A pilot light is used with a gas appliance as a constantly running flame source to ignite a burner. Mostly this applies to gas tank water heaters, but some older stoves may use them as well. Use with the appropriate appliance tag
Questions tagged [pilot-light]
52 questions
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I ran out of propane and now the water heater pilot light will not stay lit
I had run out of propane. Now that I have propane, I can’t get the pilot light to stay lit on my water heater, nor will it stay lit even long enough to light the burner.
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Brandon Jolene Lively
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Why does my gas water heater's pilot light go out when I replace the outer door?
I have a 9-year-old Bradford White gas water heater, model MI403S6FBN4. The pilot light went out today, and when I went to re-light it, it stays lit while the pilot button is held down, and it stays lit after I turn the switch to the ON position.…
Dan C
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Why does my pilot light go out when I release the pilot light knob?
My furnace pilot light will not stay lit. I can light it and depress the pilot switch for 2 minutes. But, once I let go of the button, the pilot immediately goes out. Does my thermocouple need replacing?
marcel
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Why isn't my furnace igniting?
I noticed cold air from my Carrier 58SS furnace. The main burners were not lighting. The pilot flame was strong, but yellow.
When I tapped on the gas valve, the pilot shut off. I removed the pilot tube to clear any possible blockage.
I also removed…
Jim S.
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Does a thermocouple need to be screwed in to work?
I'm recently having trouble with a water heater. The pilot light with ignite just fine, but will go out after releasing the reset button, even after holding it for over a minute. That makes me think the thermocouple is bad.
In addition to that, the…
user19565
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5 answers
Why isn't the spark gap lighting the pilot on my furnace?
I've got a Carrier 58GS natural draft furnace, which has a spark gap for igniting the pilot. Unfortunately, the spark gap has not been successfully doing its job. The spark clicks away as the gas rushes past, but the fuel never ignites.
Normal…
Tester101
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How do I prevent a water heater pilot light from blowing out on windy days?
My in-garage 50 gallon gas-fueled water heater stops working once a month or so when there’s a big wind storm. Once I observe the hot water isn’t working I need to turn it off for ten minutes then relight it. Sometimes I smell gas in the garage and…
Aaron
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Gas pilot out and thermopile reads 600+mV, is it worth trying a new one?
Gas hot water furnace. Pilot won't stay lit, goes out as soon as you release the button even after 60+ seconds.
The valve is a Robershaw 7000M8ERHC, with a Robertshaw 1951 thermopile. The thermopile document says it should produce 250 to 750mV. …
jay613
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Water heater pilot light won't stay lit. Plumber says it's attic heat
So I've heard most of the answers in other similar threads around here but this one was new to me.
I recently bought an older house and it has a natural gas water heater in the attic. Nothing terribly unusual about it. It's been running relatively…
Machavity
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Pilot light on switch comes on when light is off
First off I know the switch the works I plugged it into a different circuit where I have another one and the pilot light turned on when the switch was on. However when I have it installed in the problem circuit the indicator light is switched and is…
Nicholas
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Propane gas fireplace pilot won't light
I've asked this question before. Now I've posted some pictures as I can't figure out where I should clean. I don't smell propane. I tired lighting manually with a lighter and nothing. I know to turn the valve on, rotate the wheel to pilot. Push in…
David
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Does my gas water heater have a problem if the On/Pilot/Off knob rises slowly instead of popping up quickly?
To light my water heater's pilot light, the instructions on the side say to put the On/Pilot/Off knob into the Pilot position and then hold it down for one minute after lighting the pilot light with a match. They also say the knob should "pop up"…
ChrisC70
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Replaced thermopile, pilot light works, fireplace still won’t light
I have an Empire VFSR-18 fireplace. The pilot light wouldn’t stay on so I replaced the thermopile and the thermocouple assembly. The pilot light stays on and my voltmeter is giving me 0.47V (470mV).
I removed the switch and jumped the prongs and the…
KD1980
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Indication light on switch lit when switch is off
i have a guest toilet with a vent and a light, and a very light and sound proof door. more often than not people leave the switch on, which can work for days.
This is a single switch and simultaneously activates the vent and lightbulb, and the wires…
Giladiald
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Does a fireplace with switch on wall need to have the pilot on constantly
Our gas fireplace has a switch on the wall as well as a gas control valve that needs an external key.
We had not used the fireplace in 5 years and called a plumber to get it to light. He put valve inside fireplace to pilot position then pressed red…
Mary
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