5 Quick Steps to Light Your Furnace Pilot

5 Quick Steps to Light Your Furnace Pilot

If you end up shivering within the chilly and your furnace shouldn’t be offering any warmth, it is likely to be as a result of the pilot gentle has gone out. A pilot gentle is a small flame that constantly burns to ignite the fuel within the furnace when warmth is required. Relighting the pilot gentle is a comparatively easy activity that you are able to do your self, however it is very important comply with the directions fastidiously to keep away from any potential hazards.

Earlier than you start, be sure that the fuel provide to the furnace is turned on. You’ll be able to normally discover the fuel valve close to the underside of the furnace. Upon getting confirmed that the fuel is on, you’ll be able to proceed to relight the pilot gentle. Most furnaces have a small entry panel on the entrance or aspect of the unit that gives entry to the pilot gentle. Take away the entry panel and find the pilot gentle meeting. The pilot gentle is normally a small metallic tube with a flame burning on the finish.

To relight the pilot gentle, you have to a protracted lighter or a match. Maintain the lighter or match close to the pilot gentle and activate the fuel valve. The pilot gentle ought to ignite instantly. If it doesn’t, flip off the fuel valve and wait a couple of minutes earlier than making an attempt once more. As soon as the pilot gentle is lit, maintain it down for about 30 seconds to make sure that it stays lit. Then, launch the button and substitute the entry panel.

Figuring out if the Furnace is Pilot-Ignited

Earlier than embarking on the duty of lighting a furnace pilot, it’s important to determine whether or not your furnace requires pilot ignition. Listed here are some indicators that counsel your furnace is pilot-ignited:

Age of the Furnace

Typically, furnaces manufactured earlier than the mid-Nineteen Nineties make the most of pilot lights for ignition. In case your furnace is older than 25 years, it’s more likely to have a pilot ignition system.

Presence of a Standing Pilot Gentle

Observe the furnace visually. Should you discover a small blue or yellow flame burning constantly close to the burner meeting, you might have a pilot-ignited furnace.

Location of the Thermostat

In older furnaces, the thermostat is often linked to a millivolt sign. This low-voltage sign prompts the pilot gentle and fuel valve. In case your thermostat has thick wires as an alternative of skinny ones, it’s probably that your furnace is pilot-ignited.

Forms of Pilot Lights

There are two important forms of pilot lights:

Standing Pilot Gentle Intermittent Pilot Gentle
Burns constantly Ignites solely when the furnace is in use

Gathering Mandatory Supplies

To efficiently gentle your furnace pilot, you have to to assemble a number of important supplies:

1. **Butane lighter or long-neck lighter:** A butane lighter is the popular choice because it offers a managed flame and is much less more likely to trigger injury to the pilot meeting. An extended-neck lighter may also be used when you’ve got restricted entry to the pilot.

2. **Screwdriver (normally supplied with the furnace):** A small screwdriver is critical to entry and modify the pilot meeting. Some furnaces include a devoted screwdriver for this goal.

3. **Flashlight (non-compulsory):** A flashlight might be useful for illuminating the pilot meeting and making it simpler to see what you might be doing, particularly in dimly lit areas.

4. **Matches (non-compulsory):** Matches can be utilized to gentle the pilot if a lighter shouldn’t be accessible. Nevertheless, it is very important use warning and comply with the directions under fastidiously to keep away from accidents.

Merchandise Objective
Butane lighter or long-neck lighter To ignite the pilot
Screwdriver To regulate the pilot meeting
Flashlight To light up the pilot meeting (non-compulsory)
Matches To ignite the pilot if a lighter shouldn’t be accessible (non-compulsory)

Shutting Off Fuel Provide

Earlier than commencing any work in your furnace, it is essential to make sure the protection of your workspace. This consists of shutting off the fuel provide to forestall any accidents or hazards throughout the course of. Comply with these steps to soundly flip off the fuel:

Step 1: Find the Fuel Shutoff Valve

Determine the placement of the fuel shutoff valve, which is often situated close to your furnace. It is normally a yellow or red-handled valve.

