Your unit's pilot light is always burning when the unit is on. If the pilot light goes out, the gas will stop flowing and your unit will shut off. When
The pilot light, however, is an actual old-fashioned flame inside your furnace. This flame is supplied by your gas line and should always be lit.
The pilot light always remains burning. When it's time to heat, the gas control valve releases gas into the main burner. That being said, pilot lights can go out—and when they do, it's usually because of one of the following reasons.
The thermocouple's job is to shut a gas safety valve if the pilot light goes out. That's important because gas is always being supplied to the pilot to keep the flame lit. But if the pilot flame goes out, then the gas would still be released. After a while, the gas could collect in your home and become a health hazard.
Your unit's pilot light is always burning when the unit is on. If the pilot light goes out, the gas will stop flowing and your unit will shut off. When heating is required, the gas control valve releases the gas into the main burner where the pilot light ignites the gas.
In many systems, a broken pilot light will prevent the appliance from working at all. This is a safety precaution to prevent a buildup of excess gas in the unit, which can be dangerous for you and your family, potentially leading to a gas leak.
A fireplace pilot light might consume about 24,000 BTU per day, adding up to about 720,000 BTU a month, or 7.2 therms. If you're paying $1 per therm, then leaving the pilot light on all the time throughout a month might cost you around $7 per month and $84 per year.
It shouldn't be able to re-light itself. It should have a bi-metal strip which prevents gas being delivered unless the pilot has heated the strip to sustain it on. If the pilot goes out regularly then the pilot flame is either being blown out or the bi-metal strip is faulty.
You can use Emery cloth sandpaper to gently clean any debris or build-up from the end of the thermocouple. If present, you should also clean off any corrosion where the power wire connects to the thermocouple terminal. Be aware, you may need to detach the thermocouple from the burner assembly to clean it thoroughly.
Setting the system to “Vacation” or “Pilot” mode saves energy while also preventing damage to your water heater. It's a compromise between using no power at all and using a little bit of heat to avoid extensive damage to your system. So, as you can see, vacation mode is an essential feature of your water heater.
If there is a blue flame, the pilot light is working. If there is no flame, the pilot light is out.
If you are having trouble getting your water heater pilot light on, or you can't get it to stay lit for long, rely on a plumbing professional for water heater repair, maintenance, and replacement services.
Generally, leaving the pilot light on is safe, and you may decide to do this for a few reasons. For example, you want to use your outdoor fireplace on those cooler summer evenings. The pilot flame can also help prevent spiders from building webs in your fireplace, insert, or stove.
Open the access door or panel to the burner chamber and take a look inside. You should be able to see the pilot light tube. If there's a steady blue flame, your pilot light is operational. If there is no flame, the pilot light is out and you'll need to call a professional.
Turn the knob or button to the pilot position and light the pilot flame, while holding the button or knob in position. Continue to hold it in the "Pilot" position for approximately 30 to 45 seconds before releasing and turning to the "On" position.
Your boiler pilot light is a very important part of your boiler. The pilot light or flame needs to be lit all the time to make sure that your boiler can produce hot water for your taps and central heating as and when it is needed.
The gas will ignite immediately upon coming into contact with this flame; then, it's ready to go. Once the gas has been lit, it will produce a flame that provides heat. This initial source of ignition is what the pilot light is there for. It's a constantly running flame that's there to ignite the gas.
Having the pilot light turn off is not automatically cause for panic. If it goes out, follow your manufacturer's instructions and determine whether relighting it is safe. If relighting is not safe, or if your pilot light keeps going out, call for help from a trained technician.
Pilot lights can be a source of carbon monoxide because the by-products of combustion are released inside the home rather than vented to the outside. Gas ovens and ranges should be monitored closely and kept in good working order.
DOES A PILOT LIGHT USE MUCH GAS? Most pilot lights consume around 600 BTUs of gas/hour. That's roughly 14,400/BTUs daily or approximately 432,000 BTUs monthly. Natural gas (NG) customers are billed in “therms” by their gas supplier.
This valve operates automatically and shuts off gas flow as soon as the pilot goes out, preventing any risks of excessive gas buildup. That said, even the failsafe system can malfunction, so any time your pilot is out, be sure to carefully check for any strong gas odors, like the scent of sulfur or rotten eggs.
If left unchecked, the gas can leak from the burner, leading to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home.
Keep in mind that, if the smell is faint, this is not necessarily a cause for alarm — it's perfectly normal for a natural gas smell to linger if you're lighting your stove or when the pilot light for one of your appliances goes out.
If the pilot light is extinguished, allow at least 5 minutes for accumulated gas to disperse after turning off the gas valve before attempting to relight the pilot. Follow manufacturer's specific instructions for relighting the pilot after the gas has dispersed.