How to Light a Pilot Light on a Water Heater Without an Automatic Igniter
- Remove the access cover and turn the gas control valve to the “off” position. Wait about 10 minutes for any accumulated gas to dissipate.
- Turn the control and water temperature knobs to the “pilot” position.
- Depress the control knob. ...
- Using the control knob, set your water heater back to the desired temperature.
- Replace the access cover.
Full Answer
How to relight your pilot light on your water heater?
- Set the temperature gauge to the lowest degree possible.
- Turn the gas valve off (This is typically on the bottom front of the water heater).
- Wait 5 minutes for any gas to clear. ...
- Remove the access cover.
- Use a flashlight to find the pilot or burner. ...
- Turn the control knob to “Pilot,” and light a long match or lighter.
Why does pilot light go out on water heater?
Why does a water heater’s pilot light go out? Some of the most common reasons that water heater pilot lights go out include: A faulty thermocouple. Your thermocouple is responsible for sensing when your pilot light is lit. If it senses that the pilot light has gone out, the thermocouple shuts off the gas supply to the flame in order to prevent safety issues with your water heater.
Does a water heater have a pilot light?
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 an electric water heater?
How do you light a pilot light on an electric water heater? Turn the pilot light knob onto “pilot”. Press down on the knob and hold down the ignite button for a minute to turn the flame back on. Once a flame is ignited, you can rotate the knob to whichever temperature setting you would like. Rest of the detail can be read here.
How to ignite a pilot light?
Where is the gas control assembly on a water heater?
How to purge air from gas line?
What to use to seal gas leak?
What to use to check gas leaks in water heater?
How long does it take for a pilot light to turn blue?
Why is it dangerous to light a water heater?
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Can I relight the pilot light by myself on the water heater?
In many cases, you can relight your water heater's pilot light yourself. Before attempting to relight the pilot light, make sure there isn't a gas leak. You can usually do that with a simple sniff.
Can I relight the pilot light by myself?
Relight the pilot light. Turn the knob to “Pilot,” and let gas to flow to the pilot. Light a lighter or match, then push in the reset button. Hold your flame to the pilot light's opening. Keep the reset switch depressed until the pilot light is burning steadily.
How do you light a gas water heater with electronic pilot?
All you have to do is hold the pilot knob down for 30 seconds and hold the ignition button at the same time. You do not need to use a lighter. Your pilot light will turn on!
Can you manually light a gas water heater with electronic ignition?
* Caution: Most modern water heaters no longer use standing pilots. They use electronic ignition to ignite the gas. Do not attempt to manually light an electronic ignition system.
Will gas leak if pilot light goes out?
When the pilot light goes out, it does not leak carbon monoxide gas. However, if the light goes out frequently there could be other issues.
What do you do when your hot water heater pilot light goes out?
When the water heater pilot light goes out, first try relighting it, following the directions on the water heater label. If the pilot doesn't relight, if it goes out right after lighting or if it goes out repeatedly, by far the most common cause is a bad thermocouple.
Will the gas company light My pilot?
Absolutely! We can send a gas service technician to light your pilot, and conduct a gas safety check of your gas fireplace or any other gas appliance to ensure your safety. Click here get started.
Where is the thermocouple located on a water heater?
burner compartmentInside the burner compartment of your gas water heater, right in front of the pilot light, is a small metal cylinder called a thermocouple. The thermocouple is a safety device that senses when the pilot light is burning.
How do you light a hot water heater without an igniter?
Lighting with No IgniterTake a long lighter to reach the pilot. ... Remove the plate attached below the dial box. ... Switch Pilot to OFF.Wait for a while, – 5-10 minutes until there won't be any gas.Change the temperature to LOW, and switch to Pilot.Push ON/OFF dial down, and simultaneously use the lighter.More items...•
How do you reset the igniter on a water heater?
0:202:56How to reset gas water tank pilot light - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou simply hold the button down and spark. It and then here's the most important part you continueMoreYou simply hold the button down and spark. It and then here's the most important part you continue to hold that button down for about 60 seconds.
Why does my hot water heater igniter not ignite?
Some water heaters use an igniter to ignite the gas. If the igniter fails, the burner will not light. To determine if the igniter is defective, first make sure the igniter is getting voltage. If the igniter is getting voltage, but it doesn't glow, this indicates that the igniter is defective and should be replaced.
How much does it cost to relight a pilot light?
The Cost of Relighting the Pilot Light A plumber can help reignite the pilot light. They will charge you an hourly fee of $40 to $150. This is usually a fairly brief project, and may just take an hour.
How do I turn my pilot light back on?
Turn the valve to the “pilot” position. Press and hold the reset button. If the reset button fails, ignite the lighter. Hold down the reset button and bring a grill lighter or long match to the pilot light valve until the pilot ignites.
Will the gas company light My pilot?
Absolutely! We can send a gas service technician to light your pilot, and conduct a gas safety check of your gas fireplace or any other gas appliance to ensure your safety. Click here get started.
Can you manually light a pilot light?
#3: Re-Light the Pilot Light 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. This should light the furnace pilot light.
Do I need to turn the gas off if the pilot light goes out?
If your pilot light goes out, your gas supply should shut off automatically. This is a standard safety precaution in most modern water heaters and...
When should the pilot light be turned off?
Your pilot light should be turned off if you plan to be away from your home for an extended period of time.
Can a pilot light start a fire?
Generally, a pilot light is safe to leave on, and there's very minimal fire risk. If the water heater develops a gas leak, it can cause a fire, but...
Is it safe to leave the pilot light on?
Yes, you can leave your pilot light on. It’s designed to stay on and function as needed.
How to ignite a pilot light?
