It’s perfectly safe to turn off the pilot light when the furnace is in disuse; just be sure to turn off the gas as well. And if the pilot light goes out when it should be on, take the safety measures described above before addressing the issue. And, when in doubt, call the professionals!
What makes a pilot light go out on a furnace?
Your pilot light might be going out on your furnace because:
- Your furnace’s thermocouple is dirty.
- There is incorrect air flow to your furnace.
- There is an issue with the gas connection.
What causes pilot light to go out on furnace?
What Causes A Pilot Light To Go Out?
- There could be a Draft. If your pilot light seems to go out overnight fairly often, and lately, it’s been very windy, you might have a draft issue.
- Dirt in the Pilot Orifice. Try lighting your pilot and once it ignites, take a look at the color of the flame. ...
- Gas Regulator could need Replacing. ...
- The Thermocouple is having Issues. ...
Why do pilot lights go out on furnace?
Why does furnace pilot 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.
Why does the pilot light in your Furnace go out?
- Dirty pilot light. The shaft that the light comes out of might contain debris of some sort. This can interfere with the light’s operation. ...
- Thermocouple Malfunction. Parts deteriorate over time. ...
- Drafts. Don’t think it’s drafty in your basement or utility closet? ...
- Gas supply. This is rare but can affect any appliance that uses gas in your home. ...
What is Pilot Light on a Gas Furnace?
Should the Pilot Light Always Be ON in a Gas Furnace?
Do All Furnace Have a Pilot Light?
Should your furnace pilot light always be on?
The pilot light, however, is an actual old-fashioned flame inside your furnace. This flame is supplied by your gas line and should always be lit.
Should you turn your pilot light off?
A little heat is produced when your pilot light is on so turning it off in summer can help reduce the heat inside your home. The less heat there is, the less you have to use your air conditioner needs to cool down the house. You can get savings and conserve energy if you turn off your pilot light.
Does leaving the pilot light on use gas?
Most pilot lights will consume about 600 BTU's of gas/hour. With 24 hours in a day, that's roughly 14,400/BTU's each day. Figuring 30 days, a pilot light will use approximately 432,000 BTU each month. Natural gas (NG) is measured in therms.
Will pilot light go out if gas is turned off?
Pilot lights will occasionally go out. Sometimes the cause is easily resolved, such as running out of propane or turning off the gas. However, if the pilot light needs to be relit more than once per season, it should be inspected by a qualified service technician.
Should the pilot light always be on in a gas water heater?
The thermocouple's job is to shut a gas safety valve if the pilot light goes out. That's important because gas is always being supplied to the pilot to keep the flame lit. But if the pilot flame goes out, then the gas would still be released. After a while, the gas could collect in your home and become a health hazard.
How much does it cost to keep pilot light on fireplace?
The average fuel consumption of your standing Pilot light is: Natural gas is $0.60 a day = $219 a year. Liquid Propane is $1.80 a day = $657 a year. Sophisticated fireplace manufactures like Travis Industries have developed Intermittent pilot light systems.
How do you light the pilot on a gas furnace
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How to Light a Gas Furnace Pilot Light | MBI Heating and Air ...
I also have a way to turn on the light and I want to review to you. Its process is that turn on the propane – access the pilot light – light the pilot light.
How to light the pilot light on the furnace
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furnace pilot light - DoItYourself.com Community Forums
Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - furnace pilot light - The pilot light on my gas furnace will not stay on. I changed the thermocouple, but it still will not stay on. What's the next step?
Should The Pilot Light Always Be On In A Gas Furnace?
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What happens if you turn off the pilot light on your furnace?
If you switch your pilot light off, your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to reverse the heating effect of the pilot light. Your furnace only uses a small amount of gas to power the pilot light. Turning the pilot light off, only saves a few dollars each month.
Why turn off the pilot light on a gas fireplace?
First, your pilot light burns gas, costing you money and potentially eating up the surrounding area. If you switch your pilot light off, your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to reverse the heating effect of the pilot light.
How long does it take to relight a pilot light?
Cold weather often returns unexpectedly. If this happens, you will want to relight your pilot light immediately so you have access to heat. During cold weather, it may take a few days for a technician to make it to your house to professionally relight the pilot.
How much energy savings can you get from adjusting your thermostat?
Energy.gov reports that adjusting your thermostat by only a few degrees will allow you to see an energy usage reduction of 5 to 15 percent on your annual bill.
Does a furnace use gas?
Keep in mind, your furnace only uses a little bit of gas to power the pilot light. Turning the pilot light off will only add up to a few bucks of savings a month. If you don’t mind spending a few cents a day, don’t mess with it.
Can you turn off the pilot light on a gas furnace?
If you do not know how to relight your pilot light, your furnace is located in an area with insects or an area that is susceptible to high moisture, your gas company charges a minimum fee for service, and/or you aren’t diligent about fall maintenance – turning the pilot light off may not be a good idea.
How To Turn Off Your Furnace?
