Did you know that a pilot light gas heater failure can leave you freezing in your home? And if the safety valve isn’t working, you might also be ignoring a hidden gas leak.
Then, you wake up on a freezing morning to a cold house and a faint gas smell. If you don’t act quickly, you risk exposure to dangerous carbon monoxide or a fire hazard.
Thankfully, that doesn’t happen, and I’ll show you how to prevent it. I will explain what to do when the pilot light goes up and why it happens. Let’s begin.
A pilot light gas heater is a small gas flame, commonly originating from natural or liquefied petroleum gas, and has a pilot light as its source of ignition.
The pilot light itself is a small gas flame that stays lit for 24 hours to keep the heater ready to go whenever you turn it on.
A gas heater of a pilot light includes a couple of parts:
Now, how do they work together in a proper gas heater installation?
When your thermostat needs heat, the main gas valve opens, allowing gas to flow into the burner. The pilot light ignites it, creating a flame that heats the exchanger and warms your space.
When the set temperature is reached, the thermostat signals the valve to close, stopping the flame. The pilot light stays on for the next cycle.
A pilot light gas heater is especially popular for its simplicity and effectiveness. But, if the pilot goes out, issues with parts or the gas valve can cause leaks.
“So, is it dangerous if the pilot light goes out?“
Most of the time, yes. When a pilot light goes out, it can pose certain risks, such as:
Now, you know what a pilot light gas heater is and the danger if it goes out. But, what makes your pilot light go out?
A pilot light needs a steady, protected environment to stay lit. Even a slight breeze from an open window, vents, or HVAC systems can blow it out or disrupt the gas flow.
The flame’s core is sensitive. If a sudden breeze hits it, or if the oxygen and fuel mix gets changed, the flame can go out.
A thermocouple is a heat-sensitive sensor that generates a small electric current when exposed to the pilot flame. This current signals the gas valve to remain open, allowing gas to continue flowing.
A dirty, corroded, or misaligned thermocouple can’t sense enough heat. As a result, it doesn’t generate the right electrical signal. Without it, the gas valve shuts off for safety, cutting off gas to the pilot light.
The pilot light needs a steady gas flow to stay lit. If gas pressure drops from leaks, less fuel reaches the pilot, causing the flame to weaken, flicker, and possibly go out.
The pilot orifice is a small nozzle that directs gas into the flame. Over time, debris such as dust, rust, or webs can clog the orifice, making less gas flow through.
When it is partly blocked, it makes the flame flicker because the gas and air are not balanced. If the blockage gets worse, the flame may go out completely.
Good venting helps dangerous gases like carbon monoxide to leave and fresh air to come in. This keeps the fire burning.
If the flue, or exhaust gets blocked by snow or dirt, gases can get trapped. This can cause a backdraft, which pushes out oxygen and might put out the fire.
Now, if your gas heater in the pilot light goes out, how to relight it? Here are the steps:
If the pilot light on your gas heater goes out, look at your manual first. It has clear instructions, pictures, and safety warnings. These help keep you safe and make sure your heater works right.
Having the right tools makes the job safer and easier. For example, a long lighter lets you light the pilot from far away, so you don’t get burned.
A flashlight can help you see dark spots at the bottom of the heater. Protective gloves also keep your hands safe from sharp edges or hot parts.
This is an important safety step. Turn the gas control knob to “OFF” to shut off the main supply. Wait 5–10 minutes to let the leftover gas around the pilot safely escape.
After waiting, check for gas smell. If detected, do not light the pilot. It signals a leak. Turn off the main gas, air out the area, and evacuate.
It is suggested you call a professional, like Melbourne gas plumber, to handle it safely.
Once the gas smell is gone, find the pilot light assembly. On most furnaces and water heaters, it’s near the bottom, behind a removable panel.
Use a flashlight to see the small part with the pilot flame and thermocouple. Knowing its location ensures safe lighting.
You can then turn the gas control knob from “OFF” to “PILOT.” This opens a valve so a small amount of gas can reach the pilot light.
It makes it safe to light the pilot without sending too much gas to the main burner.
With the control knob set to “PILOT,” press and hold down the pilot reset button. You may need to push the knob in. This opens the gas valve, letting gas flow.
At the same time, bring your lighter or match to the pilot opening to ignite the gas. A small flame should appear.
After the pilot flame lights, hold down the reset button for 30 to 60 seconds. This gives the thermocouple time to warm up.
As it heats, it produces a small electrical current that signals the gas valve it’s safe to stay on. Letting go too early means the thermocouple isn’t hot enough, and the pilot will go out.
Turn the gas control knob from “PILOT” to “ON” or your desired temperature. This opens the main valve and allows gas to reach the burner.
You should see the main burner ignite and the heater produces heat. If it doesn’t light, check your thermostat. If it still doesn’t ignite, call a professional.
A pilot light is important for your gas heater. If the pilot light goes out, your heater might stop working and there could be a gas leak.
You already know some reasons why this can happen, like a breeze, a blocked opening, or a broken thermocouple. You have learned all these reasons in this article.
We hope this information helps. Always remember that safety comes first. If you smell gas or the pilot light keeps going out, call a professional from Melbourne gas plumber right away.
Fill the form below and we’ll get back ASAP!
MGP! Thank you for help, honest pricing and high quality work. Thank you to Joe for pricing and the boys involved for replacing my hot water tank and fixing my gas leak for a reasonable price. 5 star response, 5 star service and 5 star price.
Joe was great. Very professional and quick. Gas hot water heater needed replacing, he was honest and upfront about what our options were. System was sourced and replaced within a couple of hours.
Fantastic service very responsive Joe is highly recommended and works very clean and neat..... good job well done....very happy... will use again and again
At Melbourne Gas Plumber, we're here to handle all your gas plumbing needs throughout Melbourne. With over 40 years of experience, we bring extensive local knowledge and expertise to every job.
QUICK LINKS
OPENING HOURS
Open 24/7
