The pilot light is a critical component of a gas furnace. It ensures safety, efficiency, and comfort in your home. If you ever notice that your pilot light has gone out, it’s essential to relight it as soon as possible to ensure that your furnace is functioning correctly.
Always reference the furnace’s instruction manual before performing any maintenance or troubleshooting tasks. It contains essential information specific to your heating system, such as operating switches and relighting procedures.
In this step-by-step guide, our experts compiled key information about the role of a pilot light on a furnace and how to relight it. If you’re wondering how to relight a pilot light, read on to find out.
Relighting Pilot Lights
Below are tips from our pros at C&C on how to relight the pilot light. The location of components you’ll need to access for this task will vary, depending on the brand of furnace you are using. We encourage you to refer to the furnace’s instruction manual or owner’s manual for the anatomical details of your unit. Knowing how to light a pilot light on a furnace is particularly important for older gas furnace models that rely on a standing pilot light for operation.
1. Turn Off the Power
The first step to safely relight your furnace is to turn off the power to this heating system. You can do this by turning off the switch on the electrical panel that controls your furnace.
Turning off the power to your furnace is important for two reasons:
- It helps you avoid damage to your equipment
- It helps you avoid injury from electric shock
2. Turn Off the Gas
Next, turn off the gas supply to the furnace. You can do this by turning the valve on the gas supply line that leads to your natural gas furnace.
3. Wait for the Gas to Dissipate
After turning off the gas, you should wait for the gas to dissipate before attempting to relight the furnace. This usually takes around 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of your furnace.
If necessary, open a window to make sure all gas smells are gone before you attempt to relight it. If you smell gas, that may be an indication of lingering gas in the room. Give it more time to air out before proceeding to the next step.
4. Locate the Pilot Light
Once the gas has dissipated, you can locate the pilot light. This is the small flame located near the bottom of the furnace. To understand how to light a pilot light, first, find the gas valve and turn it to the ‘pilot’ position, then use a match or lighter to ignite the pilot while holding down the reset button. If the pilot light does not stay lit, check for drafts or blockages that may be causing the issue.
5. Relight the Pilot Light
To relight the pilot light, turn the pilot button to the “Pilot” setting. Press the pilot button and hold it down. While holding down the pilot button, use a long match or a lighter to ignite the gas at the pilot light assembly.
6. Hold the Reset Button
Once the pilot is lit, hold the reset button down for a few seconds to make sure the pilot stays lit, and then release the button. Locate the reset switch, which typically has settings labeled ‘On,’ ‘Off,’ and ‘Pilot.’ Typically, you should hold the furnace reset button for 30 seconds. If you don’t give it enough time, it may go out again, and you’ll have to start all over.
7. Turn on the Furnace
Turn the power to your furnace back on at the electrical panel. It should fire up right away and begin warming the home. If you’re still having issues, check your thermostat to make sure it’s set properly. If it is, contact a professional HVAC technician for assistance.
The Pilot Light Assembly: What is it?
The pilot light is an essential component of a gas furnace that functions as a starting point, allowing the heating system to produce heat. It is a small flame powered by the furnace’s gas supply and burns continuously unless the furnace is off.
The job of the pilot light is to ignite the main burner of gas furnaces when the thermostat calls for heat. When the thermostat detects that the room temperature has fallen below the set temperature, it sends a signal to the furnace to turn on and send gas flow for heat to generate. The pilot light then ignites the gas in the burners, which heats the air that is circulated throughout the home.
Furnace FAQ
How can you tell if your furnace needs to be relit?
There are a few signs that can indicate that your furnace pilot light has gone out and needs to be relit. Here are some common signs to look out for:
- No heat
- Cold air
- Smell of gas
- Yellow burner flame
If you notice that your furnace isn’t heating your home like it normally does, or if the air coming out of your vents is just not feeling as warm and cozy as you remember, there’s a good chance that you need to relight your furnace.
Does relighting your furnace take a long time?
Relighting your furnace is a quick, easy process that can be done in under an hour. The job may require a few simple tools that you already have on hand. The whole process takes less than an hour from start to finish.
How long will it take to warm your house up after a relight?
It depends on how warm your house is. If it’s already warm and you just need to get it back up to temperature, it should take about 20-30 minutes to warm your house up. If you’re starting from a cold house, it can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour or more to warm up fully.
If you have another heat source, such as electric space heaters, you can use them until the house gets warm enough.
Is it safe to relight your furnace’s pilot light yourself?
Yes, it’s safe to relight your furnace’s pilot light yourself. It might seem scary at first, but once you know how it works, and you’ve done it a few times, it becomes second nature. And if you don’t feel confident doing it, you can call a technician for help.
What should you do if the pilot light doesn’t stay lit?
If the pilot light won’t stay lit, it’s usually because you’ve got a problem with the gas valve. Common causes, such as drafts and ventilation problems, can lead to pilot lights going out frequently. If it is staying lit but not staying on long enough to ignite your burner, you might have problems with your thermocouple or flame sensor (or both).
If you follow the seven steps above, you should be able to safely relight your furnace. Proper maintenance and inspection are crucial to prevent pilot light problems. However, if you’re unsure about any of these steps or if you encounter any problems, it’s always best to call a professional HVAC technician to help you.
Contact C & C Heating Today!
At C & C Heating & Air Conditioning, we’ve been providing quality service to many satisfied homeowners throughout Macomb Township, MI for years. Our technicians are trained to handle any problem with your HVAC system from broken ducts to malfunctioning thermostats.
Are you installing a new furnace or upgrading your air conditioner. You can also turn to us for UV lighting, indoor air quality assessments, smart thermostats, and duct cleaning and HVAC repair and replacement. If you’d like more information on our services or how we can help improve your indoor air quality, contact C & C Heating & Air Conditioning today!
