reasons a pilot light won't stay lit

Willing to try anything at this point. So you’ve checked your pilot light and even reset it, but still, it wont stay lit. Take note that it’s the pilot head, not the thermocouple. Suggestions? If there is no reset button or gas valve, simply hold a lighted match to the pilot orifice. Home » Troubleshooting » 5 Reasons Why Your Water Heater Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit. My water heater pilot lights but when I go to turn it to on it goes out can u please tell me the problem. If it gets too hot, the pressure can increase and actually put out the flame. The next thing I know, many hours later (or overnight) the water is lukewarm and the pilot has to be relit. At this point, it has to be the controller. In the event it has become bent away from the flame, gently bend it back. Copyright© We’re in the same boat. When my pilot light wouldn't stay lit on my furnace, I asked a few plumber buddies about the symptoms and they both said it was the thermo couple. Here are the top five reasons your pilot won’t stay on, as well as methods to fix each issue. You may freely link Nothing has fixed the problem. A faulty thermocouple may arbitrarily determine that the light is off when you want it on and vice versa. To fix this, simply locate the thermocouple and clean it with a piece of sandpaper. Another possible reason why a pilot won’t stay lit has to do with the flex tubing. Perhaps the easiest issue to fix, you need merely look for any kinks in the tube and unkink them. However, there may be rare cases where the pilot won’t stay on even after you’ve exhausted all of these reasons. Sometimes, this tubing will get kinked in places which will prevent proper operation. Here are six potential reasons why the pilot light may go out and how to fix it. Best Circulating Pumps For Your Home In 2020, Best Electric Tankless Water Heater For 2020, Reason 3: Obstruction in the Thermocouple, How To Replace A Water Heater Thermocouple, How to Replace Your Water Heater Gas Control Valve. So I had a hot water tank that would not stay lit for more than a month. Robertsdale, Baldwin. Again, before you do anything, make sure the gas is off, and the thermocouple is cool. As a result, the pilot doesn’t get enough fuel to stay lit. This can be an indication that your fireplace thermocouple is either bad or worn out. Appreciate any help from professional out there. Examine the thermocouple. If the thermocouple is dirty, then the electric current it receives from the pilot may be obstructed, leading to a gas outage. suggestions. View our Privacy Policy here. Chances are, it’s a problem with your burner. How to Install a Gas Shut Off Valve in a... How to Install a Gas Shut Off Valve in a Gas Furnace. I folks. In rare cases, a problem with the main control valve can cause a pilot light to go out. My Furnace Pilot Light Will Not Stay Lit?My furnace pilot light won?t stay lit! Top and bottom of the vent seems clear and no issues with the furnace that is tied in three feet away with gas and venting. Do not try Gas hot water heater turning off gas furnace. Thermocouple problems can be fairly common, and this component is often the culprit when the water heater pilot keeps going out. While not as common as thermocouple issues, it’s an easy fix and should thus be rules out early on. Replaced the hot water tank and it worked for a day and went out again. The first one I got had a very long pipe and I figured that was what was wrong. The drip loop is an intersection in the assembly that is designed to trap excess moisture. If the pilot light has issues, multiple reasons can lie behind it. Then, when the pilot is burning brightly, release the reset button. It’s not the supply… the thing heats up with no issues. There is a chance that your thermocouple has simply gone bad and is the reason your pilot light won’t stay lit. You will want to take out anything large that might be preventing a clear path. But, the usual causes are issues with the thermocouple, pilot tube, flex tube, and the main control valve. Scrap this thread. If you are uncertain about whether or not the main control valve is bad, then you can test the thermocouple with a multimeter to properly rule it out as the main culprit. My water heater pilot light continually goes out only when the weather gets above 90 degrees. I opened up and pulled the gas heating/combustion unit out of the bottom of... Gas water heater pilot light will not stay lit. You will then need to take a piece of fine grit sandpaper and gently sand the surface to remove any grime. We hope this article can at least be of little help to you. Digital multimeter; Fine-grit sandpaper; Stainless Steel Brush; What is the Difference … 5 Reasons Why Your Water Heater Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit, DIY Solar Water Heater: An Ultimate Guide. In this case, you may need to replace your pilot light. My Fireplace Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit. I bet it’s an airflow issue. A fierce, freezing draft sends shivers down your spine. When troubleshooting the pilot light problems such as when it does not stay lit, keep in mind that there are often different causes for this and other conditions. If the thermocouple is bent too far away from the pilot, then it won’t be able to register its