Dirty pilot tubes can also result in a split flame. Contact professional furnace repair technicians at Hot Point for thermocouple repairs if you aren't so confident. Its main function is to ignite the burners when the furnace is called upon for heat. When pilot light goes out, usually the cause is something you can solve easily. Locate the copper rod near the burners. And when this happens, your thermocouple will shut off all gas flow to your furnace—meaning your pilot light will go out for good (and you won’t even be able to manually light it). The fix here is as easy as removing the thermocouple, cleaning it with a wire brush or something coarse (even an ordinary dollar bill works), and replacing. A gas furnace pilot light is a continuously burning flame. The furnace stays on for a short time (1 to 10 minutes) and then goes out. Standing pilot lights are common in older furnaces, but many newer furnaces have intermittent pilot lights or hot surface igniters. It won't cost you much. Before conceding the cost of emergency repairs and calling an HVAC professional, read ahead for some of the most common reasons why your furnace pilot light won’t stay on. Light the pilot but do not let go of button. Even a slight residue can make the thermocouple malfunction. So your thermocouple is basically a safety feature that prevents a dangerous buildup of gas in your home. The pilot light in your gas furnace supplies heat to your home. There could be nothing wrong on your end. That's the thermocouple. If it can’t sense a flame from the pilot light, it prevents the gas valve from opening and sending more gas into the combustion chamber. Every time. There is incorrect air flow to your furnace. The thermocouple assists with furnace operation by monitoring the presence of the flame, and turning off the gas supply to the pilot light if it should become extinguished or becomes weak. Sometimes pilot lights go out because the flame is set too low. Turn gas valve knob back to the on position. Your furnace’s thermocouple is dirty. This is DIY furnace maintenance you can perform on your own to extend the life of your furnace and avoid emergency repairs. The regulator controls the pressure of natural gas before it enters your home. One of the most common problems with aging furnaces in St. Louis area homes is when the This can happen on excessively windy days or nights. Have a professional inspect and clean your thermocouple. This is the pilot flame that provides the heat. ...then you most likely have a dirty or restricted pilot light orifice. They’ll replace the regulator if it’s gone bad. Something's wrong. No matter the pilot configuration, the thermocouple will be near the burners—look for a removable metal rod nearby. If your propane gas furnace has stopped working, one of the problems you may encounter while you’re troubleshooting is an extinguished pilot light.. Cleaning out the pilot orifice means disassembling the pilot and clearing out the debris using a needle or compressed air. Draft- Believe it or not your pilot light can go out when there is a strong draft around your furnace. Now let go of button, pilot should stay lit. But if your thermocouple is broken, dirty or not lined up properly, it might not sense a pilot light’s flame (even when it’s lit). Thermocouple malfunction-Dirt can build up in the intake valve and restrict the amount of oxygen that is required to keep the pilot light burning efficiently. The pilot light is supposed to be a strong blue cone, not a weak yellow flame. Once you light the pilot, you need to keep the button depressed for at least 30 seconds (sometimes up to 1 minute). Hot Point Heating & Air Conditioning LLC. Why Did the Pilot Light Go out on My Propane Gas Furnace? Don’t worry, we’ll explain them in detail and show you what you can do to get your heat back. The thermocouple needs to detect the flame, otherwise it will shut the gas valve, and your furnace will not function correctly. If you're having trouble locating the pilot or thermocouple, double-check to make sure your unit actually has a standing pilot light. If you’re not eager to start tampering with crucial parts of your furnace system, furnace repair experts at Hot Point are just one phone call away to help you out. A gas valve typically can’t be repaired once it’s gone bad. Poor Electrical Wiring. The thermocouple isn't too difficult to find. It’s often called the “flame sensor” because its job is to detect whether the pilot light is lit or not. However, electronic ignition is not feasible nor cost-effective for most standing pilot furnaces. Keep the area ventilated: Open all nearby windows and doors to avoid a buildup of gas. Get in touch with your utility company if the problems persist. Read on for reasons why, and what you can do to fix it. An operational pilot light in your furnace means safety from the possibility of a gas leak. Something's wrong. The