Gas Heater Pilot Light Keeps Going Out

Hold it down for at least 30 seconds in order for the thermocouple to get warmed up.

Gas heater pilot light keeps going out.

The pilot light needs a strong flow of gas to make a strong steady blue flame that the thermocouple can sense. Thorough cleaning should do the trick. The thermocouple is the copper rod the pilot flame directly hits. Sometimes the tube might be partially clogged and supplying very little gas for combustion no wonder your pilot light keeps going out.

This is the pilot flame that provides the heat. Sometimes it s referred to as the flame sensor it s a safety mechanism that shuts the gas off should the pilot go out. Thermocouples work by producing a small amount of voltage when it is heated. If the thermocouple fails to shut off the gas all the gas flowing through the furnace could get into your home.

The number one reason why the pilot light keeps going out is the thermocouple. The pilot tube supplies gas to the pilot light for combustion. The flame will go out if the tube is clogged with dirt or debris. But if the thermocouple has a fault it may think the pilot light is out when it isn t and shut off the gas which will in turn cause the pilot light to go out.

The thermocouple also contains wiring that goes to the gas valve and makes electricity to light the pilot. Gas heaters whether they warm up air or water in a home rely on a pilot light to trigger the flame of the actual heater. Which means the thermocouple will shut off the gas flow to your furnace as a safety measure. If this pilot light ever goes out the heater has no way of actually.

To find out if you need a new one turn the gas valve to pilot and then depress the override button. When the pilot light goes out the loss of current shuts the valve and stops gas flow. Repair technicians will need to replace the thermocouple. But if the orifice is dirty or restricted the pilot light won t light properly.

Either the thermocouple is going bad or it is dirty and needs to be cleaned.