Gas Water Heater Pilot Light

The pilot light in your hot water heater does more than simply ignite the gas.

Gas water heater pilot light.

It s a small blue flame that burns petroleum gas to produce heat. This will start the flow of gas so you can light the flame. When the water heater pilot light goes out first try relighting it following the directions on the water heater label. If you have a new style water tank with a built in ignition switch press this button.

A pilot light is always burning while using a small amount of gas either a water heater is running or not. Usually the first warning that your pilot light has gone out is the cold water. It is common on fireplaces and older cheaper furnaces and water heaters. A pilot light is a small device that is designed to provide the flame and light the gas coming out of the gas valve and main burner.

You should hear a clicking noise until the pilot burner lights. Without it the water heater won t be able to maintain internal temperatures allowing the water to cool off. The water heater pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner on your water heater. Tank type gas water heaters use a pilot light to ignite the gas burner when the water in the tank needs to be heated.

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 pilot light is the heart of your water heater. While holding down the pilot gas valve or the red button with one hand you will use your other hand to quickly light the pilot. Turn the gas knob to pilot press and hold it down.

So what are the reasons your water pilot light keeps going out. If this pilot light ever goes out the heater has no way of actually. Pilot light issues are some of the most common problems experienced with gas water heaters. If the pilot doesn t relight if it goes out right after lighting or if it goes out repeatedly by far the most common cause is a bad thermocouple.

Without this flame there would be no heat and thus no warm water.