This mode allows just enough gas to light the pilot without adding so much gas that you risk an explosion. The way to set the pilot mode will depend on your water heater. Some gas regulator valves will have a clearly marked “pilot” position that you turn the valve to.
The whole point of the pilot on a hot water tank is to light the main burner when the temperature drops below the set level on the thermostat. That's why you'd want it on if you had a water tank - so you wouldn't have many many gallons of water that needed to heat up again before you used it.
Yes it is safe to leave the water heater in pilot mode while flushing. You do not want the burner to fire while the tank is empty as this can damage the tank but the pilot will not cause a problem. Added: most gas valves with a standing pilot have the temp setting and ``pilot'' then off settings.
What Is a Pilot Light? The pilot light on your water heater is the little blue flame used to light the gas streaming to your heater from the gas pipes coming from outside your home. While some people believe that a water heater turns on when the pilot light ignites, traditional pilot lights are lit 24/7.
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.
If the pilot light goes out, the thermocouple will detect that there is no flame and automatically close the valve to shut off the gas flow. Over time, the thermocouple can become covered in dirt and grime.
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.
Turn off the electricity to the water heater or turn the gas switch to pilot. Shut off the cold-water inlet to the water heater. Connect a garden hose to the tank's drain valve. Locate the draining end of the hose in an area that won't be adversely affected by the scalding hot water.
In most cases, yes, it's safe to light a gas water heater manually, but you should shut the gas off first, open a window, and let the space air out for about 10 minutes.
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 there's no vacation mode explicitly detailed on your thermostat, then you can manually do the same thing a vacation mode would by turning the temperature down to “Pilot” mode, and then leaving it there until you get back.
If the gas burner or electric heating elements come on during the flushing process, the water heater can be damaged, requiring repair or replacement. Some manufacturers will recommend turning the gas off completely during this process, others may recommend setting the gas valve to the “pilot” or “vacation” setting.
A pilot light is a small flame commonly seen in furnaces, fireplaces, and water heaters. This flame is responsible for igniting gas coming from the gas valve and main burner. The pilot light always remains burning. When it's time to heat, the gas control valve releases gas into the main burner.
Tank-Based Gas Hot Water Heaters
If your hot water heater is gas, simply turn the setting to vacation or pilot mode, DO NOT TURN IT OFF! Reigniting your tank-based gas hot water heater is dangerous, therefore remember to take proper precautions!
If you have younger children in the house, you are always better to have your water heater set to 120 degrees to prevent scalding. If there are no kids in the home or your children are older, we would usually recommend turning the unit up to 130 or 140 degrees.
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.
While today's water heaters are better designed than older models, they still require regular maintenance in order to prolong their lives. With regular inspection, draining, and flushing, you can expect a gas water heater to last anywhere from 8-12 years and an electric water heater to last anywhere from 10-15 years.
Relight the pilot light.
Turn the knob to “Pilot,” and let gas to flow to the pilot. Light a lighter or match, then push in the reset button. Hold your flame to the pilot light's opening. Keep the reset switch depressed until the pilot light is burning steadily.
That means for normal function it should be set to "On" so the pilot is burning and the water is heating.
Most homeowners should flush their water heaters every 6 months or so, but if you have extremely hard water, you may want to do it more often. Flushing your hot water heater could be necessary as often as every few months depending on the mineral content of your local water supply.
Opening a hot water faucet will help the water heater drain faster. Some drain valves may be opened with a handle but others require a flat blade screwdriver. Let the water heater drain completely.
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.
Energy Conservation
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.
Propane is always measured in gallons instead of therms, and every gallon of propane is equal to 92,000 BTUs. Running a pilot light for a month will typically use around 4.7 gallons of propane, which means that you would end up wasting more than 50 gallons a year if you kept the pilot on all year long.