Hi All If the pilot won't stay lit, the thermocouple may be loose or faulty, the pilot orifice may be clogged, or the pilot light's flame may be set too low and needs to be adjusted.
You can clear a clogged orifice with a piece of thin wire, such as a bread tie with the paper stripped off of it. Be sure to turn off the gas to the furnace first! Also shut off the switch or circuit breaker that controls power to the furnace. Just poke the thin wire into the tiny orifice where the pilot flame normally burns to knock off any ash or debris. Some pilots have a flame adjustment screw for adjusting the flame. To adjust this, refer to your owner's manual. Normally, this is simply a matter of turning the flame adjustment screw to achieve a full, steady 1 1/2-inch to 2-inch flame that doesn't have any yellow in it. It happens from time to time, especially with older gas furnaces: the pilot light goes out. At this point you have two options: call a heating contractor, or pull out the user's manual and relight it yourself. What user's manual, you ask? If you don't have the original, simply follow these instructions for relighting a gas furnace pilot light. There are two basic pilot valve types: one has a red reset button and a gas valve, the other just has a valve knob that can be pressed down. Both are standing pilots (the flame is always lit), standard in older model furnaces. Here's how to relight a standing pilot light: itemsear the gas burners--it's a box-shaped device into which the main gas line runs. There should be a valve lever or knob with the settings 'On,' 'Off,' and 'Pilot.' Turn the knob to the 'Off' position and wait a few minutes for any residual gas to clear. 2. Prepare the pilot. If you have a pilot with a red reset button, turn the gas valve from 'Off' to 'Pilot.' If you have a pilot with a knob you can press down, turn that knob from 'Off' to 'Pilot.' 3. Relight the pilot. Place a lit match or lighter flame at the pilot while pressing and holding down either the red button or the knob. Keep pressing for about 30 seconds. This gives the thermocouple enough time to heat up and open the main gas valve. 4. Turn the pilot 'On'. Slowly release the button or knob, and the pilot should stay lit. If not, repeat the relighting process and press the button or knob for slightly longer, 45-60 seconds. Then turn the valve setting to 'On.' The burners should ignite, and you're live. Troubleshooting If your pilot just won't light, contact an HVAC contractor. The cause may be a malfunctioning part, such as a loose thermocouple. Other possible causes are a clogged pilot orifice or an improperly adjusted flame setting. Heating units can be temperamental. If relighting your gas furnace pilot proves difficult or impossible, don't get frustrated--get a heating contractor. There's no reason your quirky furnace should leave you out in the cold this winter. ********************************************************************** This message and its attachments may contain legally privileged or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not disclose or use the information contained in it. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and delete the e-mail. Any content of this message and its attachments which does not relate to the official business of Eraring Energy must be taken not to have been sent or endorsed by Eraring Energy. No warranty is made that the e-mail or attachment(s) are free from computer virus or other defect. ********************************************************************** [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] To listen to the show archives go to link http://acbradio.org/handyman.html or ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml Visit The Blind Handy Man Files Page To Review Contributions From Various List Members At The Following address: http://www.jaws-users.com/handyman/ Visit the new archives page at the following address http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man list just send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blindhandyman/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blindhandyman/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
