A pilot light is a small flame that is built into your gas heating appliances, such as a furnace or water heater. … If the pilot light goes out for any reason, the current stops, the valve closes, thus preventing any gas from leaking.
A pilot light may need to be re-lit from time to time after being extinguished on purpose or by accident. If it is accidentally extinguished, there exists a danger that the gas used to keep the flame lit will continue to vent, possibly into the living space.
Beside this, What do you do when the pilot light goes out on a gas fireplace?
– Turn off your appliance at the power switch or thermostat.
– Find the gas valve control knob and turn it to select “pilot.”
– If pilot light controls are sticky, do not apply force or use oil. …
– Press the red button while simultaneously holding a match to the pilot burner.
Likewise, Is it dangerous if the pilot light goes out?
Can a Pilot Light Outage Be Dangerous? The worry here is that when a pilot goes out, the gas valve that supplies the fuel for the pilot flame could still be pumping gas. This can mean a buildup of gas, and when the pilot is relit or relights itself it could result in a very serious explosion.
Also, Is it dangerous if pilot light goes out on gas fireplace?
A pilot light may need to be re-lit from time to time after being extinguished on purpose or by accident. If it is accidentally extinguished, there exists a danger that the gas used to keep the flame lit will continue to vent, possibly into the living space.
What happens if the pilot light goes out on a gas fireplace?
When the thermocouple senses a lit pilot, it leaves the main gas valve open. If the pilot light is out, or isn’t burning hot enough, it closes the valve, cutting off gas flow so it won’t build up inside your house.
23 Related Question Answers Found
Is an unlit pilot light dangerous?
Even if the amount of gas leaking from the unlit pilot light isn’t enough to make you sick, it could cause an explosion if some other form of heat energy is introduced. … Nationwide Insurance cites extinguished pilot lights as one of the top fire hazards in your home.
Can a pilot light just go out?
Sometimes a pilot light can go out as a result of some source of wind or air simply blowing it out. If this happens, there could be an issue with how your flue pipe is set up or how your system is venting.
How do I know if my pilot light went out?
The most obvious sign of the failure of a pilot light will be a lack of hot water or warm air since the burner assembly can’t light and do its job of heating these substances.In many systems, a broken pilot light will prevent the appliance from working at all.
Can a pilot light cause carbon monoxide poisoning?
A yellow or orange pilot light will produce carbon monoxide – an odourless, colourless gas that can fill your home and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms of this condition include dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea, unconsciousness, brain damage and death.
Why does my gas fireplace pilot light go out?
If the pilot light on your gas fireplace won’t stay lit, a very likely culprit is a component called a thermocouple. A thermocouple is a safety device and is a component of the ignition system. … The thermocouple is a metal rod that sticks out right in front of the pilot itself. It senses if flame is present or not.
How do you know if you have a bad thermocouple?
If you can’t get the flame to light at all, and you’re sure the gas is on, there’s probably an obstruction in the pilot tube. If the flame lights and goes out when you release the gas control knob after holding it in for the recommended 20 to 30 seconds, that’s the sign of a thermocouple malfunction.
Do I need to turn gas off 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.
Is it dangerous if your pilot light goes out?
Can a Pilot Light Outage Be Dangerous? The worry here is that when a pilot goes out, the gas valve that supplies the fuel for the pilot flame could still be pumping gas. This can mean a buildup of gas, and when the pilot is relit or relights itself it could result in a very serious explosion.
Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from a pilot light?
Carbon monoxide is only produced when fuel of any type; oil, gas, wood or coal is burned. … And a pilot light out of adjustment can produce carbon monoxide gas. The amount produced by even a badly maladjusted pilot is small because the flame size is also small.
Is it dangerous to have pilot light out?
Can a Pilot Light Outage Be Dangerous? The worry here is that when a pilot goes out, the gas valve that supplies the fuel for the pilot flame could still be pumping gas. This can mean a buildup of gas, and when the pilot is relit or relights itself it could result in a very serious explosion.
Can a pilot light relight itself?
Pilot lights were once standard on all gas furnaces, but newer systems don’t always contain pilot light ignition systems. Instead, some newer furnaces use electronic ignition systems. … Often, homeowners can relight the pilot themselves.
How do I get the pilot light back on my gas fireplace?
Hold the gas control button down while you hold the end of a lighted match or lighter at the end of the pilot tube. The pilot should start as soon as the flame is close enough. Hold the pilot button down for about 20 seconds to give the thermocouple time to heat up, then release it. The pilot should stay lit.
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