What To Do When Your Furnace Pilot Light Goes Out

When your Akron furnace’s pilot light goes out, it can leave you feeling chilly, uncomfortable, and with a feeling of dread. Will it come back on? Should you handle it yourself? Reigniting a pilot light can seem straightforward, but there are crucial safety steps to follow and times when you should absolutely call in the pros to assess safety issues. 

The team at Jennings Heating and Cooling has the pro tips on what to do when your pilot light goes out and when to call for HVAC repair in Akron Ohio.

There are all kinds of reasons pilot lights go out, from:

• Drafts near the furnace
• Dirty pilot orifice that creates an unstable, weak yellow or orange flame
• Faulty thermocouple
• Moisture or humidity issues 
• Gas supply problems
• Misaligned pilot flame
• Old or worn furnace parts
• Improper ventilation
• Rust or corrosion buildup
• Accidentally extinguishing it

No matter the reason your furnace in Akron Ohio isn’t working right, you want to get a handle on it quickly in case there’s a safety issue going on with your furnace. 

Step 1: Piroitize Safety

Your pilot light going out isn’t something to panic about, even on a frigid day. Make sure there’s no strong smell of gas, sulfur, or rotten eggs around your unit. Although natural gas is odorless, utility companies add an odorant to alert you if there’s a leak. 

If you detect an odor, leave your home immediately and contact your gas provider and the team at Jennings. As one of the leading Akron HVAC companies, we’re also skilled and certified to deal with gas leaks and emergency services. If you’re not sure what’s going on or if there’s a more serious issue, give us a call. It’s always better to prioritize your safety. 

Step 2: Turn Off the Furnace

Turn off your furnace’s power switch and the gas control knob and wait at least 5 to 10 minutes before doing anything else. You want to clear out all of the residual natural gas before relighting the pilot. If you skip this step, you could end up with trapped gas that suddenly ignites and could cause injury. 

Step 3: Find the Pilot Light Assembly

If you’re not sure where to look for the pilot light, review your manufacturer’s instructions, which are often attached to the inside of the access panel. Most older gas furnaces will have a pilot light assembly near the bottom of the unit. You should see a small gas valve with three settings: On, Off, and Pilot. 

Step 4: Relight the Pilot Light

It’s time to switch the gas valve to the Pilot position. Unless your manufacturer’s directions say otherwise, try pressing it and holding it down while carefully bringing a long fireplace lighter to the pilot opening.

Continue holding the knob for about 30 seconds after the flame appears to make sure the thermocouple heats up and signals that the furnace is safe and the gas can keep flowing. After releasing the knob, you should notice that the flame remains steady.

Step 5: Turn On the Furnace Power

After the flame stays lit, turn the gas valve back to On and restore power to the unit. Set your thermostat to heat mode and raise the temperature a few degrees higher than the current room temperature. The burners should ignite, and warm air should begin to flow within minutes.

When to Call for Akron Furnace Repair

If your pilot light won’t ignite, keeps going out, or is acting erratically, it’s time to call in the professionals. There’s something more serious going on with your system that could include:

• A faulty thermocouple that no longer senses the flame
• Dirt, soot, or corrosion clogging the pilot opening
• Gas pressure problems or leaks
• Age-related wear in an older furnace

Avoid Future Pilot Light Problems

If you want to avoid or reduce the chance of your pilot light going out in the future, schedule regular heating maintenance with our team at Jennings. An annual tune-up will keep your furnace running clean and efficiently and extend its lifespan for as long as possible. 

We’ll run tests, clean up the burners and components, inspect the thermocouple, and make sure the safe gas pressure levels are right. Taking care of your furnace is far less expensive than emergency repairs and keeps your home warm all winter long.

Call Jennings for Furnace Repair in Akron Ohio

Furnace problems can feel uncomfortable and overwhelming but don’t have to be. Give us a call when your pilot light isn’t working properly, is emitting an orange or yellow flame, or won’t stay lit. We’ll figure out what’s going on and get it fixed in no time. From furnace repairs to maintenance, installation and more, we’re proud to serve our community as your heating and cooling experts in Akron Ohio. Schedule your appointment today!