If the water heater pilot light turns off, then that means a change in gas pressure put out the flame. Most homeowners don’t routinely monitor their water heater pilot light. That’s why the main sign of a heater pilot light that’s gone out is a lack of hot water.
It’s important to light the water heater pilot light as soon as possible to ensure no gas is released into the home as a result of a broken flame sensor.
Each water heater has specific instructions for turning on the water heater pilot light, but most gas-powered water heaters can be turned on using the gas shut-off valve.
First, turn the knob to “OFF”, wait five minutes for the gas to clear, and take the following steps:
- Open the door/cover over the pilot light access, located under the gas valve. Some water heaters just have an open gap, with the pilot light burner inside.
- Use a flashlight or a headlamp to locate the burner inside. You’ll see two small gas tubes leading to it. Be sure to keep an eye on it as you go through the remaining steps.
- Turn the gas knob to “Pilot” and press and hold it down. This will turn on the gas so you can light the flame. Some water heaters have a separate red button for pilot mode, which you’ll need to press and hold.
- As you hold the gas down, light the pilot. Some water heaters have a red or black igniting button, while others need to be lit manually with a long lighter.
- After the flame ignites, hold the gas knob or button down for a full minute. Then, release it slowly and make sure the light remains on.
- Turn the gas knob to “ON” and listen for the distinct “whump” or whooshing noise of the main burner igniting.
- Replace the cover.
If you continue to experience problems with the water heater and the pilot light, you could have a dirty or bent thermocouple, which is a small copper wire and rod that senses the flame and automatically turns the gas off when it detects a flame outage.
Contact Blue Apple Electric for an inspection and we’ll get to the root cause of your water heater issue.