When you have to relight a furnace’s pilot light, admittedly, it can be overwhelming. However, it doesn’t have to be so. As long as you have appropriate instructions along with a tidbit of elbow grease, you can successfully relight your furnace! So, if you’re here reading this blog, it’s probably safe to assume you have a furnace pilot light that has been blown out and, alas – needs to be relit.
So, how did your pilot light go out exactly? Well, a pilot light can go out for several reasons. These can be but are not limited to system-related issues, or maybe it happened when a draft passed through your home, leading to an extinguished pilot light. Cool air coming out of your vents can be frustrating, so without further ado, join Eastland Heating & Cooling so we can get your heat up and running again!
WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO RELIGHTING A FURNACE PILOT LIGHT?
Step 1: Generally, furnaces have directions on how to relight the pilot light for your specific furnace placed right on the side of your unit. This makes it easy for homeowners to locate and read. You always want to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions when possible. However, if you cannot find or read them easily due to the furnace being positioned in a dark, unlit area, you may continue reading below for some general instructions.
Step 2: Before you start the actual relighting process, be sure to have a long enough lighter available so that you can reach your pilot light’s burner. If you don’t have a long enough lighter on hand, a long match will be sufficient too. Just be sure that before you start the relighting process, you have a lighter or match on hand that can reach the opening of the pilot light. Otherwise, you may risk starting the relighting process and not being able to reach the pilot light.
Step 3: Next, it’s time to search for and locate the burner cover on your furnace (if your furnace has one). The burner cover is the metal faceplate that covers the pilot light opening. Once you have pinpointed it, you may proceed by removing it from the furnace. Now, the pilot light should be accessible.
Step 4: For safety precautions, we recommend turning off the gas supply to your furnace before proceeding. There should be a gas valve positioned nearby. Once you find it, shut it off.
Step 5: It’s important not to forget about your furnace’s power too. Even though you just shut off your gas supply, you still need to turn off your furnace in its entirety as well. Typically, the power switch is located at the base of most furnaces.
Step 6: Whatever you do, don’t skip this step! It’s crucial that after you turn off the gas supply and furnace, you need to wait for a minimum of five minutes before proceeding to the next step. This is necessary, so the gas has sufficient time to dissipate. Bear in mind, skipping this part could be extremely detrimental, resulting in damage to your home.
Step 7: While waiting for the five minutes to pass by, let’s locate the pilot light assembly. This is typically a small knob that can be turned. It should also be labeled with settings such as “pilot, reset, and on/off.” Wording is subject to vary depending on your furnace model.
Step 8: To relight your pilot light, follow these steps:
- First, start by turning the knob to the “pilot” setting after the gas has dispersed and a full five minutes have passed by. When you do this, it enables the gas to flow back to the pilot light.
- Secondly, now press and continue holding the “reset” button down. While pressing this button, proceed by gradually approaching the pilot light with the ignited lighter in your other hand. Just make sure to not get your hand too close!
- The lighter should ignite the pilot flame, and at this point and the pilot light should remain lit. So, when the flame is lit, you may release the “reset” button. If the flame does not stay lit upon releasing it, there could be another underlying system-related issue. This would be a good indicator that it is time to call an HVAC professional.
Step 9: It could take a little bit for your furnace to get your house adequately warmed up again. So, be sure to give it some time to do so. Furthermore, watch for a few minutes to make sure the pilot light stays lit.
Step 10: Finally, our last step is not to let it slip your mind that the burner cover needs to be placed back on and the gas supply must be turned back on.
Voila – you did it! At this point, your pilot light should stay lit. But if you encounter a problem with the pilot light igniting but not remaining lit, there may be another underlying issue at hand. Eastland Heating & Cooling is here to assist you with all your HVAC needs and concerns. So, don’t delay in reaching out to us if you have any questions! Contact us at (740) 227-8302, or schedule a heating or cooling repair appointment online now by clicking here!
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