Gas Water Heater Pilot Light

The pilot light is the heart of your water heater.

Gas water heater pilot light.

So what are the reasons your water pilot light keeps going out. Light the pilot burner. 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. Turn the gas knob to pilot press and hold it down.

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. Pilot light issues are some of the most common problems experienced with gas water heaters. Without this flame there would be no heat and thus no warm water. Without it the water heater won t be able to maintain internal temperatures allowing the water to cool off.

Some water heaters have a separate button for pilot mode usually a red one which you ll press and hold. While still holding the gas down light that pilot. It is common on fireplaces and older cheaper furnaces and water heaters. 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.

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. When the water heater pilot light goes out first try relighting it following the directions on the water heater label. The water heater pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner on your water heater. You should hear a clicking noise until the pilot burner lights.

Tank type gas water heaters use a pilot light to ignite the gas burner when the water in the tank needs to be heated. A pilot light is always burning while using a small amount of gas either a water heater is running or not. The pilot light in your hot water heater does more than simply ignite the gas. If you have a new style water tank with a built in ignition switch press this button.

This will start the flow of gas so you can light the flame.