Step 2: Shut the Valve Utterly

Flip the fuel shutoff valve clockwise till it is absolutely closed. This may cease the circulation of fuel to the furnace.

Step 3: Double-Examine the Valve Place

As soon as you’ve got closed the valve, double-check its place by making an attempt to show it additional clockwise. Should you expertise any resistance, it means the valve is totally closed.

Step 4: Take a look at for Fuel Leakage

After closing the shutoff valve, apply a small quantity of soapy water to the valve’s connection level. Observe for any bubbles forming. If bubbles seem, it signifies a potential fuel leak, and you must contact a professional fuel technician instantly.

Step 5: Open Home windows or Doorways

Should you detect any fuel leaks, ventilate the realm by opening home windows or doorways to permit contemporary air to flow into. Don’t try and gentle the furnace or carry out another gas-related work on this scenario.

Further Ideas:

Tip
Wait at the least 5 minutes after closing the valve earlier than lighting any home equipment or performing any electrical work.
Should you’re unfamiliar with fuel provide programs, don’t try to regulate or restore the valve your self. Contact a professional fuel technician for help.
Commonly examine the fuel shutoff valve for any indicators of injury or corrosion.

Finding the Furnace Pilot

A furnace pilot is a small flame that ignites the primary fuel burner in a furnace. It is normally situated contained in the furnace cupboard, close to the underside of the unit. To find the pilot, comply with these steps:

  1. Flip off the ability to the furnace. That is normally achieved by flipping the breaker or swap that controls the furnace.
  2. Take away the entry panel to the furnace cupboard. The entry panel is often situated on the entrance or aspect of the furnace.
  3. Find the pilot meeting. The pilot meeting is a small, metallic tube with a small flame burning on the finish. It is normally situated close to the underside of the furnace, near the fuel valve.

Ideas for Discovering the Pilot:

  • If you cannot discover the pilot meeting, seek the advice of your furnace’s consumer guide. The guide will present particular directions on tips on how to find the pilot.
  • If the pilot shouldn’t be lit, you could have to relight it. Directions on tips on how to relight the pilot are normally discovered on a label close to the pilot meeting.
  • Should you’re nonetheless having bother discovering the pilot, name a professional HVAC technician for help.

Turning Off the Electrical Provide

Earlier than continuing with any upkeep or repairs, it is crucial to make sure the protection of your working setting. To this finish, step one includes turning off the electrical provide to the furnace. This measure eliminates any potential electrical hazards, minimizing the danger of accidents or accidents throughout subsequent operations.

Verifying the Energy Provide

To substantiate that the electrical provide has been successfully disconnected, make the most of a non-contact voltage tester. This system might be employed to confirm whether or not electrical energy is current within the wiring, offering a definitive indication of the ability standing.

Finding the Electrical Panel

{The electrical} panel, sometimes called the breaker field, normally homes the circuit breakers or fuses that management the ability provide to numerous home equipment and programs inside your property, together with the furnace. It is usually located in a readily accessible location, such because the basement, storage, or utility room.

Figuring out the Furnace Circuit Breaker

Inside the electrical panel, find the circuit breaker labeled “furnace” or “heating system.” This breaker is answerable for supplying electrical energy to the furnace.

Disengaging the Circuit Breaker

To show off the electrical provide to the furnace, find the designated circuit breaker and swap it to the “OFF” place. This motion will successfully interrupt the circulation of electrical energy to the furnace, rendering it electrically inactive.

BEFORE AFTER
Circuit breaker within the “ON” place Circuit breaker within the “OFF” place

Cleansing the Pilot Meeting

Cleansing the pilot meeting is a vital a part of sustaining your furnace. A unclean pilot meeting could cause the furnace to malfunction and even begin a fireplace. To wash the pilot meeting, you have to a number of instruments, together with a small brush, a vacuum cleaner, and a can of compressed air.

