Furnace Pilot Light Won’t Light: How to Get It Burning Again

Last Updated on February 22, 2022 by Kimberly Crawford

If your furnace pilot light won’t light, don’t panic! You can usually get it burning again with a few simple steps. In this blog post, we will walk you through the process of relighting your furnace pilot light. We will also provide some tips on how to prevent this from happening again in the future.

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What causes your furnace pilot light won’t light?

There are a few common reasons why your furnace pilot light might not be lighting. Here are some of the most common culprits:

The pilot light is out of gas.

If the furnace is trying to light but can’t because there isn’t any gas, you’ll likely smell a strong odor.

Call your HVAC technician if you think this might be the problem. They can come out and refill your tank so that your furnace can start working again.

The pilot light is clogged with soot or dirt.

If the pilot light is clogged, it won’t be able to ignite. You might notice that your furnace is making strange noises or isn’t putting out heat if this is the case.

The igniter is bad or isn’t getting power.

If the igniter is bad, it won’t be able to start the furnace. If you think this might be the problem, call your HVAC technician for a diagnosis.

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Where is the pilot light on the furnace?

The pilot light is usually located near the burner. It will be a small, blue flame.

What to do if my pilot light won’t light?

thermometer checks gas furnace

If your pilot light won’t light, there are a few things you can try:

– Check to make sure the gas is turned on.

– Make sure the furnace switch is in the “on” position.

– Clean the pilot light with a damp cloth.

– Light a match and hold it up to the pilot light.

– Push in and then release the reset button on the furnace.

If none of these methods work, you’ll likely need to call a technician to help relight the pilot light.

How do I know if my pilot light is on?

The pilot light is a small, burning flame that helps ignite the gas in your furnace. If it goes out, the furnace won’t work. You can usually see the pilot light on the side or front of your furnace. It may be blue, yellow, or orange.

If you can’t see the pilot light, it may be hidden behind a panel. Look for a small hole in the panel. The pilot light will be inside the hole.

– Check the furnace switch to see if it’s in the “on” position.

– Listen for the sound of the pilot light clicking on.

What would cause a gas furnace not to ignite?

There are a few things that could cause your furnace not to ignite. One of the most common reasons is a dirty pilot light. If the pilot light is clogged with soot, it can prevent the gas from igniting and causing your furnace to fail to turn on. You can clean the pilot light by using a wire brush or a vacuum cleaner with the brush attachment.

Another common problem is a faulty thermocouple. The thermocouple is responsible for sensing the pilot light’s heat and sending a signal to the furnace’s gas valve to open. If the thermocouple isn’t working properly, it can prevent the furnace from igniting. To check if the thermocouple is the problem, remove it from the furnace and place it in a glass of ice water. If the thermocouple falls off when you pick it up, then it’s defective and needs to be replaced.

Another possibility is that the gas valve is not opening. This could be due to a number of reasons such as a faulty solenoid or a dirty gas valve. If the gas valve isn’t opening, you’ll need to troubleshoot it to find out what’s causing the problem.

If your furnace still won’t ignite after checking these things, there may be something wrong with the ignition system. You’ll need to call a technician to diagnose and fix the problem.

How do you fix a pilot light that keeps going out?

If the pilot light keeps going out, you may need to adjust the flame. To do this, remove the front panel of your furnace and locate the adjustment screw on the burner.

Turn the screw counterclockwise until the flame is blue and stable. Then, tighten the screw a little bit and test it again. If it still goes out, continue to turn the screw clockwise until the flame is stable. Be careful not to over adjust or you could damage your furnace.

If you’ve tried all of these things and your pilot light still won’t stay lit, it may be time to call a technician. They can diagnose the problem and fix it for you.

How to prevent my furnace pilot light from going out?

There are a few things you can do to prevent your furnace pilot light from going out. One is to make sure the thermocouple is properly connected.

Another is to clean the pilot light and the gas valve regularly. You should also check for any obstructions in the air flow, such as cobwebs or dust build-up.

If you have a humidifier, make sure the water level is set correctly and that the hose isn’t kinked. Finally, always use caution when working on your furnace and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

How to light a gas furnace with electronic ignition

technician repairing gas furnace

Tools and materials you will need:

-Phillips head screwdriver

-Vacuum cleaner with brush attachment

-Wire brush

-Lighter or matches

If your furnace has an electronic ignition, the process for lighting it is a little different. First, make sure the power to the furnace is turned off. Then remove the front panel of the furnace and locate the two wires leading to the igniter.

