If your pilot light goes out on a winter day, you may be facing a no-heat situation in your TX home. While it may be tempting to try to relight the pilot yourself, we want to start by saying that if your pilot should go out, we are always a call away, and we can relight your pilots safely and efficiently so you can get back to being comfortable.
What Is a Pilot Light?
If you heat your home with a furnace and any type of fuel like propane, you likely have a standing pilot flame, which is a flame that stays lit and serves to ignite the flame for the burner. Furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, fireplaces, etc. all have a 100% safety shutdown that stops the flow of fuel if the pilot goes out. Pilot lights can go out for a number of reasons, and if yours is going out often, it usually means your furnace needs an upgrade or repair. Keep reading to learn the top reasons pilot lights go out, then details on how to prevent yours from extinguishing.
Why Would My Pilot Go Out?
- Your Heating System Is Aged: If your heating system is aged 10 or more years, it likely has parts that are dirty, need replacement, or need repair. A dirty and inefficient heating system, and any failing parts, could certainly cause your pilot to go out.
- The Heat Exchanger Is Cracked: A cracked heat exchanger affects the combustion chamber of your pilot light and will impact the air and venting around the flame, which could cause the flame to be blown out. A cracked heat exchanger is a problem commonly seen in older heating units.
- There Is Malfunction in the Thermocouple: The thermocouple is what signifies to the heating system to keep the gas line open and the pilot flame lit. If the thermocouple of your system is dirty or malfunctioning, it will turn off your gas, causing your pilot to burn out.
- Your Pilot Has Improper Airflow: Sometimes something as simple as wind or a draft can blow out a pilot light. Make sure your flue pipe is set correctly and that you have no other issues with venting.
- You’re Out of Propane Fuel: Your propane system needs propane to keep working. If you’re low on fuel or if there is a disruption in your supply line, this could cause your pilot to go out. It’s best to have your supply lines inspected by Enderby if no other issue seems to be causing the lost flame. Call for a delivery if you are low on propane.
Prevent Your Pilot Light Going Out
Oftentimes, a pilot goes out because the user is too low on or completely runs out of fuel. Running out of propane doesn’t only cause a pilot to go out—it’s also a very serious hazard to your tank, your safety, and your home and family’s safety. The easiest and most convenient way to prevent a fuel runout is to enroll in our automatic delivery program at Enderby. We monitor your fuel levels for you, and we deliver propane when you need it. You can stress less about checking your gauge, ordering, and scheduling deliveries, and rest assured that your propane fuel needs are in good hands. To enroll in automatic delivery, or to learn more, all you have to do is contact us.
Get in Touch with Enderby
We know that a pilot going out can cause stress and anxiety. Relighting your pilot light is always a job for a trained and experienced technician, as accidents could occur and the situation could become potentially dangerous. Service from Enderby is only a call away. Get in touch with us today for assistance.