fault flashes system.