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The water heater pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner on your water heater. If the pilot doesn’t relight, if it goes out right after lighting or if it goes out repeatedly, by far the most common cause is a bad thermocouple.
What does it mean when your pilot light won’t light?
Common Reasons Your Furnace Pilot Won’t Light There are several possible reasons why your gas furnace pilot won’t light: an ongoing draft, a faulty thermocouple, an accumulation of dirt, or an inefficient supply.
Can I manually light my gas water heater?
Lighting the Pilot Light on a Manual Hot Water Heater If your hot water heater is a manual, grab a long lighter. Now, hold the pilot dial down while you light the burner. You’re going to hold the pilot button down for at least 30 seconds before you release it.
What do you do when your pilot light goes out?
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.
Why does my gas heater not ignite?
The pilot light or ignition sensor is usually the most common issue when your furnace will not ignite. Then, remove the front panel to find the ignitor or ignition sensor. This is typically located near the burners. If the sensor or ignitor is dirty, it will need to be cleaned.
How do you reset the pilot light on a gas water heater?
If your heater’s pilot goes out, you can relight it yourself. Locate the gas regulator valve on the water heater. Turn the gas regulator valve’s knob to “Pilot,” press down on it and hold it down. Hold down the regulator valve knob for at least one minute after the pilot has been lit.
Should the water heater be on pilot or on?
You should set the water heater to “pilot”. If, however, your water heater is also the boiler for your central heating, then you’ll want to leave the heating running as normal so that your house doesn’t get damp as a result of cold and condensation.
How much does it cost to replace a water heater thermocouple?
The cost to replace the thermocouple on a water heater is $100 to $325. The thermocouple detects whether the pilot light is lit and signals the gas control valve to turn on the gas flow. Thermocouple replacement is the most common repair needed for gas tank water heaters.
How can I tell if my water heater pilot light is on?
(Some water heaters may need to be manually lit with a long lighter). Once the status button begins to blink or turns on, the pilot light is lit. At this point, you can turn the knob to your desired temperature position. You should hear the burner ignite.
How do I know if my thermocouple is broken?
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.
Can I relight my own pilot light?
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.
Where is my flame sensor?
A furnace flame sensor is a very basic part of your furnace. It’s located on the burner assembly and is just a thin metallic rod. It’s usually bent, and it sits just in front of the pilot flame inside the furnace.
How do you trick a flame sensor?
Luckily, making such a check is very easy: Take a multimeter with microamps (µA) measuring system. Keep the furnace system turned on. Connect it to the wire that is leading to the gas valve. Connect the other side of the multimeter to the sensor terminal. Take the lead away from the flame sensor.
Do all gas water heaters have a pilot light?
* Caution: Most modern water heaters no longer use standing pilots. They use electronic ignition to ignite the gas. Do not attempt to manually light an electronic ignition system.
How do you put a water heater in pilot mode?
Turn the gas knob to “Pilot,” press and hold it down. This will start the flow of gas so you can light the flame. Some water heaters have a separate button for pilot mode, usually a red one, which you’ll press and hold. While still holding the gas down, light that pilot.
Is it safe to light water heater pilot light?
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.
Can I replace a thermocouple myself?
1 cause of pilot lights that won’t stay lit is a worn-out thermocouple. It’s easy to replace and a new one costs $5 to $10. Then detach the thermocouple from the burner and take it with you to the home center or hardware store to ensure you buy the right replacement.
