Is It Dangerous if The Pilot Light Goes Out? 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.
If the safety devices are working properly, it is not dangerous if the pilot light goes out except for the damage which could occur by the failure of the furnace to heat the house.
In the end, keeping the gas fireplace pilot light on or off is a personal preference. The decision boils down to residual heat, gas usage, and the possibility of nesting spiders. Generally, we recommend turning off the gas pilot light during the summer months.
A: Yes, it's generally safe to leave the pilot light on in your gas fireplace. This small flame is designed to stay lit all the time. Q: What are the benefits of leaving the pilot light on? A: Keeping the pilot light on can prevent the build-up of moisture in the fireplace, which can lead to corrosion over time.
turning off the pilot not only saves gas but prolongs the life of your furnace. during the summer that pilot flame will condense the moisture in the air and rust out the heat exchanger. turning off the gas supply will do the trick.
Save Energy and Money – Don't Leave Your Pilot Light Always On. As the weather gets warmer, you will be using your gas fireplace less and less. Turning off your gas fireplace seasonally can save you a substantial amount of energy and money.
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.
So basically your pilot light is responsible for combusting your fuel source, which is how your furnace creates heat. If it goes out, the safety features of your furnace will not allow it to release gas into the burner, meaning that the furnace will not run at all.
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.
How much gas does a pilot light require? Most pilot lights consume around 600 BTUs of gas every hour. If you leave your pilot light on for an entire day, it would roughly consume 14,400 BTU's every day.
The best reason to turn the pilot light off during summer is to conserve energy, especially now that prices are rising. Leaving the pilot light on consumes more gas, and it doesn't make sense to pay for it when you're not using it.
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.
There are two basic rules for leaving a fireplace operating during the night. DON'T leave the unit on overnight. DO leave the flue open so that excess carbon monoxide is vented. The main concern with a gas-burning appliance is the exhaust of carbon monoxide and leaving the unit on overnight is simply risky.
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.
The Short Answer Is: It is generally safe for a homeowner to relight a furnace pilot light, as long as they follow proper precautions and guidelines. To do it yourself, first, turn off the furnace's gas supply and wait for a few minutes to allow any lingering gas to dissipate.
Safety Considerations for Pilot Light Issues
If you smell gas or notice unusual sounds when your indicator flame goes out, leave your home immediately and contact emergency services. These signs could indicate serious safety concerns that require immediate professional attention.
As the weather gets warmer, many homeowners wonder if they should turn off their gas fireplace pilot light in the summer. Typically, extinguishing the pilot light in the summer is safe and often sound practice. However, several factors must be considered, including safety, energy efficiency, and cost.
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.
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.
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.
A faulty, misaligned, dirty, or damaged thermocouple is often the culprit behind your pilot light going out. The thermocouple is an automatic safety shutoff device that prevents the gas valve from opening if the pilot light is out.
Call Your Local Mr. Rooter Plumber! 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.
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. Free Furnace Promotion: Replace your air conditioner and get a FREE Trane furnace*!
Additionally, an active pilot light can create moisture, which may collect inside the pipes and cause corrosion. Turning off your pilot light is a simple process that will save you both energy and money.
Originally a pilot light was kept permanently alight, but this wastes gas. Now it is more common to light a burner electrically, but gas pilot lights are still used when a high energy ignition source is necessary, as in when lighting a large burner.