Why Does My Gas Furnace Pilot Light Keep Going Out?
A furnace needs all of its parts to be in working order for proper performance and efficiency. The pilot light is one of the more important pieces that needs to always be in perfect working order. A malfunctioning pilot that goes out from time to time spells bad news for both your furnace and your safety.
Here are three tips to help you troubleshoot issues with your furnace's pilot light:
- Safety first. Before you go poking around your furnace, be sure to turn everything off. Start by turning off the pilot light, followed by shutting off the gas valve. Let the furnace cool down for a half hour before starting the troubleshoot.
- Check the thermocouple. The job of a thermocouple is to detect the heat given off by the pilot light. If it does not sense any heat then the gas will be shut off. However, if the thermocouple is faulty then it will constantly shut off the gas and pilot light. Sometimes this piece can just be dirty, so a quick cleaning can have it back to working order. Other times it may be bent out of place and will need readjustment.
- Check the pilot tube. The tube piece of the pilot light can become blocked and will prevent the flame from staying lit. While you have the furnace and gas line shut off, take a needle and scrape the sides of the tube. Do this until all of the blockage has been scraped out. Perform this maintenance annually because a clean pilot light will lengthen its lifespan.
A pilot light can malfunction for these reasons as well as being broken altogether. Since this piece is needed for the furnace to work, have it replaced as soon as possible. Contact the experts at Tri-City Heating and Cooling for a quick and reliable repair. To learn more, or to schedule a service, give us a call at (203) 303-5700.