Pilot Light Keeps Going Out

When this becomes an emergency

• The pilot light won't stay lit even after relighting it more than once.
• The flame looks weak and flickers, more yellow than a steady blue.
• There's a sulfur or rotten-egg smell near the unit; leave the house and call from outside if you smell gas.
• Soot or dark staining has appeared around the pilot assembly or burner.

What a pro does

A pilot that won't stay lit is almost never about the pilot flame itself. The usual culprit is the thermocouple or thermopile, the small sensor that proves a flame is present and keeps the gas valve open, and when it weakens or sits out of position it reads no flame even while one is burning right in front of it, shutting the gas back off within seconds. On houses converted from oil to gas years ago, an undersized or poorly routed gas line can also starve the pilot under certain draft conditions. Shutting the gas valve at the unit is the right move if a smell is present.

Frequently asked questions

Pilot Light Keeps Going Out?

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