Does pilot light stay on all the time furnace?

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.

What do you do if your furnace pilot light won’t stay lit?

How to Light Your Furnace’s Pilot

Make sure the thermostat is in heat mode.
Locate the pilot valve.
Always turn the valve knob to the off position and make sure to wait at least several minutes for any residual gas to clear away.
Get your match ready.
Once the pilot stays lit, turn the pilot valve to the on position.

Is it safe to leave a pilot light on?

Generally speaking, it is safe to leave your continuous pilot light on at all times, assuming it stays lit (more on this in a moment). While it does cost more to keep your pilot light on in between uses, it can actually have some benefits to your system.

Why does the pilot light on my furnace keep going out?

The thermocouple is the copper rod the pilot flame directly hits. Sometimes it’s referred to as the “flame sensor.” It’s a safety mechanism that shuts the gas off should the pilot go out. If the thermocouple fails to shut off the gas, all the gas flowing through the furnace could get into your home.

Where to get a pilot light for a gas furnace?

If you have any questions about a gas furnace’s pilot light, or if you’d like a heating system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly, your St. Charles heating and cooling contractor. We service the St. Louis area, including towns like Dardenne Prairie, Des Peres and Frontenac.

What should I do if my pilot light keeps going out?

Before purchasing a new thermocouple a check of the gas line to the pilot assembly should be done. In a few cases debris got trapped in the gas line and blocked the gas. Cleaning the tubing by blowing through it should clean all the debris from the line. The pilot assembly, pilot nozzle, and even the thermocouple should be clean.

What does the flame sensor on a furnace do?

It’s often called the “flame sensor” because its job is to detect whether the pilot light is lit or not. If it can’t sense a flame from the pilot light, it prevents the gas valve from opening and sending more gas into the combustion chamber.

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.

Why does pilot light keep going out on gas furnace?

Thermocouple – The most common cause for a pilot light going out frequently is the thermocouple. The thermocouple verifies that the pilot light in your gas furnace is burning (to ensure that your furnace is not releasing unburned gas into your home).

Why is my furnace pilot not staying lit?

The most common reason the furnace pilot light won’t stay lit. Bad Thermocouple. A furnace thermocouple is a safety feature that regulates gas flow to your system based on whether the pilot light is on. In simple terms, the thermocouple checks to see if your pilot light flame is lit and turns off the gas flow if it senses that your pilot light is off, so you don’t have gas building up in your home.

Why does the pilot light in your Furnace go out?

The furnace pilot light may keep going out in your home due to a wind draft from your ventilation system. If your HVAC system isn’t airtight and windy weather comes to town, a strong gust could create a breeze all the way through the vents to your furnace.