Disconnect the wires and using a Phillips head screwdriver, remove the two screws that hold the igniter in place. Carefully pull out the igniter and use a wire brush or vacuum cleaner with the brush attachment to clean it. If there is any soot or dirt on the electrodes, it can prevent the furnace from igniting.

Reattach the wires to the igniter and replace the screws. Turn on the power to the furnace and hold a lighter or matches up to the pilot light opening. The pilot light should ignite. If it doesn’t, turn off the power to the furnace and check to make sure the wires are properly attached to the igniter.

If the pilot light still won’t stay lit, you may need to replace the igniter. The igniter is the small, white part of the furnace that lights when you turn on the gas. You can buy a new igniter at most hardware stores.

Can you manually light a pilot light?

Some furnaces have a manual pilot light that you can light if the electronic ignition fails. To do this, remove the front panel of the furnace and locate the pilot light opening. There should be a small lever next to it. Push in the lever and hold it while you light the pilot light with a lighter or matches. Once the pilot is lit, release the lever. If the pilot light goes out, repeat the process.

If your furnace has a manual pilot light, you can also use it to test for gas leaks. To do this, turn off the power to the furnace and disconnect the wires from the igniter. Then hold a lighter or matches up to the pilot light opening. If the pilot light stays lit, there is no gas leak. If the pilot light goes out, there is a gas leak and you should leave the house immediately and call 911.

How much does it cost to relight a pilot?

If you have a gas furnace, the pilot light is an important part of your heating system. The pilot light ignites the main burner assembly and provides heat for your home. If the pilot light goes out, you’ll need to relight it in order to get your furnace running again.

The cost to relight a pilot light will vary depending on your location. However, it’s usually a relatively inexpensive service call. Most HVAC technicians should be able to relight the pilot for you in just a few minutes.

How do you reset the pilot light on a furnace?

There are a few different ways to reset the pilot light on a furnace. One common way is to use a paperclip to press the button on the gas valve. You can also use a long-handled fireplace poker to push the reset button.

If your pilot light won’t stay lit, there could be something wrong with your furnace. In this case, it’s best to call a technician for help. They can determine what’s wrong with your furnace and fix the problem.

Related:

Furnace pilot light replacement

If the furnace pilot light isn’t lit, it could be a problem with the gas or the electric supply. Another possibility is that there is something blocking the flow of gas to the pilot light. If you have checked all of these things and your furnace pilot light still won’t light, you will need to replace it.

To replace the furnace pilot light:

Unplug your furnace. Remove the cover of the furnace. Locate the pilot light. Disconnect the wires from the old pilot light. Connect the new pilot light to the wires. Put everything back together and plug in your furnace. Turn on your furnace and see if the pilot light is lit.

Why does my furnace pilot light keep going out?

A: There are several reasons why your furnace’s pilot light might be going out, including a gas leak, an issue with the wiring, or soot or dirt on the electrodes.

Why won’t my furnace pilot light stay lit?

A: There are a few reasons why your furnace’s pilot light might not stay lit. The most common is that the thermocouple has gone bad and isn’t generating enough heat to keep the pilot light burning. Another possibility is that there’s something blocking the air intake, which is preventing the furnace from getting enough oxygen to stay lit.

How can I light my furnace pilot light if it’s gone out?

A: If your furnace has a standing pilot light, you can usually relight it by following these steps: first, make sure that there isn’t any gas leaking from the unit. Next, locate the pilot light assembly. It will be either at the bottom or side of the furnace, and it will look like a small metal box with a knob on top.

Turn the knob until you hear a clicking sound, then hold down the knob for about 30 seconds. Release the knob and wait for the pilot light to come on. If your furnace doesn’t have a standing pilot light, you’ll need to call a technician to relight it for you.

How can I keep my furnace’s pilot light from going out?

A: There are a few things that you can do to help prevent your furnace’s pilot light from going out. One is to make sure that the thermocouple is working properly and is generating enough heat to keep the pilot light lit.

You can also clean the electrodes regularly to remove any dirt or soot that might be causing the pilot light to go out. And finally, make sure that there isn’t anything blocking the air intake on your furnace.

Conclusion

If your furnace pilot light won’t stay lit, don’t panic! There are a few things that you can do to try to get it burning again. The most common way is to use a paper clip or long-handled fireplace poker to press the reset button on the gas valve. If that doesn’t work, you might need to call a technician to come and take a look at your furnace. But before you do that, make sure that you’ve checked all the possible reasons why the pilot light might be going out. And remember, if your furnace doesn’t have a standing pilot light, you’ll need to call a technician to relight it for you. Thanks for reading!