Learn How To Light Your Furnace Pilot Light Alton IL
If your gas furnace suddenly stops working, don’t panic. Your pilot light may have simply gone out. This is one of the most common furnace problems that owners of older gas appliances experience, and it’s usually an easy fix.
How to Relight a Pilot Light
Begin by trying to locate the manufacturer’s instructions. If you still have the owner’s manual, instructions should be included in that. Many models also have instructions on a plate attached to the front of the furnace. If you can find them, follow those.
Next, locate the pilot light assembly. It may be hidden behind a removable plate or panel. You can typically identify it by the gas valve control, which has on, off, and pilot settings.
Turn the valve to the offsetting and wait for three minutes. This allows any excess gas to dissipate so you don’t spark a bigger fire than you intended.
Next, turn the valve control to the pilot setting. Depending on the assembly design, you may have to either press the valve control itself down or press and hold a separate reset button. As you do this, hold a lighted match over the pilot opening. This should ignite a small flame. Keep holding the button down until the flame is burning on its own, then turn the valve control to the on position. Once you do this, your pilot light should stay lit unless there are underlying furnace problems.
What Causes a Pilot Light to Go Out?
Pilot lights can go out for a variety of reasons. One of the most common is simply a strong draft coming in through your HVAC system on a windy day, which can blow the flame out like a candle. In some cases, the pilot light may be shut off by the thermocouple, which monitors the heat to make sure the flame is burning off all the gas being emitted. If the flame is too weak, the thermocouple shuts off the gas and extinguishes the flame. This can happen if the gas line is clogged or something else is interfering with the supply. Sometimes, the thermocouple may malfunction and shut off the flame even when it is burning correctly. When that happens, the thermocouple may need to be replaced.
If your pilot light won’t stay lit in Alton, IL, or the surrounding areas, the specialists at Dixon Heating and Air Conditioning can help.