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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.
How much carbon monoxide does a pilot light produce?
Also, a typical pilot light can generate 450 pounds of carbon dioxide – a greenhouse gas — over a six-month period. If an appliance isn’t needed for a long period of time, its pilot light may be extinguished to save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce the risk of fire or explosion.
Can a pilot light going out cause carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is only produced when fuel of any type; oil, gas, wood or coal is burned. And a pilot light out of adjustment can produce carbon monoxide gas. The amount produced by even a badly maladjusted pilot is small because the flame size is also small.
Is it dangerous if 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.
Can there be a gas leak if the pilot light is on?
Published in Plumbing Tips, 23rd Dec 2019. A pilot light is a small flame that is built into your gas heating appliances, such as a furnace or water heater. If the pilot light goes out on a storage or instantaneous hot water heater, space heater or a ducted heater, you will not have a gas leak.
Is my pilot light too high?
If the flame is blue and weak, and barely reaches the thermocouple, it needs to be stronger. If it extends well above the thermocouple, it’s too strong. If the flame covers the top of the thermocouple and burns steadily with a yellow tip, that’s just about right.
How do you know if a 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 happens when water heater pilot light goes out?
If the pilot light goes out, your water heater won’t be able to ignite the gas burner and therefore, won’t be able to heat the water. But once the pilot light is relit, the water heater is able to ignite the gas burner and can begin to heat the water again.
What would make the pilot light on a water heater go out?
Some of the most common reasons that water heater pilot lights go out include: A faulty thermocouple. Over time, thermocouples can begin to malfunction and shut off the gas supply to the pilot light even if it’s burning properly. A bent or dirty thermocouple.
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.
What do you do when your pilot light goes out?
How to Relight a Pilot Light Turn off your appliance at the power switch or thermostat. Find the gas valve control knob and turn it to select “pilot.” If pilot light controls are sticky, do not apply force or use oil. Press the red button while simultaneously holding a match to the pilot burner.
How do you fix a pilot light that keeps going out?
What do I do if my pilot light keeps going out? Find the gas shut-off knob and turn to the “Off” setting. Remove the access panel to access the burner. Turn the knob to “Pilot” to start the flow of gas. While still holding the gas knob, light the pilot with a long lighter.
Can you adjust the pilot light flame?
Adjusting the Pilot Flame If the pilot flame is too small, you may be able to make it larger by turning the pilot adjustment screw on the valve control counterclockwise with a screwdriver to open it. The cause of a weak flame may also be an obstruction in the pilot tube.
Should a pilot light make noise?
There is usually no reason to be alarmed if your gas fireplace is making noises. Do some investigation, however, if you hear a new sound and experience an operating problem at the same time. If there is a roaring sound that occurs when the pilot light is on, it is usually because the flame needs to be adjusted.
What size should a pilot light be?
A pilot flame should be blue with a yellow tip and strong enough to cover about 1/2 inch at the end of the thermocouple tip. If the flame is too strong and adjusted wrong, it will be loud and cause improper furnace operation.
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.
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.
How much does it cost to have a pilot light lit?
The pilot light burns significantly less fuel than a fire but it can cost $8 to $10 a month if your fireplace is fueled by natural gas. If your fireplace is fueled by propane, it could cost up to $20 a month. Turning off the pilot would reduce your energy costs during the summer.
