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The pilot light provides a small flame that ignites the gas needed to operate the appliance. This is because all modern gas appliances with pilot lights have a fail-safe device that closes off the gas to the appliance in the case when the pilot may go out. The fail-safe device is comprised of a thermocouple.
What happens when the pilot light goes out?
Can a Pilot Light Outage Be Dangerous? The worry here is that when a pilot goes out, the gas valve that supplies the fuel for the pilot flame could still be pumping gas. This can mean a buildup of gas, and when the pilot is relit or relights itself it could result in a very serious explosion.
What shuts off gas valve when no pilot light is present?
If the pilot goes out, no gas will flow into the valve. The only difference between the pilot safety switch and the combination gas valve is that the pilot safety switch is shutting the gas off electrically, and the thermocouple in the gas valve is shutting the gas off mechanically.
Can a pilot light relight itself?
Relighting a pilot light may be possible, depending on the type you have. By design, an automatic pilot light does not need to be lighted or relighted; it turns on and off by itself. If an automatic pilot or igniter is failing to light the burners on your appliance, it typically needs to be replaced.
Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from a pilot light?
A pilot light should be a crisp blue colour. A yellow or orange pilot light will produce carbon monoxide – an odourless, colourless gas that can fill your home and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms of this condition include dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea, unconsciousness, brain damage and death.
Should the pilot light always be on in a gas furnace?
If you have an older gas furnace, your heating unit relies on a little blue flame known as a pilot light to ensure ignition of the burners. Since the pilot light needs to remain active, your furnace is always consuming some gas.
What causes a gas valve to go bad?
The valve itself may have simply worn out or may be damaged due to basement seepage or submersion. Alternately, one of the electronic gas ignition components or a glitch in the safety circuit may be to blame. If your furnace has a standing pilot light, the thermocouple could be worn out.
Should the pilot light always be on in a gas stove?
Should the pilot light always be on in a gas stove? Yes, the design of gas stoves means that the pilot light will always be on. Some people dislike the fact that there is always an open flame burning within their gas stove, however, this is very important for the gas stove to be able to automatically ignite.
How do I reset my pilot light?
Once the gas has had time to dissipate, turn the knob to “Pilot.” Then, hold down the “Reset” button and bring the flame of a long lighter close to the pilot light opening. This should light the furnace pilot light. Once you are sure the pilot light is on, release your pressure on the reset button.
How do I know if my pilot light is out?
How to Tell If the Pilot Light Is Out Locate the front cover panel on your furnace. It should be a little door that’s easily visible. If your pilot light is on, it should be easy to see – your eyes will be drawn to the little flame. If you don’t see a flame, your pilot light is out. If there is a flame, check the color.
What color should my pilot light be?
The color of the pilot light should be blue because that means that only natural gas—without any other condensates—is reaching the pilot light through the gas main. The principal chemical compound found in natural gas is methane, and methane burns blue.
How much does it cost to relight a pilot light?
Most service providers will charge a standard fee per visit that typically covers the cost to relight a gas water heater. This service call price can range from $80 to $100.
Should I turn off my pilot light?
We recommend that you turn off your gas fireplace pilot light seasonally. Turning off your gas fireplace’s pilot light can save a substantial amount of energy and money. It is important to remember that not all gas fireplaces have “standing” pilot light, or, a pilot light that is “always on”.
What happens if your furnace doesn’t have a pilot light?
The Pilot Light (Faulty Ignition Sensor) The pilot light or ignition sensor is usually the most common issue when your furnace will not ignite. This is typically the problem if you can hear your furnace click on but it does not fire up. If the sensor or ignitor is dirty, it will need to be cleaned.
What do you do when your furnace pilot light goes out?
If you don’t feel comfortable restarting your pilot light, please don’t hesitate to call an expert for assistance. Step 1: Turn off your furnace. Step 2: Locate your gas valve. Step 3: Hold down the red button. Step 4: Light the pilot light. Step 5: Let go of the button. Step 6: Turn your gas back on.
Should I turn off my furnace pilot light in the summer?
Most modern mid to high efficiency gas furnaces no longer have a pilot light. It’s been replaced by an electronic ignition. As a result, the furnace will not need to continuously burn gas in order to keep a pilot light going, making it unnecessary to turn off your furnace for the summer.
How do you know if your gas valve is bad?
If 24 volts is coming from the board to the gas valve terminals and you don’t hear that little clicking noise the internal valve makes, you could have a bad gas valve. To double-check, take the leads off to the gas valve and check there. Got 24 volts? Then something downstream of that 24 volts is not working.
How do I know if my gas valve is bad?
When the valve gets stuck or seized it will either: Not open, and therefore not supply gas to the burner and pilot light. Not close, and gas will be letting by even if you’ve turned heating and hot water off.
