Why do pilot lights go out on hot water heaters?
If the pilot light goes out, the thermocouple senses the drop in temperature and signals for the gas valve to close. If you have a faulty thermocouple is the most common reason that your pilot light is malfunctioning. Over time your water heater will collect dirt, dust and other kinds of debris.
Is the pilot light on a furnace the same as a hot water heater?
The good news is you also just learned how to relight your hot water tank at the same time. The gas valve and pilot assembly of a hot water heater are essentially the exact same as a furnace of the same era.
What to do if your water heater pilot light goes out?
You must check this. If the pilot light in your gas water heater keeps going out, the first thing you should do in such a situation is check for a gas leak. This is not a difficult task, and you can find out if there is any gas leak quickly enough.
How do you relight a gas furnace pilot light?
Step By Step Guide To Relighting Your Furnace Pilot Light Step 1: Because you may have had a small amount of gas flowing into the heat exchanger area of your furnace you were going to want to let that clear out. Step 2: Turn your gas valve to the pilot position, You should have a red button that can now be depressed when you push down on it.
Where is the thermocouple on a furnace pilot light?
No matter the pilot configuration, the thermocouple will be near the burners—look for a removable metal rod nearby. Locate the copper rod near the burners. This is the thermocouple. If you look very closely, you’ll find the thermocouple tucked in behind the burners.
What does a pilot light on a water heater do?
The water heater pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner on your water heater. When the water heater pilot light goes out, first try relighting it, following the directions on the water heater label.
How do you light a gas hot water heater?
Turn the gas supply back on, turn the dial on the gas valve to the “pilot” position and depress the push-button pilot button as you light the pilot under the burner with the log lighter. Hold the pilot button down to “prime” the thermocouple—otherwise it will cut the gas supply to the pilot light.
Where is the pilot light on my furnace?
Locate the pilot light and look for the tip of a copper rod very nearby. That’s the thermocouple. Can’t Find the Pilot Light? If you’re having trouble locating the pilot or thermocouple, double-check to make sure your unit actually has a standing pilot light.
What happens when the pilot light goes out on a gas burner?
If the fire or pilot light ever goes out on the thermocouple it stops producing this small amount of current. The valve in the gas valve closes preventing any gas from being delivered to the main burners. Sometimes it is the thermocouple however, sometimes it is something else that causes the pilot to go out.
