What does it mean when your furnace pilot light keeps going out?
If your pilot light won’t stay lit, the thermocouple is very likely the culprit. Sometimes it’s referred to as the “flame sensor.” It’s a safety mechanism that shuts the gas off should the pilot go out. If the thermocouple fails to shut off the gas, all the gas flowing through the furnace could get into your home.
Why does my pilot light keep going out?
If your pilot doesn’t re-light, won’t stay lit or keeps going out after a short time, you most likely have an issue with the hot water heater thermocouple. This can happen with age. This can happen with age.
Why does the pilot light on my water heater not stay on?
A bent, dirty, or damaged thermocouple could be the reason your water heater pilot won’t stay lit. The thermocouple is an important component you’ll see in most modern gas water heaters. This part senses when the pilot light is on using an electric current.
What do you need to know about pilot light?
The pilot light flame needs to completely envelop the top of the thermocouple rod so it knows the flame is on. If the thermocouple isn’t lined up correctly, it won’t read the flame, and will shut the valve for the gas. I’m not touching it. Help me!
What should I do if my furnace pilot light keeps going out?
If you’re having trouble locating the pilot or thermocouple, double-check to make sure your unit actually has a standing pilot light. Standing pilot lights are common in older furnaces, but many newer furnaces have intermittent pilot lights or hot surface igniters.
Why is my pilot light not staying lit?
The primary reason a pilot light won’t stay lit is simply equipment malfunction. If you’ve checked everything else and the light continually goes out, this is probably the cause. In this case, you may need to replace your pilot light. A pilot light can also keep going out because of a problem with the thermocouple .
Why does your pilot light not light all the time?
Common Reasons Your Furnace Pilot Won’t Light. There are several possible reasons why your gas furnace pilot won’t light: an ongoing draft, a faulty thermocouple, an accumulation of dirt, or an inefficient supply. Ongoing Draft. Over the years, your pilot light may blow out periodically due to a strong draft during storm activity, or during times when there is a high wind.
Why is my furnace pilot not staying lit?
The most common reason the furnace pilot light won’t stay lit. Bad Thermocouple. A furnace thermocouple is a safety feature that regulates gas flow to your system based on whether the pilot light is on. In simple terms, the thermocouple checks to see if your pilot light flame is lit and turns off the gas flow if it senses that your pilot light is off, so you don’t have gas building up in your home.
Why does your pilot light keep blowing out?
A draft might be the reason your pilot light keeps going out. The draft can come from under a doorway, through a window or even from under the floor. An easy way to check for drafts is to place a burning candle at the approximate location of the pilot. Watch the flame, and it will alert you to a blowing wind by bending with the wind’s direction.
