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Your pilot light relies on your natural gas to stay aflame, so if your gas is shut off, your pilot light will go out. Simply turn your gas back on and either relight your pilot light yourself or call a professional.
Does the gas shut off when pilot light goes out?
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 if pilot light goes out on gas furnace?
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 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.
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.
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.
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 I do if my pilot light won’t light?
If your pilot light won’t stay alight, it might be the thermocouple. Sometimes dust buildup collects on the thermocouple and blocks the sensor. Try cleaning the thermocouple and then relighting the pilot light. If it continues to go out, the thermocouple might need 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.
What would cause pilot light to go out?
Improper Venting & Airflow Sometimes a pilot light can go out as a result of some source of wind or air simply blowing it out. If this happens, there could be an issue with how your flue pipe is set up or how your system is venting.
How much does it cost to replace a thermocouple?
The thermocouple is an apparatus that senses whether the pilot light is lit and triggers the gas control valve. Repairs typically cost about $150 to have it done professionally, though a new thermocouple itself only costs about $20 on average.
How can I tell 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 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.
Why do gas furnace efficiencies jump from 80% to 90 %?
Why do gas furnace efficiencies jump from 80% to 90%? Efficiencies over 80% cause condensation but the flue gas is still too hot for PVC vent pipe until the efficiency reaches 90%.
Should I turn the pilot light off?
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”.
How much does it cost to run a natural gas pilot light?
– Reduced energy costs 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.
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.
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.
Can a pilot light cause a fire?
When the appliance is turned on, a valve releases more gas, which is ignited by the pilot light. If this leak continues, its concentration may reach a point where a spark – such as that from a cigarette lighter, static electricity, or even the pilot light itself as it is re-lit – will cause a fire or even an explosion.
How do you know if you have a bad thermocouple?
If you can’t get the flame to light at all, and you’re sure the gas is on, there’s probably an obstruction in the pilot tube. If the flame lights and goes out when you release the gas control knob after holding it in for the recommended 20 to 30 seconds, that’s the sign of a thermocouple malfunction.
