Chances are, if you’re reading this, your furnace is currently blowing cool air instead of warm air like it is intended to. Most likely, this means that the pilot light has gone out, and now you need to know how to relight it. If this is something new to you, don’t worry; we understand it may seem daunting! But it doesn’t have to be. Luckily, your favorite Lewis Center Powell Heating & Air professionals will walk you through the step-by-step process of relighting your furnace’s pilot light.
Step One: The pilot light is the first thing you need to find. Oftentimes, it’s hidden behind a metal door or panel called the burner cover. If that’s true for your furnace model, you will have to take off the burner cover before you can get to the pilot light’s opening.
Step Two: Before relighting the pilot light again, confirm that you turned off your furnace at the power source first. You can usually find the furnace’s power button at the base of the unit.
Step Three: The next step is just as important, so be sure not to skip it. It is vital that you also turn off the gas supply before moving on to the relighting process. The gas valve should be located nearby. Once you turn the gas off, be sure to wait for a minimum of five minutes before proceeding. Waiting for the gas to adequately disperse is suggested due to safety reasons, therefore, is crucial.
Step Four: While waiting for the next five minutes, you can use this time to carefully clean the pilot light and its immediate surroundings. Make sure to remove any debris. Using a small brush, toothbrush, or even a cotton swab is safe for this step. Once you’re finished, the flame will be much easier to reignite and stay alight.
Step Five: Now is also a good time to locate the pilot light assembly. The pilot light assembly is typically made up of knob-like control that has the words “pilot, reset, and on/off” labeled on it. Wording is subject to varying from different furnace model to model.
Step Six: Once the five minutes have passed, start the relighting process by grabbing your long-reaching lighter and making sure it is within reach. Then turn the knob on the pilot light assembly to “pilot.” Keep holding it down. Now, turn the knob to “reset,” but keep holding it down as you bring your ignited lighter close to the pilot light. Take caution to proceed slowly. Once the lighter is close enough, the pilot flame should catch. After confirming the flame has ignited and is staying lit, you may let go of the “reset” switch.
Step Seven: After you have confirmed that the pilot light is staying ablaze, be sure to turn the gas supply back on!
Step Eight: Finally, don’t forget to replace the burner cover before you go!
Congratulations! You have successfully relit your furnace’s pilot light! However, if, after going through this guide step-by-step, you find that the pilot does successfully ignite but then goes out immediately after releasing the “reset” button, there may be another issue with your system altogether. If this is the case, please give us a call for further assistance!
If you’re unsure how to relight your pilot light, please don’t hesitate to call Lewis Center-Powell Heating & Air for assistance. You can reach us at (614) 490-7530 or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
