What to do if the standing pilot light is out?
You look at the boiler and find that the pilot light is out. The heating unit (boiler or furnace) has a standing pilot with a thermocouple. The first step is to make sure there is gas. Shut the gas cock at the appliance and open a union or drip cap. Turn on the gas cock. If there is gas, shut the gas cock and retighten the gas union or drip cap.
How often does the pilot light go out on a gas water heater?
[WJCarpenter]’s gas water heater uses a small pilot light that needs to stay burning permanently to ignite the main burners as required. Four or five times a year, the pilot light goes out and needs to be manually lit.
When does the standing pilot safety system lock out?
A properly operating safety system should lock out within 3 min of pilot outage. This test should be performed after gas pressure has been adjusted to manufacturer specifications. Shut the gas to the appliance using the gas cock.
How does a standing pilot work on a gas burner?
On a standing pilot model we still use a thermocouple, but in a different way. The pilot valve is also built into the combination gas valve, so there’s no more “B” cock. To light the pilot, you hold down the button on the gas valve to start the flow of gas to the pilot burner.
What happens if the pilot light is not lit?
Once the thermocouple detects that the pilot light isn’t lit, it turns the gas off as a safety measure. An unlit pilot can also stem from a dirty thermocouple as the dirt may be obstructing the current signal, which would also lead to a gas outage.
[WJCarpenter]’s gas water heater uses a small pilot light that needs to stay burning permanently to ignite the main burners as required. Four or five times a year, the pilot light goes out and needs to be manually lit.
What does a pilot light on a gas stove do?
A pilot light is a small flame inside the device that is lit at all times. This flame is used to restart the main burner and prevent gas leaks. If you have a newer appliance, don’t panic if you don’t see a pilot light.
What to do when your propane pilot light goes out?
If there is any gas odor or if there are any odors that could mask the smell of propane, such as musty or damp smells, do not attempt to relight the pilot light or use any flames, lights, or any other device that can cause sparks, such as cell phones, landline phones, or electrical appliances.
