If your furnace is running but no warm air is blowing into your home, your pilot light might have gone out. Before you do anything else, safety comes first. If you smell gas, hear hissing, or suspect a leak, leave your home immediately and call your gas company or emergency services. Never attempt to relight a furnace in those conditions.
For most other situations, a pilot light that’s out is a solvable issue. Here’s what you need to know, including when it’s time to call in a technician from Siemer Heating, Cooling & Plumbing.
What Does the Pilot Light Do?
The pilot light is a small flame that ignites the burners inside your furnace. Without it, your furnace can’t generate heat. If the flame ever goes out, your furnace has a built-in safety valve that stops the flow of gas. This prevents gas from leaking into your home.
A healthy pilot flame should be bright blue and steady. If it looks weak, flickers, or burns yellow, that’s a sign of a problem and can affect both performance and safety.
Common Reasons the Pilot Light Goes Out
Several issues can cause a furnace pilot light to fail. The most common include:
Drafts or Breezes
Even a small draft near your furnace can blow out the flame. If this happens once in a while, relighting may be all that’s needed. If it keeps happening, the furnace might be malfunctioning or might need to be relocated.
Dirt and Debris
Dust and buildup can clog the pilot orifice or block oxygen, preventing the flame from burning consistently. Routine cleaning during a furnace tune-up can resolve this.
Damaged or Dirty Thermocouple
The thermocouple is a compact safety mechanism that detects if the pilot light is on. If it’s bent, dirty, or damaged, the pilot won’t stay on. Sometimes gently cleaning it with fine-grain sandpaper or carefully repositioning it can help. However, replacement is often the best long-term solution to this problem.
Gas Valve or Supply Issues
A faulty gas valve or an inconsistent gas supply can prevent your pilot light from staying lit. This type of repair is best left to professionals.
Flame Quality Issues
If the flame is more yellow than blue, something is interfering with combustion. That’s a warning sign to stop relighting attempts and schedule service.
How to Safely Relight a Furnace Pilot Light
If your furnace has a standing pilot light, it may have relighting instructions printed directly on the unit. Usually, these are located on the access panel or near the gas valve. Always follow those manufacturer instructions carefully.
If you ever smell gas, hear hissing, or feel unsure about the process, do not attempt to relight the pilot light. Instead, leave the area and contact your gas company or call our team at Siemer Heating, Cooling & Plumbing.
Repeatedly relighting a pilot light that won’t stay on is also a red flag that there’s a bigger issue at play, such as a faulty thermocouple or gas valve. In these cases, the safest option is to schedule service with a certified technician.
What If the Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit?
If you’ve tried relighting and it continues to go out, there’s an underlying problem. Here are a few things you can check:
- Clean the thermocouple and pilot assembly.
- Look for drafts near the furnace.
- Make sure the gas supply is steady.
If the light still won’t stay lit after these checks, it’s time to call in a professional. A Siemer technician can quickly diagnose whether the issue is with the thermocouple, the gas valve, or another component.
Preventing Pilot Light Problems
The best way to keep your pilot light burning reliably is through regular maintenance. Heating and cooling can account for about 43% of your home’s total energy use, so keeping equipment efficient pays off.
Annual furnace tune-ups include cleaning the pilot assembly, checking the thermocouple, and ensuring your system is running safely. Preventative maintenance helps:
- Reduce the risk of inconvenient breakdowns
- Lower monthly energy bills
- Extend the lifespan of your furnace
- Improve overall comfort in your home
Siemer offers maintenance plans designed to keep your furnace and the rest of your HVAC system operating at peak performance year after year.
When It Might Be Time for a Replacement
If your furnace is more than 10 years old, frequent pilot light problems may be a sign that the entire system is wearing out. Aging furnaces lose efficiency, break down more often, and drive up energy costs.
When that time comes, Siemer Heating, Cooling & Plumbing can help you make the right call, whether it’s repair or replacement. We install, service, and maintain all major brands of furnaces, and we’ll make sure your home stays comfortable through the Indiana winter.
Call Siemer Heating, Cooling & Plumbing Today
Whether your pilot light just needs a quick fix or your furnace is ready for an upgrade, our certified technicians are here to help. Call us or request service online today.
