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The pilot light is an important component of all older furnaces and boilers. The pilot light is the flame that lights the gas provided by the main burner. However, if the pilot light goes out, the gas will still be released from the pipe and this build-up of gas is obviously very dangerous.
Is it bad if the pilot light goes out?
The pilot light is a small, blue flame that is used to ignite the natural gas being pumped into the main burner. This tube is fitted with a safety valve (the thermocouple), which stops the flow of gas if the pilot light goes out. This prevents gas from building up in your furnace, posing a safety hazard.
Is it dangerous if pilot light goes out on boiler?
If your boiler has a faulty pilot light you should immediately call professional heating engineers. It could be very dangerous since if the pilot light goes out, the boiler could still release the mains gas into the atmosphere and could pose a carbon monoxide poisoning risk.
What happens to gas when pilot light goes out?
If your pilot light repeatedly goes out, this is a likely culprit. If this flame sensor should fail, gas will continue to flow even after the pilot light has been extinguished, causing a safety hazard, and requiring immediate repair.
Why would a pilot light just go out?
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.
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.
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.
Do I need to turn gas off if pilot light goes out?
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. 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.
What do you do when the 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 I get the pilot light back on my boiler?
How do you relight the pilot light on a boiler? Turn the gas to ‘pilot. ‘ Press and hold the reset switch for one minute and hold a flame to the pilot light at the same time. If all is working as expected, return any casing/doors and turn the gas from ‘pilot’ to ‘on.
Will the gas company light My pilot?
Most of today’s gas appliances have electric starters, rather than pilot lights. One caveat, however: If you detect the strong smell of natural gas, do not attempt to light the pilot. Instead, leave the house and call your local gas company or 911.
Are pilot lights always on?
The little flame you see in your gas fireplace after you have turned it off is called a pilot light. A Standing Pilot Light runs constantly, whether your fireplace is on or off.
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.
What are the symptoms of a bad thermocouple?
Failed Thermocouple Symptoms The first is signs of contamination on the tube, which can include discoloration, cracks, or pinholes. Next, check the wiring for any signs of wear or corrosion like missing insulation or bare wire.
How do you know if your 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.
How much does it cost to relight a pilot light?
The Cost of Relighting the 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