next best ... Continue Reading about Pilot Light Blows Out on Furnace on Windy Days You'll have to remove the cover, and chances are the lighting won't be working in your favor. The thermocouple is the copper rod the pilot flame directly hits. If not, you need to call for service. Pilot Goes Out The heater won't operate properly if the pilot flickers, is too weak or goes out, and the cause could also be blockages in the pilot tube. A fierce, freezing draft sends shivers down your spine. However, if it isn’t functioning properly it may prevent gas from flowing at a high enough pressure to keep your pilot light lit. Give us a call or schedule online below. It’s one of the reasons … You’ll know that a bad gas regulator is your problem if you notice pilot problems in other gas appliances in your home (such as your gas water heater or gas stove). The most common reason the furnace pilot light won’t stay lit. This is the thermocouple. Ask around your neighborhood and find out if anyone else has had issues with their natural gas. A furnace thermocouple is a safety feature that regulates gas flow to your system based on whether the pilot light is on. Soot buildup on the thermocouple may block the flame. The thermocouple is a rod that comes into physical contact with the flame in your system. If removing and cleaning the thermocouple is something you're comfortable doing, perform this routine maintenance annually. There is an issue with the gas connection. In most cases, the fix is something as simple and inexpensive as reigniting the pilot flame. https://www.jerrykelly.com/blog/what-causes-a-gas-furnace-pilot-light-to-go-out Furnace Pilot Light Keeps Going Out. Replacing a broken thermocouple is cheap and relatively easy if you're mechanically inclined. We have compiled a few tips you can try to fix the problem. If the pilot light of your gas furnace, water heater, stove, or fireplace goes out numerous times throughout the year, you need to take action ASAP. If the pilot light on your furnace keeps going out and you are in the northeastern Pennsylvania area, contact T.E. Improper Venting & Airflow Sometimes a pilot light can go out as a result of some source of wind or air simply blowing it out. You awake on a cold winter morning and cast the covers aside. An unlit pilot light means that the burners can’t come on and the furnace won’t work. Hot Point furnace repair experts guarantee integral and trustworthy repair services. A fierce, freezing draft sends shivers down your spine. In this episode of Repair and Replace, Vance shows how to relight the pilot light, in a standing pilot furnace. Maybe the pilot stays on for a moment and the furnace attempts to fire, but almost immediately shuts down. If your furnace has a standing pilot light, you may experience some frustration with it blowing out on windy days. If you are trying to light a standing pilot light on an old furnace but it keeps going out, make sure you are holding the pilot button long enough. Sometimes a pilot light goes out, so you do not need to worry when your gas fireplace shuts off and pilot goes out. Most older propane gas furnaces (and some new ones) are ignited with a pilot light (many newer models use an electronic ignition for better efficiency). NYC Master Plumbers License #1090 & #2421 • NYC Oil Burning Equipment Installer´s License #5087 • NYC Licensed Master Fire Suppression Piping Contractor #714B • Nassau County Licensed Plumber-Town of North Hempstead #2095P • Nassau County Licensed Plumber-Town of Oyster Bay #2095N • NYS Backflow Prevention Device Tester #1437 • Nassau County Office of Consumer Affairs Heating Contractor License #H2408250000 • BPI Hydronic Heating Professional #CAN09706, NYC Master Plumbers License #1090 & #2421 • NYC Oil Burning Equipment Installer´s License #5087 • NYC Licensed Master Fire Suppression Piping Contractor #714B • Nassau County Licensed Plumber-Town of North Hempstead #2095P • Nassau County Licensed Plumber-Town of Oyster Bay #2095N • NYS Backflow Prevention Device Tester #1437 • Nassau County Office of Consumer Affairs Heating Contractor License #H2408250000 • BPI Hydronic Heating Professional #CAN09706, is a copper rod that sits next to your furnace burners, Have a professional inspect and clean your thermocouple, Has a weak, yellow flame (instead of blue). You awake on a cold winter morning and cast the covers aside. When heat is called for and the furnace turns “on,” a valve releases gas to the main burner, and the pilot light ignites the gas. If the pilot light will not stay lit, it needs to be fixed ASAP to supply heat to your home and for safety reasons. If the thermocouple fails to shut off the gas, all the gas flowing through the furnace could get into your home. Need a professional furnace repair ASAP? Do-it-yourself maintenance and repairs can only go so far, unfortunately. A faulty burner. Many HVAC techs will try to employ shady, scammy tactics to get the most money out of you. The best cure is electronic ignition. Hot Point Heating and Air Conditioning offers flat rate pricing on all of our Wisconsin repairs, meaning we charge exactly what we quote and don’t stray from it. © 2021 Ranshaw Plumbing & Heating. But a common problem that people with furnaces run into is a pilot light that keeps going out. You may be able to fix the problem on your own if you’ve got the tools and the wherewithal. Contact your utility company immediately. Continue holding button for 60 seconds. Under constant exposure to a hot flame, a thermocouple wears down over time. © 2021 Hot Point Heating & Air Conditioning LLC. A leak in the output duct of the furnace could cause air to blow into the area. Otherwise known as the flame sensor, the thermocouple automatically shuts off the gas if the pilot light goes out. A bad regulator in your natural gas meter outside your home will affect all of the gas appliances in your home, including your furnace, dryer, stove, etc. This valve operates automatically and shuts off gas flow as soon as the pilot goes out, preventing any risks of excessive gas buildup. But if the regulator is old or broken, it may not allow gas to flow at a strong or steady enough pressure to light your furnace’s pilot light. Your furnace may not be getting enough gas to keep the pilot lit. For safety's sake, shut off power to the furnace by switching the breaker to the off position, and close the gas valve. You see, the pilot light orifice controls the flow of gas to your pilot light. The only thing more frustrating than a busted furnace is the hundred trips to the garage for tools when you're trying to fix it. Hide Licenses Other problems like low gas pressure, a loose or faulty thermocouple or a gas control valve that's not working right can … When natural gas consumption peaks, the “gas grid” in your area may be nearing its capacity and lower the gas pressure intermittently. Turn on appliance, turn up thermostat, main gas should light. Yellow flames result when there's not enough oxygen to completely burn the fuel. If your water heater’s burner is defective, then this is likely to affect ignition, which … Locate the pilot light and look for the tip of a copper rod very nearby. We’ll send out an experienced heating tech right away. Attempts to re-light the pilot light are futile. Its job is to decrease the pressure of the natural gas before it enters your home and gas appliances. What If My Pilot Light Keeps Going Out? Some of the reasons your pilot light keeps going out include: The pilot light flame needs to completely envelop the top of the thermocouple rod so it knows the flame is on. That said, even the failsafe system can malfunction, so any time your pilot is out, be sure to carefully check for any strong odors of gas (smells kind of like sulfur, or rotten eggs). Why does this happen? The most common issue that causes your pilot light to go out continually relates to your thermocouple. Because accessing the orifice requires removing your furnace’s burner assembly, we suggest having a professional clean the pilot orifice. This is usually a problem with electric water heaters. The thermocouple safeguards against a catastrophic buildup of gas. Keep every intake air register in your home open and clear to avoid a “vacuum” effect in the inlet. If your gas furnace’s pilot light keeps going out, you’re probably frustrated (and cold). The flames and pilot light go out but the fan continues to run. Your furnace’s gas valve delivers gas to your pilot light and combustion chamber. Do you have a problem pilot light? Of course, if you want to make sure the job is done right with the least amount of risk, contact experienced professionals at Hot Point for furnace repairs ASAP. (A device called a thermocouple is designed to recognize when the pilot light fails and then shut off the burner as … If a gas fireplace pilot light goes out, problems with the thermocouple might be the cause. If your furnace is still malfunctioning after you’ve repaired or replaced the thermocouple and determined the flow of gas isn’t a problem, you’ll need the aid of an experienced professional to figure out what’s wrong with your furnace. Just contact us and we’ll send a tech right over. Pilot light won't stay on? If your pilot light refuses to stay lit, you may need to check the integrity of your furnace and ventilation system. This component will deactivates the gas when the pilot light goes out. But if the orifice is dirty or restricted, the pilot light won’t light properly. We can help. