These days, new gas furnaces tend to rely on electric ignition systems. However, gas furnaces are reliable and long-lived. So, it isn’t unusual to find them working in homes for 25 to 30 years or more. For that reason, many furnaces are still out there relying on pilot lights instead of electric ignition systems. If your home has one of them, it pays to know where the pilot light is and how to relight it safely. To help you, here’s a guide to doing both.
What Is a Pilot Light?
A pilot light is a tiny gas-powered flame that always remains lit within an older furnace. It uses a small amount of natural gas to do so. The purpose of a pilot light is to ignite your furnace’s burners whenever your thermostat calls for heat. In most cases, pilot lights are relatively well-protected from drafts. That prevents your furnace’s pilot light from getting extinguished. However, pilot lights can go out. When yours does, your furnace won’t be capable of turning on when you need it. Plus, the tiny amount of gas the pilot light relies on will likely leak into your home.
Finding Your Furnace’s Pilot Light
If you have a furnace with a pilot light, you need to know where it is. That will give you the ability to check your pilot light periodically to ensure it remains lit. Plus, it will enable you to relight your pilot light when necessary. Generally speaking, your furnace’s pilot light should be towards the lower half of your indoor HVAC unit. Unfortunately, there’s no single set of instructions that makes finding your exact unit’s pilot light simple. To do it, try the following, in order.
Check Your Furnace’s Manual
If you happen to have the owner’s manual for your furnace, you should consult it first. It should include a diagram that shows exactly where to find the system’s pilot light. The manual should also tell you the precise procedure required to relight it. If you don’t have the owner’s manual, try looking up your furnace online using its model number. You may find a digital copy of the manual that way.
Look for an Observation Window
Depending on your furnace model, it may have a small glass or plastic observation window in its indoor unit front cover. If you see that, you can peer through it to see the status of your furnace’s pilot light. The window’s purpose is to let you do that without having to remove the front cover. However, if your pilot light goes out, you will still need to open that cover to relight it.
Remove Your Furnace’s Front Cover
Finally, if all else fails, you can remove the front cover of your indoor HVAC unit. You’d need to do so to relight your pilot light when called for, anyway. Typically, the front access panel on an older furnace will slide upward for removal from its housing. In some cases, you may need to remove one or two screws to remove the panel, or you might need to remove your furnace’s upper panel first. It can help to observe the process during your furnace’s annual maintenance visit.
Checking Pilot Light Status and Relighting
Once you can see or access your furnace’s pilot light, you can ascertain its status. You should see a small, steady blue flame coming from the pilot light. If the flame appears in any other color, your furnace requires professional service immediately. If you see no flame at all, your pilot light needs relighting. In that case, you will likely smell the pilot light’s gas supply. You can take the following steps to relight your pilot light.
Turn the Pilot Light Valve Off
You should find a knob near your pilot light that controls its gas supply. You must turn that knob to the off position. That will allow any gas near the pilot light to dissipate. You should wait several minutes for that to happen after turning off the gas. Otherwise, your attempt to relight the pilot light will result in a fire or explosion.
Relight the Pilot
After a few minutes, you can press in and hold the pilot light’s gas supply knob. Simultaneously, use a long lighter to reignite the pilot light. Once you confirm the pilot light’s ignition, turn the control knob back to the on position while continuing to keep it depressed. When you finally release the knob, the pilot should remain lit. If you attempt to light the pilot more than once and it won’t stay lit, turn the knob back to the off position. Then call us for help.
Trusted Local Furnace Experts
It’s important to note that you should never attempt to relight your furnace’s pilot light unless you feel comfortable doing it. If you don’t, you should leave the job to AIS Heating & Air Conditioning. We offer comprehensive furnace maintenance and repair services. We can perform an annual safety inspection and furnace tune-up to keep your furnace in good working order. Whenever you need an expert’s help with your Fremont, CA home’s furnace, call AIS Heating & Air Conditioning immediately!
