How do I find the pilot on my furnace?
Near the bottom of your furnace is a switch that normally says “Pilot,” “On” and “Off.” Find this switch and turn it to the “Off” position. Wait at least five minutes. This is important because it gives the gas time to dissipate, which is necessary to avoid possibly starting a fire.
How do I know if my furnace is turned on?
Most thermostats have a switch for the fan that says either “On” or “Auto” (which means that the fan turns on when the equipment comes on). Throw the switch to “On.” “If the fan comes on, then you know you’ve got power to the furnace.
Does a furnace pilot light always stay on?
Since the pilot light needs to remain active, your furnace is always consuming some gas. It’s not a lot—usually just a few therms of gas a month—but that obviously adds up over time. There is a safety issue as well. Pilot lights can develop problems that cause them to burn inefficiently.
Is a furnace pilot light always on?
If you have an older gas furnace, your heating unit relies on a little blue flame known as a pilot light to ensure ignition of the burners. Water heaters, gas fireplaces and old gas stoves also often have similar pilot lights. Since the pilot light needs to remain active, your furnace is always consuming some gas.
Does the furnace have its own breaker?
According to building codes, a furnace must be supplied by a dedicated circuit, meaning the circuit cannot supply power to anything other than the furnace. This circuit is served by its own circuit breaker in the breaker box (properly called the main service panel).
What do you do if the pilot light goes out on your furnace?
If you don’t feel comfortable restarting your pilot light, please don’t hesitate to call an expert for assistance.
- Step 1: Turn off your furnace.
- Step 2: Locate your gas valve.
- Step 3: Hold down the red button.
- Step 4: Light the pilot light.
- Step 5: Let go of the button.
- Step 6: Turn your gas back on.
Does gas turn off when pilot goes out?
The pilot light provides a small flame that ignites the gas needed to operate the appliance. This is because all modern gas appliances with pilot lights have a fail-safe device that closes off the gas to the appliance in the case when the pilot may go out. The fail-safe device is comprised of a thermocouple.
Where is the pilot light on a gas furnace?
Standing Pilot. Older gas furnaces often have a standing pilot light that remains on all of the time. Locate the pilot light by finding the gas line that enters the furnace. This pipe is about the size of a garden hose and may be made of brass, copper or black steel.
How do you know if the pilot is lit on a Heil furnace?
International Comfort Products sells gas furnaces under several brand names, including Heil. Some of the company’s furnaces have a pilot light, and it’s easy to tell if it’s lit by visually inspecting it. Newer furnaces use a hot surface ignitor to light the burners.
How to know if your gas pilot light is out?
Making certain the pilot light is operating is the first check to be made when the gas furnace or water heater is not providing normal service. Locate the burner chamber door for the furnace or water heater.
How can I tell if my pilot light is out in my water heater?
You can check your pilot light. The technical term for a pilot light is a standing pilot, which is a small flame that’s continually burning. Its function is to ignite the gas burner flame in a natural gas or propane water heater, furnace or boiler, and if it goes out, the appliance won’t operate.
How do I restart my pilot light on my furnace?
Turn the knob to the “Pilot” setting, which will re-start the flow of gas to the pilot. Strike up your match or lighter. Depress the reset button, and while it is depressed, hold the match flame near the pilot opening. When the pilot is burning brightly, release the rest button. The furnace will then start, automatically.
Does my furnace have a pilot light?
Modern furnaces won’t have a visible pilot light and instead use an electric ignition system to light the furnace.
How do I know if my furnace pilot light is out?
If you suspect your pilot light is out, the first thing you can do is check for a flame. If after turning the knobs on your furnace you still are not getting a solid flame, this is a good signal your pilot light is out. If you smell gas or detect a rotten egg smell, you will need to have your gas shut off entirely.
Should you turn off your furnace pilot light?
It isn’t a good idea to turn off your pilot if your hot water is heated with gas. In some cases, ice could form and break some of the smaller pipes in the furnace. Keeping the pilot light on will cost money, but it can also melt any ice around the heater.