HOW DO I RELIGHT MY FURNACE’S PILOT LIGHT?    

Jan 1, 2023 | Cool Air, Blown Out, Burner, Flame, Furnace, Gone Out, HVAC, Ohio, Pilot, Pilot Light, Relight, Reset, Xenia

If your furnace is suddenly blowing cool air, it’s more than likely because the pilot light has gone out. If that’s the case, follow these steps from your service experts at Xenia Heating & Air below to relight it. But be sure to read and heed each cautionary instruction carefully to avoid any potential safety hazards. 

WHAT IS THE PROCESS A HOMEOWNER SHOULD KNOW TO RELIGHT THEIR FURNACE PILOT LIGHT?


Before we get started, it’s important to stress the importance of referring to the manufacturer’s instructions when possible. Did you know that most furnaces have the manufacturer’s instructions placed on a label right on the side of the heating unit? If possible, it’s always best to follow the manufacturer’s directions as they are designed for your specific furnace model. However, sometimes furnaces are positioned in hard-to-reach spaces that don’t allow for easy reading, or they may be in a space that has insufficient lighting. So, if you’re ever in a bind trying to relight your pilot light and the instructions are nowhere to be found, use these tips as a guide. 

1. Find your furnace’s pilot light before you start the process. You might have to remove the burner cover to locate it, depending on your specific furnace model. Next, turn off the gas valve by rotating it into the “off” position. This is imperative this is done before proceeding to further instructions, as accumulated gas in one area can be harmful if the gas flow is not shut off while relighting a pilot light. 

2. Secondly, search for the furnace power button. Most of the time, it is situated near the bottom part of the furnace. Once you find yours, power it off.  

3. Now, for your safety, please wait for the gas to disperse a minimum of five minutes before proceeding to relight the pilot light. This is crucial and recommended by experts, as bypassing this step could be harmful. 

4. You can find the pilot light assembly near the pilot light area. To ignite the pilot light, press the “pilot” setting on the switch/knob, so it turns on. Then as you bring a long-reaching lighter slowly and carefully to the pilot light, press and keep holding down the “reset” switch. When you see the pilot light spark, release your grip on the “reset” switch. Your newly lit pilot flame should stay lit after this. 

5. Once you have checked that the pilot light remains lit with no issues, it is important to turn your gas supply back on. 

6. If your furnace does, in fact, have a burner cover that you had to remove, remember to return it back to its original position.     

Implementing these steps will make your home feel cozy again in no time! However, if the pilot light still does not stay lit after following this step-by-step guide, there might be an issue with one of the parts. In that case, contact us so we can send out one of our NATE-certified technicians to take a look and replace any non-functioning components if necessary. 

You can count on Xenia Heating & Air for all your HVAC needs. Call us today at (937) 708-8451, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!