How To Light Furnace Pilot

Most furnaces have instructions attached to them.

How to light furnace pilot. Re light the pilot light. An older gas furnace has a standing pilot that stays on all the time or at least it s supposed to. To light a pilot light first turn the gas control valve to off and wait 5 to 10 minutes until all the gas fumes are gone. The furnace pilot light is a small burner that s used to keep the larger furnace burners going.

Once you are sure the pilot light is on release your pressure on the reset button. Draft believe it or not your pilot light can go out when there is a strong draft around your furnace. A pilot light going out can be inconvenient because it will completely cripple your furnace. For better or worse a pilot light extinguishing isn t all that uncommon as even a light breeze or draft of air is enough to kill the tiny flame.

The pilot light in your furnace is a small continuously burning flame. A number of things can make an old furnace pilot light go out including a strong draft a faulty thermocouple or a loss of gas. It s dependent on the thermocouple which opens the gas valve. A modern gas furnace usually has an electronic spark generator to ignite the gas when the thermostat calls for heat.

The gas may be the fuel but the pilot flame is the ignition and one that won t re light on its own. It is highly recommended to turn to your furnace s owner s manual and follow the manufacturer s instructions. This should light the furnace pilot light. How to re light a pilot light on a gas furnace.

When the furnace kicks on the pilot light is used to ignite the burners which produce heat for your home. A gas furnace s standing pilot in which the flame is lit at all times is sometimes referred to as a pilot light but no matter what you call it its purpose is to serve as a small ignition flame for the gas burner when the thermostat signals for gas to be delivered from the gas valve to the burner it is the standing pilot that ignites the gas flowing to the burners to heat the air in the. The thermocouple is a metal case that contains metal wires welded together. Once the gas has had time to dissipate turn the knob to pilot then hold down the reset button and bring the flame of a long lighter close to the pilot light opening.