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. Thermocouples work by producing a small amount of voltage when it is heated. Fully Licensed, Bonded and Insured. A bad gas regulator can also be the reason your furnace’s pilot light keeps going out. You may be able to fix the problem yourself, but in some cases, you’ll need to call an HVAC pro for help.. If you notice pilot problems in several of your household appliances, this may be the culprit. The pilot orifice may be full of dirt. This small, blue, perpetually burning flame is created when a small amount of gas is channeled through a small tube in the gas pipe. Have a professional check your gas regulator for problems. If your pilot light re-lights easily after going out overnight, it’s possible it was blown out by a draft. Even the slightest hiccup in gas supply to your furnace could be enough for the pilot to go out. Spall & Son for professional gas furnace repair in Scranton, PA. We will perform a thorough diagnostic check of your home’s gas furnace and provide reliable furnace repair at a price you can afford. Providing Heating, Air Conditioning, and Water Heater Services for. Sometimes it's referred to as the "flame sensor." You can try to turn off the gas or maybe, your appliance runs out of propane. Well, if your gas furnace pilot light won’t stay lit, it’s usually due to 1 of these 4 issues: We know—those “issues” are pretty vague. The burner ignites but goes out before your home is heated When the thermostat is turned up, the furnace ignites and the burner comes on. The owner's manual provides information for adjusting the flame. A thermocouple that is dirty or malfunctioning will often shut off your gas supply in error, causing the pilot light to go out and your furnace to stop working. A thermocouple is a component of a gas furnace that you can find near the pilot light. The pilot light keeps going out while the burners are already lit causing the - Answered by a verified HVAC Technician We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Still having trouble with a furnace pilot light that won’t stay lit? In these systems, the pilot will only light (in the case of hot surface igniters, the igniter surface heats) when the thermostat makes a command for heat. If your pilot light won’t stay lit, the thermocouple is very likely the culprit. Bad Thermocouple. Either the thermocouple is going bad or it is dirty and needs to be cleaned. Which means the thermocouple will shut off the gas flow to your furnace as a safety measure. If you can manage to get the pilot light lit for just a moment, inspect the flame. If the thermocouple isn't lined up correctly, it won't read the flame, and will shut the valve for the gas. A few common reasons a pilot light may repeatedly go out include: Changes in your ventilation system. You’ll need to have a licensed professional inspect the valve and replace it if it has become faulty. The pilot light needs a strong flow of gas to make a strong, steady blue flame that the thermocouple can sense. A weaker flame won’t envelop the thermocouple properly. When it comes to your furnace’s pilot light, there can be a variety of reasons that it goes out. Pilot light problems are common in gas appliances, such as water heaters, furnaces, and gas fireplaces. Without that gas, your pilot light couldn’t light. Remember to put back metal cover if … First off, grab a flashlight and a screwdriver before inspecting your furnace. Your pilot light might be going out on your furnace because: . Your gas regulator is usually located at your home’s gas meter. It won't stay on. Your furnace’s thermocouple is a copper rod that sits next to your furnace burners. So if the valve is accidentally turned to the OFF position or has gone bad, your pilot light won’t stay lit. When the thermocouple is dirty, broken, or misaligned, it can’t see your flame. Check the owner's manual: Always read the manufacturer’s guidelines or the owner's manual.Understanding how to correctly light your pilot is key to avoiding damage to your home and furnace. The number one reason why the pilot light keeps going out is the thermocouple. This can mean that the pilot tube tip is dirty. There are three reasons why your thermocouple might be malfunctioning: A broken or burned out thermocouple won't detect the flame properly, effectively closing the gas valve until you replace it. Smell for gas: Spend a few minutes checking the area for strong gas odors. Use a needle or a piece of thin wire to clean the tube, but turn off the gas and circuit breaker first. View Licenses Some of the possible serious reasons for pilot lights to go out include loose or broken gas valves, thermocouples or heat exchangers, faulty venting, low gas pressure, or high winds. Gas heaters, whether they warm up air or water in a home, rely on a pilot light to trigger the flame of the actual heater. The thermocouple is meant to stop the gas in the case if the electric igniter fails or if the pilot light goes out. The furnace stopped working at some point during the night. Turn On a Gas Fireplace With a Key It's a safety mechanism that shuts the gas off should the pilot go out. 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