Gas Heater Pilot Light Keeps Going Out

If the thermocouple fails to shut off the gas all the gas flowing through the furnace could get into your home.

Gas heater pilot light keeps going out.

If you have a natural or propane gas water heater chances are the pilot has gone out. But if the orifice is dirty or restricted the pilot light won t light properly. The pilot light needs a strong flow of gas to make a strong steady blue flame that the thermocouple can sense. The flame will go out if the tube is clogged with dirt or debris.

Sometimes it s referred to as the flame sensor it s a safety mechanism that shuts the gas off should the pilot go out. The number one reason why the pilot light keeps going out is the thermocouple. When the pilot light goes out the loss of current shuts the valve and stops gas flow. Sometimes the tube might be partially clogged and supplying very little gas for combustion no wonder your pilot light keeps going out.

Thermocouples work by producing a small amount of voltage when it is heated. Which means the thermocouple will shut off the gas flow to your furnace as a safety measure. When the water heater pilot light goes out first try relighting it following the directions on the water heater label. 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.

Thorough cleaning should do the trick. This is the pilot flame that provides the heat. Repair technicians will need to replace the thermocouple. If this pilot light ever goes out the heater has no way of actually.

The pilot tube supplies gas to the pilot light for combustion. The water heater pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner on your water heater. 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. The thermocouple is the copper rod the pilot flame directly hits.

The thermocouple also contains wiring that goes to the gas valve and makes electricity to light the pilot.