Gas Heater Pilot Light Keeps Going Out

If the thermocouple fails to shut off the gas all the gas flowing through the furnace could get into your home.

Gas heater pilot light keeps going out.

The flame will go out if the tube is clogged with dirt or debris. Sometimes the tube might be partially clogged and supplying very little gas for combustion no wonder your pilot light keeps going out. Repair technicians will need to replace the thermocouple. Sometimes it s referred to as the flame sensor it s a safety mechanism that shuts the gas off should the pilot go out.

The water heater pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner on your water heater. If you have a natural or propane gas water heater chances are the pilot has gone out. The number one reason why the pilot light keeps going out is the thermocouple. The pilot tube supplies gas to the pilot light for combustion.

When the pilot light goes out the loss of current shuts the valve and stops gas flow. Either the thermocouple is going bad or it is dirty and needs to be cleaned. Thermocouples work by producing a small amount of voltage when it is heated. 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 the copper rod the pilot flame directly hits. Which means the thermocouple will shut off the gas flow to your furnace as a safety measure. To find out if you need a new one turn the gas valve to pilot and then depress the override button. This is the pilot flame that provides the heat.

Hold it down for at least 30 seconds in order for the thermocouple to get warmed up. If this pilot light ever goes out the heater has no way of actually. The pilot light needs a strong flow of gas to make a strong steady blue flame that the thermocouple can sense. The thermocouple also contains wiring that goes to the gas valve and makes electricity to light the pilot.

When the water heater pilot light goes out first try relighting it following the directions on the water heater label.