Goodman AC / Heat Pump Error E1 – Causes & Fix
E1: the low-stage pressure switch reads closed before the inducer starts, so the furnace won't begin heating.
Safety first · Consult a professional
If you smell gas, leave the house now, don't touch switches or phones inside and call 911 or your gas utility from outside. If a CO alarm sounds, get everyone out, call 911 and don't restart the furnace until it has been inspected. Owners may read the code, check the thermostat and do one power reset – never jumper, unplug or replace the pressure switch yourself.
- Gas appliance: no DIY repairs. If you smell gas, leave the building, do not use switches and call your gas utility’s emergency line from outside.
- Carbon monoxide is odorless. Keep a CO alarm near fuel-burning appliances; if it sounds, get everyone outside and call 911.
- Unplug the appliance or switch off the breaker before opening any panel. Mains voltage can kill.
At a glance
Severity: Moderate
- Meaning
- Low-Stage Pressure Switch Stuck Closed
- Typical repair cost
- $100–$750
- DIY difficulty
- Hard
Goodman's service manual for its two-stage ComfortNet-ready furnaces defines E1 as the low-stage pressure switch stuck closed at the start of a heating cycle. Before lighting, the control checks that the pressure switch is open while the draft inducer is still off – that proves the switch can actually detect a working vent. If the switch already reads closed, the control doesn't lock out; it simply refuses to start the inducer and waits until the fault clears, so the house gets no heat. The usual cause is a switch whose contacts have stuck together, followed by a short in the switch wiring or a jumper someone left in place. Less often the inducer is running when it shouldn't be, which holds the switch closed. It is a safety-circuit fault: the switch must never be bypassed.
How it looks on the display
Model families & display variants
| Model family | Shows | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Two-stage variable-speed furnaces with dual 7-segment display (GMVC96, GCVC96) | E1 | The control waits with E1 displayed until the switch opens; there is no timed lockout for this code. |
| Amana-brand equivalents (AMVC96, ACVC96) | E1 | Built on the same control, so the code means the same. |
| ComfortNet communicating thermostat | Check Furnace | The thermostat shows a service icon; the fault history on the thermostat lists the furnace code. |
Symptoms
- E1 on the furnace control's two-digit display, visible through the blower door window
- Thermostat calls for heat but the inducer motor never starts
- ComfortNet thermostat shows a service icon or 'Check Furnace' message
- Furnace stays silent – no inducer hum, no ignition attempt
- Inducer can be heard running even when there is no call for heat (on some cases)
Possible causes
Ranked by how often each cause is behind this code (editorial estimate).
- Pressure switch contacts stuck or welded closed
- Short in the pressure switch wiring, e.g. chafed insulation touching the cabinet
- Jumper wire left across the pressure switch after earlier troubleshooting
- Inducer running when it should be off (stuck relay on the control board)
- Control board misreading the pressure switch input
- Wrong or incompatible replacement pressure switch installed
Fix it step by step
Read the code without opening anything
Look through the sight glass in the blower door. The display shows the code as E1; note it, together with anything the thermostat shows. Don't remove the burner-side door.
Tools: Flashlight
Confirm the thermostat is calling
Set the thermostat to Heat and raise the setpoint a few degrees above room temperature. E1 only matters when there is a real call for heat – the control checks the switch at the start of each cycle.
Listen for the inducer at rest
Set the thermostat to Off and listen at the furnace. If a small motor keeps humming with no heat call, the inducer is being powered when it shouldn't – tell the technician, because it points to the control board rather than the switch.
Ask about recent work
If anyone worked on the furnace recently, mention it. A jumper left on the pressure switch during troubleshooting produces exactly this code and is also a safety hazard.
One reset, then call
Turn the furnace service switch off for at least 30 seconds and back on, then call for heat again. If E1 comes back, stop there – the pressure switch circuit needs a technician with a meter and manometer.
How to reset E1
- Set the thermostat to Off
- Turn the furnace service switch off for 30 seconds, then back on
- Set the thermostat to Heat; if E1 returns, leave the furnace off and call a technician
Where the parts are
- 1Fan
- 2Temperature sensor
- 3CAN bus
- 4Outdoor unit
- 5Compressor
- 6Engine computer (ECM)
Repair options & costs
| Repair | DIY? | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Technician diagnostic visit | No | $100–$200 |
| Replace low-stage pressure switch | No | $150–$350 |
| Repair shorted pressure switch wiring | No | $120–$250 |
| Replace furnace control board | No | $350–$750 |
Rough US estimates; technician call-out fees vary by region. Not a quote.
When to call a technician
Call a licensed HVAC technician after one failed reset. Testing the pressure switch means checking its contacts with power off and the inducer draft with a manometer, and the replacement must be the exact switch rated for that furnace – a wrong switch can let the burner fire with a blocked vent.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I just jumper the switch to get heat?
The pressure switch proves that combustion gases can leave through the vent. Bypassing it could let the furnace fire with a blocked flue and push carbon monoxide into the house.
Is E1 the same as a blocked vent?
No. A blocked vent or clogged hose usually keeps the switch from closing, which shows a different code. E1 is the opposite – the switch reads closed when it should be open.
Will the furnace reset itself like after other lockouts?
Not really. For E1 the control just waits for the switch to open. If the contacts are welded, it will wait indefinitely and the furnace stays off.
Sources
- Official Goodman user documentation and support pages (facts only; wording is our own)
- Methodology: How We Build Code Pages · Data Sources We Use · Editorial Policy