With your fingers holding down the pilot button, press the spark generator button (also called the ignition control button) to ignite the pilot light.
Where is the gas control assembly on a water heater?
The gas control assembly should be near the port connecting the gas line to your water heater. You might also see wiring for the electronic pilot system.
How to purge air from gas line?
You might want to press the igniter button once every ten seconds while holding down the pilot light control button. This action should purge the air from the gas line.
What to use to seal gas leak?
If you detect a gas leak, I recommend postponing the activity until you resolve the issue. Hence, you might need a wrench and PTFE tape to ensure an airtight seal at the gas connection. Otherwise, an HVAC expert might be necessary.
What to use to check gas leaks in water heater?
Of course, a more practical solution is soapy water by combining a few drops of water and liquid soap.
How long does it take for a pilot light to turn blue?
Continue pressing the pilot light control button for about 20 to 30 seconds or until you have a steady blue flame through the observation window.
Why is it dangerous to light a water heater?
Unfortunately, high gas flow can make lighting the water heater dangerous because of the increased risk of flare-ups.
What is the pilot light on a water heater?
The pilot light on hot water heater is the source of energy and warmth in your water heater. When the pilot light on the water heater is on, it is able to ignite the gas burner located in most gas water heaters, which heats the water inside your tank.
How to make sure pilot light stays lit?
When the flame is lit, continue to press down on the gas button for a minute or so to make sure that the pilot light on hot water heater would stay lit.
What do you need to ignite a pilot light?
A lighter – In many cases, you will need a lighter to ignite the pilot light.
How long does it take for hot water to flow?
After you relight the pilot light, it might take a while for the water to be fully heated, but in about 40 minutes to an hour, your hot water should be flowing as if nothing ever happened.
Where to check for water heater pilot?
Check inside the door panel of your water heater for instructions. Specific instruction of details for your individual model may be listed here, and they may help guide you in the process of relighting the pilot for your specific water heater.
How to turn on pilot light on gas valve?
Turn the gas valve to the "Pilot" setting and push down on it. Doing this starts the flow of gas into the tube that supplies the pilot light.
What is the difference between a new and old gas water heater?
There are two basic styles of gas hot water heaters, “new” and “old.”. Old style heaters will require you to use your own flame to relight the pilot, while new style tanks come equipped with a pilot light igniter.
Why won't my water heater light?
Low gas pressure or a malfunctioning gas valve may also be to blame if this process doesn’t work. Contact an appliance repair person, a plumber, or your gas company if you are unable to light the water heater after several attempts.
What happens if a pilot light doesn't relight?
If the pilot light doesn’t relight or goes out immediately after relighting, you may have a bad thermocouple. The thermocouple extends from the temperature control into the flame area of the pilot light. They are relatively cheap, and you can install one yourself.
How to heat water in a gas tank?
Reignite the main burner. Turn the main gas valve back “On” and adjust the temperature control to your desired setting. The main burner under the tank should light and begin heating the water in the tank .
What happens if you don't see a flame burning in your water heater?
If you do not see a small flame burning, then your pilot light has gone out. If you have a newer water heater, it is possible that your panel is not removable and that you view your pilot light through glass. In this case, if you cannot see a flame burning through the glass, then your pilot light is out.
Why does my water heater pilot light go out?
If your water heater pilot light keeps going out, it may be a sign that your unit needs professional maintenance or repair.
What Do You Do When the Pilot Light Goes Out?
If possible, you should relight the pilot light according to the manufacturer’s instructions for your unit. However, the process is fairly similar across different models of gas water heaters.
How to bleed air from water heater?
Hold the control knob down for a full minute to bleed air from the line, then release it. Using the control knob, set your water heater to the desired temperature. Securely replace the access cover. If your pilot light went out due to a draft or another one-off issue, it should stay lit.
How to bleed air from a pilot light?
Once the pilot light is lit, you should see a steady flame. Continue to hold the knob down for a full minute to bleed accumulated air from the line. Release the knob.
How to tell if gas leak is coming from water heater?
Call your gas company for further guidance. You should also listen for unusual noises near your water heater. Hissing and blowing sounds may also indicate a gas leak. If these warning signs aren’t present, it should be safe to try to relight your pilot light on your own.
How to tell if water heater has an automatic or manual igniter?
According to Mullen Plumbing, Heating and Cooling of West Virginia, you should be able to tell by looking at the control dial. If there’s an ignition button, you have an automatic igniter.
How to tell if pilot light is out?
Open the access panel or door to the burner chamber and look inside. There, you’ll find the pilot light tube, which should have a steady blue flame. If you don't see the flame, the pilot light is out.
How to ignite a pilot light?
With your fingers holding down the pilot button, press the spark generator button (also called the ignition control button) to ignite the pilot light.
Where is the gas control assembly on a water heater?
The gas control assembly should be near the port connecting the gas line to your water heater. You might also see wiring for the electronic pilot system.
How to purge air from gas line?
You might want to press the igniter button once every ten seconds while holding down the pilot light control button. This action should purge the air from the gas line.
What to use to seal gas leak?
If you detect a gas leak, I recommend postponing the activity until you resolve the issue. Hence, you might need a wrench and PTFE tape to ensure an airtight seal at the gas connection. Otherwise, an HVAC expert might be necessary.
What to use to check gas leaks in water heater?
Of course, a more practical solution is soapy water by combining a few drops of water and liquid soap.
How long does it take for a pilot light to turn blue?
Continue pressing the pilot light control button for about 20 to 30 seconds or until you have a steady blue flame through the observation window.
Why is it dangerous to light a water heater?
Unfortunately, high gas flow can make lighting the water heater dangerous because of the increased risk of flare-ups.