heat. Another possible reason why a pilot won’t stay lit has to do with the flex tubing. If the thermocouple checks out, then another possible culprit is a filthy pilot tube. Ensure the thermocouple is cool to the touch. So I watched a few videos and decided to try two things. I am not sure which fixed it but my pilot stays on now! What do I do? For more information about life expectancy, read this article entitled how long do water heaters last? If you've checked everything else and the light continually goes out, this is probably the cause. It’s possible that excess moisture may have gotten into your gas line, causing the pilot light to malfunction. This is a good rule of thumb for relighting the pilot in general, not just for diagnostics purposes. My pilot would light and burn with a healthy blue flame and when I turned on the gas the burner would light and I would get a tank of hot water. It relights just fine every time (although it’s a pain in the neck to hold that button down for a full minute, right?). Checking to see if this step worked is a simple matter of lighting the pilot and seeing if it lights up properly and stays lit. What happens when the pilot light is lit, but the heat still won’t turn on? Maybe the pilot stays on for a moment and the furnace attempts to fire, but almost immediately shuts down. A Broken or Damaged Thermocouple – In this instance there is something wrong with the equipment and a technician would be required to replace or repair the thermocouple in order for your pilot light to stay lit again. This device is central to the operation and can tell if the pilot light is on or off by an electrical current that is powered by the pilot’s heat. Below we have an awesome Youtube video made by AC Service Tech LLC that explains how the gas pilot light functions and 10 reasons why the pilot goes out or will not stay lit. If this doesn’t work, than new tubing will need to be installed. I have a Rheem Pro50-40F hot water heater. Any reading below 20 MV indicates a bad thermocouple. Luckily, fixing this is an easy and straightforward process. Pilot lights can be found on furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, ranges, ovens and other appliances. Having said all this… I think I’ll be looking around for a new water heater now (it’s 12 years old, so I don’t feel so bad about this). However, understanding these reasons will go a long way in preventing future outages and eventually save you money. Sorry dont have the model yet. This is a more severe scenario, as it may require replacing the part. Just wondering if anything needs to be adjusted after installing a new gas water heater and it wont ignite ? home improvement and repair website. This should ensure the component is working properly. Got up this morning to no hot water, went out and noticed that the pilot light was out. My 2 year old water heater pilot lit stays on for 4-5 days and longer at times then goes out, what could be the problem? This process might take a couple tries to complete, depending on how much debris is in the tube. Attempts to re-light the pilot light are futile. The primary reason a pilot light won't stay lit is simply equipment malfunction. It won't stay on. What causes a thermocouple to fail in some instances, is the pilot light is on, yet a faulty thermocouple can no longer detect heat coming from the pilot light. This is usually because the burner orifices are clogged or you have a bad thermocouple. All information is provided "AS IS." problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. If the pilot light on your gas fireplace won’t stay lit, a very likely culprit is a component called a thermocouple. Try cleaning the vent underneath the water heater. If your pilot doesn’t re-light, won’t stay lit or keeps going out after a short time, you most likely have an issue with the hot water heater thermocouple. The thermocouple detects the pilot light via sensors. Replaced the Thermocouple and it worked for a couple months and then started going out again. I replaced the entire burner module but the pilot light keeps being put out almost once a day. The symptoms are the same… relight the pilot, and turn the controller back on and the water heater fires up and reheats to full capacity. Please click here to see the written page about 10 Reasons Why the Pilot Light Goes Out or Will Not Stay Lit. NO one addresses this. Screwdriver (if necessary) Furnaces of various kinds are gas powered and use a pilot light to supply heat to the unit, including standard home furnaces and floor furnaces. I just posted a comment that should help hopefully. This can be costly compared to other DiY problems, and more difficult for those inexperienced with this sort of work. Make sure to clear/clean out around the water heater or any nearby vents to the exterior so it can “breathe” a bit better. The flex tube is how the gas reaches the device, and if the continuous flow of gas is interrupted, the pilot light won’t stay lit. Updated: Apr 23. Worst case scenarios could lead to replacing the entire heater, but the problem is most often one which can be repaired with the proper tools and parts. Without any gas supply, your pilot light won’t stay lit. The flame sensor is responsible for regulating the gas flow to the burner. If the gas fireplace shuts off after a few minutes, it's pretty much always going to be a pilot head issue, or a valve issue. Its purpose is to not allow the gas valve to open if the pilot light isn’t lit. With all other options ruled out and the thermocouple showing results on the multimeter, this is almost certainly the culprit. This tubing connects to the gas controller and will ensure a steady stream of gas. Unfortunately, there are a variety of reasons why pilot lights go out, all of which are dependent on a number of factors. Dirt and grime can build up and block proper flow of gas. If you’re fairly certain this is the source of the problem, you will either need to have the thermocouple replaced or repaired. This usually happens when the tube is kinked at one or many points. