Do You Relight Your Furnace Pilot Routinely? Call For Repairs
If your pilot light keeps going out, and you have had to relight it on occasion, this isn't something that you want to have to do repeatedly. Instead, you want to call a heating and cooling professional to come to look at the unit and possible problems.
There are a few different things that could be wrong with your furnace, and you want the function to be restored for both comfort and safety right away.
As your furnace ages, it's more and more likely you'll see problems. Some of the reasons your pilot light may continue to go out include:
- Drafts in the house
- Gas supply shortage
- Dirty pilot chamber
- Clogged gas line
- Thermocouple problems
Here are some of the things that the professional will look at during the inspection.
Flame Sensor Flaw
If your pilot has an electric igniter system, then it has a flame sensor also. This sensor will identify if the burners on the furnace are working properly or not. If this isn't functioning properly, it could be preventing the furnace from getting the right signals to trigger the pilot and turn it on.
Thermocouple Problem
The thermocouple could need to be replaced because of age. It also may just need to be cleaned and relocated and balanced. This can get off-center over time while the machine runs. The repair may be as simple as just putting it back in its proper place.
Gas Problems
Damage to the gas line that goes into your home could be causing a gas shortage or delay, causing the pilot to go out. The plumbing fixtures may all need to be cleaned, and you may need to have some components replaced. The heating professional will apply a topical agent around the pipes and use a gas detection machine to see if there are any leaks.
One of the reasons you don't want to ignore a pilot light that continues to go out is that having a gas leak in your home is very dangerous. After an inspection, the heating professional should be able to give you an estimate for the repairs that are needed.
If the unit has serious problems and needs extensive repair work, and it also is very old, it may be time to get a cost estimate for a new unit.
Reach out to a repair technician in your area for more information about pilot lights and furnace repair.
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