First, flip off the fuel provide to the furnace. Then, take away the entrance panel of the furnace and find the pilot meeting. The pilot meeting is often situated close to the underside of the furnace, and it consists of a small metallic tube with a flame burning inside. Rigorously take away the small metallic tube or pilot meeting and use the comb to scrub any grime or particles from the within. Make sure to additionally clear the realm across the pilot meeting.

Upon getting cleaned the pilot meeting, vacuum up any remaining grime or particles. Lastly, use the compressed air to blow out any remaining mud or grime. Reinstall the pilot meeting and activate the fuel provide to the furnace. Gentle the pilot gentle and be sure that it’s burning correctly.

This thorough cleansing course of helps make sure the protected and environment friendly operation of your furnace.

Pilot meeting cleansing requires the completion of the next steps:

Step Description
1 Turning off the furnace
2 Finding the pilot meeting
3 Eradicating the pilot meeting
4 Cleansing the pilot meeting utilizing the comb
5 Vacuuming the remaining grime
6 Blowing out any remaining mud utilizing compressed air
7 Reinstalling the pilot meeting
8 Turning on the fuel provide and lighting the pilot gentle

Changing the Pilot Burner

If the pilot burner is clogged or broken, it should have to be changed. To do that, comply with these steps:

  1. Flip off the fuel provide to the furnace.
  2. Take away the entrance panel of the furnace.
  3. Find the pilot burner meeting.
  4. Disconnect the fuel line from the pilot burner.
  5. Take away the pilot burner from the furnace.
  6. Set up the brand new pilot burner into the furnace.
  7. Reconnect the fuel line to the pilot burner.
  8. Activate the fuel provide to the furnace.
  9. Reinstall the entrance panel of the furnace.
  10. Gentle the pilot burner based on the producer’s directions.
  11. As soon as the pilot burner is lit, verify for fuel leaks. Should you scent fuel, flip off the fuel provide to the furnace and name a professional technician.

    The best way to Gentle a Furnace Pilot

    A furnace pilot gentle is a small flame that retains your furnace operating. If the pilot gentle goes out, your furnace will be unable to warmth your property. You’ll be able to gentle the pilot gentle your self utilizing the next steps:

    1. Flip off the fuel provide to the furnace.
    2. Wait 5 minutes for the fuel to dissipate.
    3. Find the pilot gentle meeting. It’s normally a small, spherical opening on the aspect of the furnace.
    4. Use a protracted match or lighter to gentle the pilot gentle. Maintain the flame close to the opening and press the igniter button.
    5. As soon as the pilot gentle is lit, maintain the button down for 30 seconds to permit the flame to stabilize.
    6. Activate the fuel provide to the furnace.
    7. Set the thermostat to the specified temperature.

    In case you are unable to gentle the pilot gentle your self, name a professional HVAC technician for help.

    Folks Additionally Ask About The best way to Gentle a Furnace Pilot

    How do I do know if my furnace pilot gentle is out?

    In case your furnace shouldn’t be heating your property, the pilot gentle could also be out. You’ll be able to verify the pilot gentle by trying via the small, spherical opening on the aspect of the furnace. If the flame shouldn’t be lit, the pilot gentle is out.

    Why did my furnace pilot gentle exit?

    There are a number of the explanation why a furnace pilot gentle could exit, together with:

    • A draft of air
    • A unclean pilot gentle meeting
    • A defective thermocouple
    • An issue with the fuel provide

    How do I troubleshoot a furnace pilot gentle that will not gentle?

    In case your furnace pilot gentle is not going to gentle, you’ll be able to strive the next troubleshooting suggestions:

    • Examine the fuel provide to the furnace.
    • Clear the pilot gentle meeting.
    • Exchange the thermocouple.
    • Name a professional HVAC technician for help.