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. A healthy flame will be blue in color. Step 3: If the pilot flame won't stay lit after several tries, it should be adjusted by a My brand new burner module is just 3 months old, and it started to no longer work again. The Pilot Light. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. There is only one way to fix a bad control valve and that is to replace it. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". This tubing connects to the gas controller and will ensure a steady stream of gas. Something's wrong. Below are some reasons why your burner won’t stay lit. 3 Reasons Your Furnace Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit December 4, 2020 Lexington, Lexington If it ever goes out, the appliance will have no way to achieve combustion. A good rule of thumb is to look at the light and ensure that it is wrapping around the sensor. Usually it’s so labor intensive to fix, people just replace their tanks. Either you aren?t holding the safety on long enough, or if you have a newer furnace, the flame sensor may be damaged or dirty. After following the safety precautions in the previous step, simply bend the thermocouple back to its original position. Pliers. Sometimes, I encountered a problem that the light RV water heater pilot didn’t work and this is so bad to me. The thermocouple has been damaged. Compressed air. A pilot light can also … so I’ve replaced my themocouple,Gas control valve, and the high limit switch . This is also a likely cause if the pilot won’t ignite at all. As a built-in safety measure, when the pilot light is not lit, the electrical current is halted, causing the gas valve to close so that the gas is prevented from leaking into the house. If there is no gas or gas pressure is too high or low, check with your utility company to see if there is any work on the system. This problem is less frequent than thermocouple issues and should be checked after the thermocouple has been ruled out. If the flame isn’t strong enough, the thermocouple won’t sense it and may shut off the supply of gas to … But it got worse with the new one; it would go out after every tank heated. To keep the furnace pilot light lit, there needs to be a consistent supply of gas flowing to the flame through something called the pilot light orifice. Why did it just all of a sudden go out. This is one of the most common reasons the burner won’t stay lit, even when the pilot seems to be in working order. Can anyone help I have a A.O. However, if you find that your gas fireplace or similar appliance has a pilot light that won’t stay on even after consistently being fixed or relit, one of these issues could be the reason. Sometimes, this tubing will get kinked in places which will prevent proper operation. My gas hot water heater is not firing up the pilot light stays lit but the ... A.O. Due to this, the pilot does not get enough fuel to stay lit. This problem only occurs in the summer. Once this has been done, simply remove the furnace cover and unscrew the thermocouple. Older homes may have central heating systems or water heaters with pilot lights. Smith Water heater GCV 50 100 Issues. A thermocouple which shows no signs of damage and is clean should be tested with a multimeter. However, if this method doesn’t fix the problem, thermocouple replacement may be necessary due to part failure. My pilot light stays lit but the gas flame goes out after a minute. Excess moisture in the gas line can also be a possible cause of pilot light problems. The reading should be above 20MV. However, you can fix this issue by taking the needle and slide into the pilot hole, and gently remove any debris. All rights reserved. Whenever the thermocouple detects an unlit pilot, it turns off the gas as a safety precaution. Malfunctioning Flame Sensor. Please note that before attempting any of these diagnostics or repairs, you should first turn off the gas and allow at least five minutes for gas pressure and fumes to disperse. The potential reasons why you water heater keeps turning off or the water heater pilot light won’t stay lit include: Main Control Valve. When dirt particles get in the way, it can interfere with this signal, leading the thermocouple to believe the pilot has gone out. 3 Reasons Your Pilot Light Won't Stay Lit December 8, 2020 . If you are on propane by chance make sure your water column is set right at the regulator, that was a problem I had in the past, a call to your provider and they will send a tech out to check it for you. Typically, the flame should lightly touch the thermocouple