Wait to turn off the furnace until spring has truly sprung, with consistently warm weather. In the Greater Toronto area, the temperature can still be quite chilly – especially at night — until well into the month of May.
Can you turn off the pilot light on a furnace?
If you have an older furnace, turning off your pilot light can be an excellent idea. A continuously burning furnace pilot light will generate heat and moisture throughout the summer months – in a small amount to be sure, but still undesirable once the weather heats up. You’ll also protect your home against someone accidentally turning on the heat on a blazing hot summer day.
Does a pilot light burn gas?
Besides, an operational pilot light burns gas, whether the furnace itself is set to “Heat” or not . Although natural gas is an economical means of heating your home, it does cost money. If you shut off your furnace pilot light in the summer, you will both save cash and reduce your carbon footprint.
Should Modern Furnaces Be Turned Off?
It’s been replaced by an electronic ignition. As a result, the furnace will not need to continuously burn gas in order to keep a pilot light going, making it unnecessary to turn off your furnace for the summer. However, you’ll still need to change the furnace filter regularly and have the furnace professionally serviced once a year.
When to turn off pilot light on fireplace?
If you want to save money on your utility bill, turn off the pilot light during the hot summer months when the fireplace is not used for a prolonged period of time. Doing so will save gas and be more cost-effective, especially if summers are long in your area.
Why does my pilot light go out?
If your pilot light goes out frequently or doesn’t light at all, it might be because of carbon buildup on the thermocouple. The thermocouple is a temperature-sensitive device located near the pilot light that monitors the presence of the flame. Due to constant exposure to fire, carbon could accumulate on the thermocouple, making it difficult for your pilot light to stay on.
What is a Pilot Light, and What does it do?
A pilot light is a small flame (usually gas) that is ‘standing’ (kept alight most of the time), and its function is to provide an ignition source for the main burner in the gas fireplace.
How Much does it Cost to Keep the Pilot light on in a Gas Fireplace?
If fueled by natural gas, keeping the pilot light on can cost you $7-10 per month, while liquid propane can set you back up to $20 per month.
What happens when you turn on a fireplace?
When you turn on your fireplace, the flame from the pilot light ignites the gas delivered to the main burner; hence the fireplace comes to life.
What to do if your fireplace smells gas?
If you smell gas in the environment after the pilot light goes out, immediately close the main gas feed and evacuate the room after opening all doors and windows for ventilation . Call a technician to come by and evaluate your fireplace to make sure nothing is faulty.
What would happen if the pilot light went out?
Conceptually, if the pilot light’s flame (or any burner for that matter) went out, the gas would start diffusing into the air and build up inside the house. This would be a major safety hazard and could lead to an explosion.
What To Do If My Furnace Pilot Light Won’t Light?
Check the on-off valves along your gas line to make sure gas is coming through. If you don’t hear gas hissing out of the pilot light, call your gas service to see if there’s an outage of gas.
How To Tell If The Pilot Light Is Out On Furnace?
Usually, a furnace will have a small window or opening where you can peek in and see if it’s still on. Look for a small blue flame coming from a thin pipe. If you don’t see a flame, then it’s definitely out.
What to do if your furnace is in disuse?
If your furnace has been in disuse all summer and you’re starting it back up, check for an on-off switch. Even though gas furnaces primarily use gas, some also have electrical components that need to be on in order for everything to work.
What is the safety mechanism that shuts off gas?
Nowadays, most gas appliances come equipped with a safety mechanism called a thermocouple that shuts off the gas if the pilot light goes out. This prevents any dangerous buildup of gas.
Why is my furnace clogged?
Especially in basements and dusty storage rooms, soot and dirt accumulate inside the furnace, requiring a good annual cleaning.
How long does it take for a pilot light to relight?
Another possibility is that you’re not holding the flame of your lighter or match up to the pilot light long enough. Sometimes, it can take up to 20 or 30 seconds for the pilot to re-light.
Do pilot lights stop gas?
In most cases, no. As mentioned above, pilot lights usually have a safety mechanism that stops gas-flow if the flame goes out. It’s important to remember that even with the safest gas-fueled appliances, there is always a chance that a gas leak might occur. It’s a small chance, but one that shouldn’t be ignored.
What is Pilot Light on a Gas Furnace?
The pilot light is a small blue flame used to ignite the burners in your gas furnace, which in turn provides the flames necessary to heat your home. A standard pilot light gets fuel via a small tube attached to the line feeding your burners.
Should the Pilot Light Always Be ON in a Gas Furnace?
Ideally, yes. You should leave the pilot light ON throughout the heating season. It’s safer and more economical in the long run. That said, though, keeping the pilot light throughout also comes with a few drawbacks. The following pros and cons should help you make an informed decision.
Do All Furnace Have a Pilot Light?
Technically, no. All furnaces have a pilot light system to ignite the burners. However, not all furnaces have a constantly present pilot light flame. So, no, you won’t find a lit pilot flame in all furnaces. Only older, traditional furnaces have this type of pilot light. Newer furnaces have “smarter” ignition systems that don’t rely on a constantly burning pilot flame.
