What Would Cause a Pilot Light to Go Out on a Furnace?

The furnace heats the air when you turn the thermostat knob. Some furnaces have pilot lights that make the heating more comfortable. Sometimes the pilot light fails when it gets dirty and malfunctions. There are several ways to filter the air and increase air pressure in the furnace.

If the air filter becomes dirty or clogged, you must clean it as soon as possible. If the air filter is blocked, the furnace will have to work harder to heat the house. If the air filter does not have a good seal around it, or if the filter has many air leaks, it will not do a good job of filtering out the particles.

The air filter needs to be cleaned from time to time to be effective in air cleaning. The thermocouple is used for monitoring the temperature of the furnace.

Reasons Why a Pilot Light Go Out on a Furnace

If you have a manual furnace, a pilot light is a small light that is often located in the top center of the furnace. When the pilot light is lit, the gas will start to flow and heat the room. If the pilot light goes out on your furnace, it can be a sign that a number of things are wrong with your furnace, including a burnt-out pilot light.

A thermocouple is a device that is used to measure the temperature of the gas or oil used to heat or cool a furnace. If the thermocouple is dirty or malfunctioning, it can cause the furnace to either overheat or underheat. If the air is getting too cold, it is possible that there is not enough air to heat the air. If the furnace is too hot, the air filter needs to be cleaned to prevent damage to the furnace.

Air is required for both heating and cooling. When the air is too cold, your furnace is not able to heat and cool the home. In this case, it is advisable to raise the thermostat. When the furnace is too hot, it overheats and damages the air filter. The filter needs to be cleaned.

When the air pressure is insufficient, the furnace will not operate properly. If the air is too cold, then you need to raise the thermostat. The air filter needs to be cleaned regularly because it is the first line of defense against mold and contaminants.

Dirty or Malfunctioning Thermocouple

If you can hear the pilot light click on and off while it is still dark, it may be dirty or malfunctioning.  If your furnace dies while you are not at home or the room is poorly ventilated, the pilot light might be dead. Check the pilot light before you leave the house in the evening.

If you are not home or have forgotten to turn off the pilot light, you might see a light coming from the heater that seems to be on. To test if the pilot light is not working, turn off the air conditioner or stove, then turn on a fan and see if the pilot light comes back on. If your heater does not turn on, check to see if the thermocouple is dirty, damaged, or missing.

You can clean it by inserting a small amount of baking soda or vinegar into the thermocouple or using a pencil to clean out the thermocouple. Use a flashlight or candle and use a cloth or other soft object to shine the light on the thermocouple.

If your furnace does not have a thermocouple, contact your furnace company. But if it does not have a thermocouple, contact an HVAC company for a replacement.

Cold Air

When the furnace is too cold, an empty pilot light is often blown out.  When the pilot light is blown out, the space heater will not work. The pilot light is the initial part of the furnace to be lit to begin the healing process.

This is a typical furnace problem in homes without central heating.  When the pilot light goes out, an electric motor is turned on to light the furnace. When the electric motor is not working, the pilot light must be lit before the furnace can begin to heat your home.

Your furnace should be serviced every few years by an HVAC technician.

Too Hot Furnace

You should check the pilot light for the furnace after a heating system repair. Check the thermostat to ensure that the information is not wrong. Make sure that there is a flame burning at the top of the pilot light.

Check the furnace to make sure that there is no more than half full on the furnace, and that the thermostat is correct. Sometimes the fault in a furnace is because the thermostat or pilot light is wrong. Check that there are no open or broken electrical cables to the furnace or to the pilot light.

If the thermostat is correct, then check that the pilot light is clear of any residue or condensation.

Faulty Thermostat

If the light was not burning before you turned on the furnace, it’s probably not a fire problem.  But you can check your wiring to be sure the thermostat is working. You can turn off the furnace to verify if there’s a circuit breaker that tripped.

Look at the pilot lights and see if any of them have gone out. You can replace them. But if the wire that goes to them is damaged, you may have to get a new furnace. If a pilot light is not working, call the local heating or cooling repair service.

They will check the furnace and the wiring to find out what’s wrong.  A furnace with a pilot light problem can cost as little as $35 to $750 to fix, but it could be a lot more. Your furnace should never be left on by itself.