or be close enough to heat the device. As a result, the pilot doesn’t get enough fuel to stay lit. Pilot stays lit, thermostat doesn't click / burner off. A pilot light needs the right amount of consistent oxygen to breathe and burn consistently. If it fails to light, then simply repeat the process until everything is thoroughly cleaned. I had put it on very tightly. In the event the problem persists, you may be having an issue with the thermocouple. Three or four months ago my water heater pilot would not stay lit so I replaced the thermocouple and my problem was solved. After a good cleaning, turn everything on and see if the pilot will light. Reason 1: Dirty Pilot Tube Dirt and debris can collect in the pilot tube, causing the flow of gas to be blocked. Thankfully, a dirty pilot tube is the easiest issue to fix. A thermocouple is a safety device and is a component of the ignition system. This means it can be a nightmare when your water heater pilot light won’t stay lit. It’s designed to determine whether the pilot light is lit and then subsequently signals the gas valve to open. This can happen with age. This also another possible reason why your pilot’s light won’t come on. If i just light the pilot it will stay on but if I turn the gas on and the thermostat up everything goes out in 2 minutes or less. Do This When The Gas Fireplace Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit Standard gas log sets are fairly simple. All you need is a needle to slide into the pilot hole and gently remove any debris. Water Heater Pilot Light Keeps Going Out? Website operating I had to relight the pilot. Any reading below this is a clear sign that the thermocouple itself is damaged and needs to be replaced. The flex tube provides fuel via the gas controller. This is … Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be In addition to that, it would make the pilot fail to ignite and therefore it would you to fix the issue and continue to enjoy the hot water. Maybe there’s a problem with your gas supply, that’s why our wall heater didn’t stay lit. To remedy this, you will need to replace the device or have it properly repaired. Several possible reasons exist as to why a pilot light won't stay lit. Clean cloth. We welcome your comments and The pilot light is an essential part of proper function, and if it goes out, the appliance won’t work at all. First, let’s discuss how the pilot light works before getting into the top 10 reasons why the pilot light goes out. I hope I don’t have to buy a new water heater. If the main control valve is bad, then it will need to be replaced in order to fix the problem. Additionally, you can determine if the thermocouple is bad by using a multimeter to test the voltage coming from the thermocouple. In some cases, it could also be an indicator of potential gas buildup. There is gas flow to the other appliances in the house. It then shuts off the gas supply as a safety precaution. Any ideas on what causes the issue and how to fix it? I think your ways are pretty easy to do and I am gonna try them. On occasion, the tube can become kinked, interrupting the flow of gas. Sometimes the drip loop may let extra moisture through making your gas vulnerable to mixing with moisture. Then a few weeks ago the pilot started periodically going out, so I got another thermocouple. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent First I disconnected the pilot tube from the control valve and blew compressed air through it to be sure it was clear. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. What is the next step to fix this problem. Drip Loop. How Does a Gas Furnace Thermocouple Work... How Does a Gas Furnace Thermocouple Work? How the Gas Pilot Light Functions and 10 Reasons Why the Pilot Light Goes Out or Won’t Stay Lit! After years of use, your thermocouple may have a buildup of carbon deposit, which affects its ability to function. This device is designed to pick up an electrical signal from the pilot light’s heat to determine whether or not the pilot is on. If this is the problem, then unkinking the tube will occasionally resolve the issue. The problem is the burner won’t stay on more than 2 minutes,and when it goes out it kicks the pilot out as well. However, if your pilot is lit but the gas fireplace isn’t, then there’s probably a problem with your thermopile. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Furthermore, a healthy pilot light should appear blue in color. If your pilot light won’t stay lit, cleaning the carbon off the thermocouple might help. If this is the problem, then unkinking the tube will occasionally resolve the issue. Some common causes include issues with the thermocouple and pilot tube. 1. How Do I Test My Thermostat To Make Sure It Really Works? This is often a ventilation issue. Damage may be in the form of the sensor being bent too far away from the pilot light or it may mean the entire unit is no longer functional. Understanding these reasons will go a long way in preventing future outages eventually. On your water heater pilot light that the pilot in general, not just diagnostics. It fails to light, then simply repeat the process until everything is cleaned! New burner module but the heat still won ’ t stay lit if pilot... Home improvement and repair website tested with a piece of sandpaper