Thermocouple Issues If it senses that your water heater pilot light keeps going out, the thermocouple will shift off the gas supply to the heater. Over time, thermocouples can malfunction, accumulate dust buildup, or the device can get bent away from the pilot light’s flame.

What causes heater pilot to go out?

Thermocouple Malfunction





It is positioned very close to the flame, and when lit, the pilot light tells the thermocouple to keep the gas line open. A thermocouple that is dirty or malfunctioning will often shut off your gas supply in error, causing the pilot light to go out and your furnace to stop working.

What do I do if my pilot light won’t light?

Check the Thermocouple

If your pilot light won’t stay alight, it might be the thermocouple. Sometimes dust buildup collects on the thermocouple and blocks the sensor. Try cleaning the thermocouple and then relighting the pilot light. If it continues to go out, the thermocouple might need to be replaced.

How do you fix a pilot light on a gas heater?

How to Fix Your Pilot Light

  1. Find your gas valve. …
  2. You need to turn the valve to the off position for at least three minutes.
  3. Once you have had the valve at off for a few minutes, switch it over to pilot setting.
  4. You will need a match that is lit. …
  5. Set the pilot valve to the on position.




What is a common problem with pilot ignition systems?

Some of the common problems that can develop with an intermittent pilot are: Failure with the electronic spark. Loose connection with the thermostat. Incorrect positioning of the pilot gas pipe.

Does gas leak if pilot light goes out?

If the pilot light goes out on a storage or instantaneous hot water heater, space heater or a ducted heater, you will not have a gas leak. This is because all modern gas appliances with pilot lights have a fail-safe device that closes off the gas to the appliance in the case when the pilot may go out.

Should the pilot light always be on in a gas heater?

Should The Pilot Light Always Be On In A Gas Furnace? Yes, if the furnace is in operation, the pilot light will need to be on for it to be functional. However, some homeowners turn off their furnace’s pilot light in the warmer seasons when the gas furnaces aren’t in use.

Why is my gas heater not turning on?



If your furnace is not turning on you should first check if the filter is clean. Dirty filters cause insufficient airflow and can prevent the furnace from starting. Other reasons it won’t start can stem from improper thermostat settings, forgetting to turn on the gas line, or faulty pilot light.

What do you do when your gas heater stops working?

Furnace Not Working? The 5 Most Common Causes [2019]

  1. Step #1: Check your Air Filter.
  2. Step #2: Check Your Pilot Light.
  3. Step #3: Check Your Thermostat.
  4. Step #4: Check The Power.
  5. Step #5: Check Your Gas Supply.

Can I relight the pilot light by myself?



If your pilot light goes out, your furnace will not be able to produce heat because its burners will not ignite. Often, homeowners can relight the pilot themselves.

What are the two main reasons for a pilot light?

Let’s take a look at how the pilot light works. The basic idea behind a pilot light is simple. Its purpose is to provide the flame needed to light the gas coming out of the main burner. When the furnace “turns on”, a valve releases gas into the burner and the pilot light ignites that gas.

How do I know if my furnace spark ignitor is bad?

Your furnace won’t run: The most obvious sign that your ignitor is bad is that it won’t ignite, and this generally manifests itself in your furnace failing to run when you activate it. One word of caution, though: this can also be caused by other issues, some of which are electrical.

What are the two types of pilot lights?

There are typically two main types of pilot light:

  • Traditional Standing Pilot.
  • Electronic Intermittent Pilot Ignition (IPI)


How does a gas furnace ignite?

When the thermostat calls for heat, high voltage sent through the igniter causes a spark that ignites the pilot, and it supplies sufficient heat to turn on the burners. The pilot light shuts off when the burners do.

What is continuous pilot?

A standing pilot is the standard ignition device for most natural gas burning heating systems, and has been for many years. It’s a continuously burning flame at the bottom of the heater, responsible for starting the burners that actually generate heat for the home.

Why is my pilot light orange?

If your pilot light’s flame is orange or yellow, it is burning inefficiently due to a lack of oxygen. The thermocouple should sense when this happens because the heat from the flame will not be as hot as it should be.

How do you fix a orange flame on a gas heater?



The orange flame is a red flag, and you need to clean the gas stove, which is an excellent DIY project. Remember to unclog the orifices, clean the burner of any debris, switch off the humidifier, regulate the air shatter and dismantle the whole stove before reassembling.

What does a orange flame mean?

A gas flame appearing yellow or orange in color or behaving with pops of yellow or orange indicates an improper ratio of oxygen for combustion. Often this improper combustion is temporary and could be caused by dust particles or a dirty burner that needs cleaning.

How do you fix a yellow pilot light?

If you notice that you pilot light is burning yellow instead of blue, contact Jerry Kelly. The issue can typically be fixed by cleaning out the air intake valve to the pilot light, which should only be done by a professional who knows how to access and repair the part.

Why is my pilot flame yellow?

A yellow flame is caused by lack of oxygen and incomplete combustion. If the pilot light is a weak yellow flame it will not get hot enough to heat the thermocouple to the temperature needed to enable the gas valve to open. This is often caused by a dirty pilot tube tip.

Why is my gas heater flame yellow?

If you have a yellow, orange, or red burner flame, this usually means that your burner is not receiving enough air for complete combustion. Besides wasted gas, higher energy bills, and more soot, the main danger of improper combustion is the increased amount of carbon monoxide (CO) produced by the combustion process.