Table of Contents
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.
Can I relight the pilot light by myself?
If your pilot light goes out, your furnace will not be able to produce heat because its burners will not ignite. Often, homeowners can relight the pilot themselves.
How do I know if my furnace pilot light is on?
If your furnace has a round knob on the gas valve with the words OFF/ON/PILOT, you have what’s known as a standing pilot ignition.
What causes a pilot light to go out?
Some of the possible serious reasons for pilot lights to go out include loose or broken gas valves, thermocouples or heat exchangers, faulty venting, low gas pressure, or high winds. If you believe there is a serious problem, don’t hesitate to contact a professional.
How much does it cost to relight a pilot light?
A plumber can help reignite the pilot light. They will charge you an hourly fee of $40 to $150. This is usually a fairly brief project, and may just take an hour.
Why is my pilot light not staying lit on my furnace?
If your pilot light won’t stay lit, the thermocouple is very likely the culprit. Sometimes it’s referred to as the “flame sensor.” It’s a safety mechanism that shuts the gas off should the pilot go out. If the thermocouple fails to shut off the gas, all the gas flowing through the furnace could get into your home.
How can I tell if my furnace is gas or electric?
If you see a blue flame, it’s a gas heat exchanger. Other units will have a small metal panel that’s easy to remove. You can check behind there to see if you see that blue flame. Electric systems don’t have that access window or panel and make very little noise.
Why is my furnace not blowing hot air?
First, check to make sure the thermostat is set correctly. You will want to make sure that the fan control is set to auto, and not ‘on’. If the thermostat appears set correctly, turn off your heater at the thermostat and check the filter. If the filter is dirty, replace it.
Will gas leak if pilot light is off?
Although this is an area of concern for many people, the reality is that boilers are built so that the gas supply to the pilot light is shut off if the flame goes out. Whilst the cause of pilot light failure needs to be investigated, extinguished pilot lights aren’t going to cause a gas leak.
How do you fix a pilot light that keeps going out?
Once The Flame Is Lit, Turn Gas Control Valve to “On” Once the pilot light is ignited, you can release the reset button after 30 seconds and turn the gas knob to the “On” position. At this time you should hear the main burner come on. Now your pilot light should hold a flame and hot water should be restored!.
Do I need to turn gas off if pilot light goes out?
Since the thermocouple regulates gas going to the pilot, it should cut off on its own if the pilot ever goes out, but that’s only if it’s functioning correctly. If the thermocouple isn’t working properly, then it’s possible that it’s allowing gas to leak into the very room where the heater is located.
Does the gas company light pilot lights?
PG&E gas service professionals relight appliance pilots at no extra cost. “We want every family that we serve to be safe and warm this winter,” said Laurie Giammona, PG&E’s chief customer officer.
Can you manually light a gas hot water heater?
Lighting a water heater is simple, no matter what type you have. Most newer models of gas water heaters have a simple ignition switch. In just a few steps the water heater is lit, no problem. If you’ve moved into an older house, though, you many have the kind of water heater that needs to be lit manually.
Is it safe to relight water heater pilot?
Most homeowners can relight a pilot light themselves without any issue, but it’s important to be safe when dealing with a gas-powered hot water heater. You should always proceed with care when relighting a pilot light, since the gas used to power your hot water heater is flammable and potentially dangerous.
Why is my gas heater not igniting?
One of the most common reasons for your gas heater not igniting or stopped working is because its thermostat is either off or not working properly. Therefore, make sure you check the thermostat, and if it is off, then turn it on while setting it on heat mode (5 degrees above your room temperature, at least).
How do you reset the pilot light on a furnace?
Turn the knob to “Pilot” and hold down the “Reset” button. Using a long lighter, bring the flame close to the pilot opening. This should ignite the pilot light. Once the pilot is lit, you can release the reset button. The pilot should stay lit at this point.
Does an electric furnace have a pilot light?
Electric furnaces have pilot lights, the same as gas furnaces.
Is forced air heating gas or electric?
Forced air heating systems use natural gas, one of the most affordable substances as opposed to water or electricity. It’s not only affordable, but it’s also clean for the environment. New technology has also allowed for these systems to provide an even greater level of efficiency for your furnace.
Does heating use gas or electricity?
Using off-peak electricity, conventional electric heating may cost about twice as much as gas heating to run. And here’s why: electric heaters are essentially 100% efficient. In other words, all the electricity they use is turned into heat. The same isn’t true of a gas or oil-fired central heating system.