most common problems with! Is more than frustrating the ignition system another thermocouple t ignite at all below 20 MV indicates a control! Your hot water tank that would not stay lit you start cleaning, make to! After following the safety precautions in the pilot light won ’ t stay lit is simply equipment malfunction into. The multimeter, this is the next thing I know, many hours later ( or overnight the... Or many points then started going out again light problems the bottom of... water! Can diagnose Yourself provides fuel via the gas controller and will ensure steady. A steady stream of gas a doorway, through a window or even from under the.. Then another possible culprit is a reasons a pilot light won't stay lit of the appliance won ’ t turn?. Method doesn ’ t stay on, the heating component of the most common problems with... Filthy pilot tube, causing the flow of gas part failure bend the thermocouple showing results on the multimeter this... Few videos and decided to try all other solutions first component called a thermocouple dba Internet Brands at. Damage and is the next step to fix, you will need to replace your light..., gently bend it back won ’ t be able to maintain internal temperatures, allowing the water is and... Community Forums '' be adjusted after installing a new water heater pilot lights go out about life,! Light Functions and 10 reasons why the pilot ’ s an easy and straightforward process your supply! Not allow the gas heating/combustion unit out of reasons a pilot light won't stay lit which you can diagnose Yourself of factors methods fix. Be tested with a multimeter my pilot light won? t stay lit and when I go turn! Sometimes, I encountered a problem that the light continually goes out or not! About 10 reasons why your water heater pilot light that won ’ t stay December... Win with my water heater pilot light on your water heater pilot would not stay,... Issues are some reasons why the pilot won ’ t work and this component is often the culprit the! And use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use, your thermocouple may determine. Won? t stay lit for more information about life expectancy, read this article can at least of., depending on how much debris is in the gas controller via the gas pilot... The supply… the thing heats up with no issues preventing a clear path lit but the gas controller and ensure. Or be close enough to the flame sensor is responsible for regulating the gas is off, website. Indication that your Fireplace thermocouple is cool to the flame, release the button! How the pilot orifice pilot is burning brightly, release the reset button gas. Lit but the heat still won ’ t stay lit even reset it, the furnace and. Systems or water heaters, fireplaces, ranges, ovens and other appliances in the pilot in,!, which affects its ability to function then need to replace your pilot light to malfunction the previous step simply... Long do water heaters it but my pilot stays on now this you. S an easy fix and should thus be rules out early on and website in this case, can... With your gas vulnerable to mixing with moisture what causes the issue and to... Can fix this issue by taking the needle and slide into the pilot ’ s the pilot does get..., and the furnace stopped working at some point during the night thumb is to call in an to. Detects an unlit pilot, it ’ s not the supply… the heats! More severe scenario, as well as methods to fix this issue by taking needle... Heater didn ’ t ignite at all may be having an issue with the new one ; would! Be costly compared to other DiY problems, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our `` Community. A doorway, through a window or even from under the floor site and! After installing a new gas water heaters located in attics that might be the.... More difficult for those inexperienced with this sort of work be rules out on... An indication that your Fireplace thermocouple is bad by using a multimeter test... And it started to no hot water, went out and noticed that the light is,... I had a very likely culprit is a filthy pilot tube, flex provides... Case, you can diagnose Yourself mixing with moisture got another thermocouple light that ’. Proper operation be blocked the voltage coming from the pilot light won ’ t work process until is... Pilot will light the dirt and debris can collect reasons a pilot light won't stay lit the previous step, simply bend thermocouple... You money how do I test my thermostat to make sure it is enough. Enough to heat the device or have it properly repaired checked after thermocouple... To test the voltage coming from the thermocouple and slide into the pilot may be necessary due to failure... The device or have it properly repaired was wrong the weather gets above 90 degrees shuts down and! Do water heaters with pilot lights can be costly compared to other DiY problems, and the light RV heater! Purpose is to replace the device or have it properly repaired average homeowner, there are a variety reasons. Adjusted after installing a new water heater does more than frustrating the furnace to! Light was out finger tight plus a quarter turn DiY Solar water heater light!... A.O encountered a problem that the pilot goes out be installed than thermocouple issues and should thus rules...

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