Clogged Air Filter

A dirty air filter causes air to pass through your furnace system less efficiently and, as a result, will cause it to overheat. A clogged furnace air filter causes air to pass through your furnace system less efficiently and, as a result, will cause it to overheat.

To keep the air clean in your home, be sure to change your furnace’s air filter regularly. Hard to keep your home warm? The solution to this issue is to use an air conditioner rather than a furnace. The use of a high-efficiency air conditioner will reduce your energy usage considerably and help to keep your air clean.

To avoid this issue, check the filter and change it as needed. You can contact your local gas supplier to see if they are able to provide furnace filters. Keep your furnace clean, since it is an integral part of your home’s heating system.

A clogged furnace air filter causes air to pass through your furnace system less efficiently and, as a result, will cause it to overheat. If you have to have a furnace in your home, be sure to make sure it has the right filter.

Low Air Pressure

When you leave your air conditioner for several days, you may need to add an air filter to your cooling system. The return air vents create a pressure differential between the warm air in the home and the cold air outside.

In the winter, a lot of people use dehumidifiers, particularly in bathrooms and basements. If your furnace has a pilot light, it is on the same circuit as the thermostat.

When the thermostat goes down and the fan comes on, the heat and humidity inside the home goes up and the home is at risk of a fire. You need to add a return air filter and check your return air vents.

Dehumidifiers can also be used to cool down a home, particularly if there is no air conditioning. The return air duct will help the furnace function efficiently. You should also use the furnace or dehumidifier to help get rid of the smoke.

Smoke from your furnace creates a health problem for you and your family.

Faulty Gas Regulator

A broken pilot light usually indicates a leak or poor fuel intake, but you can’t easily see them. Most modern furnaces come with a safety valve that keeps gas from getting to the pilot light, but if it does not, or if the safety valve malfunctions, the flame will go out.

The main gas valve should be tested regularly, as this is the first place a gas leak can be found. When your furnace light comes on, it is important to take note of the direction that the flame is burning. If your pilot light goes out, you may have a problem with either the valve or the safety valve.

If the pilot light goes out while your furnace is operating, contact a service technician to have the problem fixed. The safety valve should not be tested until the pilot light comes on, because it will not be able to detect the problem.

Before testing the gas valve, be sure that it does not have a leak, and that your furnace isn’t on. Once the gas valve is checked and tested, check for any leaks, and ensure that your pilot light is functioning. A certified technician can check your gas valve if you do not have the right tools for the job.

Reasons Why a Pilot Light Go Out

There are several reasons why a pilot light goes out. Some of the most important reasons are described below:

1. Dirty or malfunctioning thermocouple

Thermocouples are used to measure the temperature of a fuel or air stream. Thermocouples are small metal wires that have a melting point that is different from the surrounding temperature. The thermocouple is connected to an electronic instrument.

2. The air is getting too cold

A malfunctioning thermostat can result in a furnace that is too cold. The thermostat is a valve that controls the flow of air through the furnace. Usually, the thermostat is located inside the furnace and is controlled by the furnace’s airflow.

3. The furnace is too hot

Some furnaces are equipped with a thermostat that is controlled by the furnace’s airflow. This thermostat is usually located outside of the furnace. This thermostat is activated by the temperature of the air entering the furnace. When the air temperature is very low, the thermostat will ensure that the airflow is tight and that the furnace is not allowed to heat up too much.

4. The air filter needs to be cleaned

The air filter is a device that collects particulates and dust from the air that is going into the furnace. Cleaning the air filter makes sure that your furnace will run efficiently and will have the highest efficiency possible.

5. Insufficient air pressure

The thermostat is usually controlled by the furnace’s air pressure. When the air pressure is too low, the thermostat will not allow the air to flow properly. This will result in the furnace being too hot or too cold. The pilot light might also make a loud sound in some cases.

To Recap

The pilot light in a Furnace goes out when the furnace has overheated. Because pilots are very sensitive to temperature, it is vital to check your Pilot light regularly. If you suspect it’s going out, make sure the Pilot light is warm before re-lighting it.

Pilot lights shouldn’t go out while your furnace is on, but they can sometimes do this. If you spot a pilot light that is going out, check your furnace for any problems. If the furnace is overheating, you will need to turn it off and start the problem repairs. If the furnace is working fine, it’s likely that your pilot light is the problem.