Why Does The Pilot Light On My Furnace Keep Going Out?
A pilot light going out can be an annoying issue to deal with in the cold weather.
If you have a furnace that was made in the early 1990’s or earlier, chances are you have had to deal with the pilot light going out on your furnace at least once.
Why does this happen though?
Is there anything that can be done to prevent a furnace repair? Let’s find out!
Faulty Gas Valve
A standing pilot light is really nothing more than a slow and steady flow of gas that helps ignite your furnace when it’s time to come on.
One of the first culprits that come to mind would be a fault with your furnace’s gas valve, possibly with it’s power unit.
If the gas valve on your furnace is starting to go bad, it might not be providing enough gas to the ignition system to keep your pilot light flame going.
Without the proper HVAC tools, a bad gas valve is nearly impossible to diagnose.
Improper Flow Of Gas
This problem can also be caused by a faulty gas valve.
If your furnace’s gas pressure is not set properly, the pilot light may not be receiving the correct amount of gas needed to stay light.
You are able to adjust the gas pressure via the furnace’s gas valve. A proper gas pressure is usually around 3.5″ WC.
Any deviation from this may cause your furnace’s burners to not work properly.
Bad Thermocouple
A thermocouple job is to verify that the pilot light is actually burning as opposed to just releasing gas for no reason.
You’ll need to verify that the pilot flame is making contact with the thermocouple.
The best way to tell it is positioned properly is to see the end of the thermocouple glowing hot.
Thermocouples are usually an easy fix that can be done yourself if you are mechanically inclined.
Dirty Pilot
If the pilot itself has become dirty, this can prevent the flame from staying lit.
You can clean your pilot light with a wire brush or some other type of abrasive material.
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.
When it comes to your furnace’s pilot light, there can be a variety of reasons that it goes out. If your furnace happens to be in an area that is exposed to strong gusts of wind, it can be blown out. To get your furnace repaired, call us today.
In most cases, if your furnace is less than 20 years old, it should not be dangerous if your pilot light goes out. Most furnaces now have a shut off valve that is triggered when the pilot light goes out. This shut off valve ensures that the gas flow is shut off when the pilot light goes out on your furnace. However, regardless of the age of your furnace, there is always a chance that the shut off valve can malfunction. To be on the safe side, you should never try to reignite the pilot light if you believe there is a chance that your shut off valve has malfunctioned or you think you smell gas coming from your furnace. Contact us today to get your furnace repaired.
The biggest sign that your thermocouple is bad on your furnace is if your pilot will light, but does not remain lit. If your pilot light is lighting, but not staying lit, you can attempt to clean the pilot tube. If everything is clear of obstructions and your thermocouple is still not working properly, you should have an experienced HVAC technician inspect and repair your furnace for you. To find out more about getting your furnace repaired, give us a call today.
