How To Light A State Select Water Heater Pilot

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If you live in a home with a gas water heater and notice cold water coming from your hot water faucet, in that location'southward a good adventure your pilot light has gone out. Don't worry: in most cases, you can relight a airplane pilot without calling in a professional, and you lot'll have hot water again in a few hours' fourth dimension. While having your heater'southward educational activity transmission around is handy, it'due south not entirely necessary, equally most gas water heaters require a like process for relighting the pilot light.

i
Check the pilot light. You will probably need to remove a small panel, chosen an access panel, at the bottom of the tank in order to see whether the airplane pilot lite is actually out. If y'all do non see a small flame burning, so your pilot light has gone out.
- If you have a newer water heater, it is possible that your console is not removable and that yous view your pilot calorie-free through drinking glass. In this example, if yous cannot meet a flame burning through the glass, then your pilot light is out.
2
Make sure there is no leaking gas. You should never try to reignite your pilot if there is gas leaking from your h2o heater, as this is extremely dangerous to both you and your home. Before attempting to relight the pilot, do a uncomplicated smell test to cheque for leakage.^[1]
- Stand next to your h2o heater and encounter if y'all detect any unusual smells. And so kneel down and sniff near any valves on the front and side of the tank. Natural gas is odorless by nature, merely gas companies add a substance called mercaptan to it to make it detectable to humans. Leaking gas smells similar sulfur or rotten eggs.^[2]
- If you scent gas in either of these places (even a faint smell), do not endeavour to relight the pilot. Leave the area of the water heater and call your gas company immediately; they will tell you how to proceed.
- Besides mind for a hissing audio nigh the water heater, as this is a sign of a gas leak.^[three]
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Check within the door console of your water heater for instructions. Specific instruction of details for your private model may exist listed here, and they may aid guide y'all in the process of relighting the pilot for your specific water heater.

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1

Set the temperature control setting to the lowest temperature. This is typically located on the front of a box found on the outside of the water heater.
2

Locate the regulator valve. This valve is usually located on the same box equally the temperature command, only it's probable on meridian of the box; information technology regulates gas menstruation to the pilot burner beneath the hot water tank.^[iv]
three

Turn the knob to the "Off" position. After turning the knob off, wait 10 minutes before proceeding to allow any residual gas from the tank to clear from the air. Safety is key!^[5]
4
Determine what style of water heater you accept. At that place are ii basic styles of gas hot water heaters, "new" and "one-time." Former style heaters volition crave you lot to employ your own flame to relight the pilot, while new style tanks come equipped with a pilot light igniter.^[6]
- The exact look of the buttons on new style tanks may vary, merely many accept a cherry igniter button set a few inches abroad from the temperature and regulator valves.
5
Collect any necessary lighting materials. If yous have an onetime style h2o heater, you lot will need to notice a long reach "wand" lighter or fireplace matches to relight the pilot.
- Do not attempt to relight a airplane pilot with a regular matchstick or a small cigarette lighter, every bit this volition crave placing your fingers in a small, tight infinite also close to the open up flame and put you in danger of getting burned.
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Find the airplane pilot. The pilot is located at the end of the small argent tube that comes out the control valve. Y'all may demand to apply a flashlight to see this area clearly.

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Turn the gas valve to the "Pilot" setting and push down on it. Doing this starts the flow of gas into the tube that supplies the pilot calorie-free.
- If your water heater's gas valve does not push downward, expect for a red control button near the valve. Agree this button down.
two
Light the pilot burner. While holding down the pilot gas valve or the ruby button with one hand, you will use your other hand to quickly light the pilot.
- If you have a new style water tank with a built-in ignition switch, press this button. You should hear a clicking dissonance until the pilot burner lights.^[7] If you have an onetime mode heater, apply your wand lighter/match to the pilot burner.
- Considering you will be using one paw to depress the valve/red button and one hand to light the airplane pilot, you may need someone to hold a flashlight for you if extra light is needed. Try to ask someone for help in advance then that you don't get halfway through the procedure, so have to stop because y'all are unable to see what you're doing.
3

Continue holding downward the gas valve or control button for one minute later on the pilot light has been lit. This will rut the thermocouple, which is a sensor that shuts the gas off when the pilot is out.^[8]
4

Release the valve knob/control button. After a infinitesimal, release the valve and control push button to run across whether the pilot light remains lit.
5

Replace the access panels. If the airplane pilot light has remained lit, put the access panel back into place (if you had to remove it initially) so that no flame can escape into your home.
6

Reignite the main burner. Plough the master gas valve back "On" and adapt the temperature control to your desired setting. The main burner under the tank should light and begin heating the water in the tank.^[ix]

Circumspection: Be sure to proceed your head abroad from the burner expanse when turning knob to "on".
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Gear up the thermostat to your desired temperature. Be certain not to brand it besides hot, as yous could inadvertently scald your hands or torso while washing or bathing. 49 C (120 F) is the temperature recommended by the Consumer Product Rubber Commission.^[10]

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Add New Question

Question

How practice I light a newer model gas heater?

Expect up your model and contact the manufacturer for specific instructions. Typically, the main divergence between a modern heater and these instructions is that newer models take an electric igniter (click a button and it makes a spark) to light the airplane pilot.
Question

What practise I telephone call the device that I push down to brand the spark to calorie-free the airplane pilot?

Y'all call information technology a "spark igniter."
Question

What do I practise if the airplane pilot light keeps going out on my water heater?

You volition probably need to supervene upon it. Contact a supplier or even the company that manufactured your water heater.
Question

What should I practise if the pilot light will not stay lit?

The most likely trouble is that your thermocouple needs replaced. That's the small-scale copper tube that runs from your water heater controls to the pilot lite and has an stop that sticks into the flame. When the pilot light heats the tip, it generates voltage that the command box senses and so information technology knows that the airplane pilot light is lit. Information technology's easy to replace and yous can get i at any home supply, plumbing supply, or hardware store. Take your old i so y'all get the proper length. You lot tin can go a little longer, but usually not shorter,
Question

How long practise I hold the pilot push button down before I push button the small scarlet ignitor button under it?

About 5 seconds. Turn information technology back on and conform the temperature.
Question

What should I do if the airplane pilot light won't lite for me?

Continue to attempt while checking for sign that at that place is gas flow (usually by smell). Odds are that the regulator has a malfunction and may need changed. This is besides something easily done yourself.

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If this procedure does not work, make sure the base of the pilot light is not dirty or clogged. If information technology is, clean it and try this procedure again later ten-15 min. You tin also attempt holding the valve/command button xxx-45 seconds longer after igniting the pilot light.
Low gas pressure level or a malfunctioning gas valve may also be to blame if this process doesn't work. Contact an appliance repair person, a plumber, or your gas company if you are unable to calorie-free the water heater later several attempts.
If the pilot calorie-free doesn't relight or goes out immediately later on relighting, you may have a bad thermocouple. The thermocouple extends from the temperature control into the flame area of the airplane pilot light. They are relatively cheap, and yous can install 1 yourself.^[11]

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

If y'all aroma gas anywhere in your house, call your gas company immediately. Even a "little bit of gas" is too much.
Practice not turn the gas valve back on until yous have replaced the access panels. Doing and then could crusade a flame to come out of the h2o heater.

About This Article

Commodity Summary Ten

To calorie-free an electrical water heater, start by setting the temperature control to the lowest temperature and turning the gas regulator valve to the "Off" position. Then, showtime the flow of gas past setting the gas valve to the "Pilot" position and pushing down on it. Next, push the red ignitor button virtually the gas valve to light the pilot burner. Go on to button the airplane pilot push button for 1 infinitesimal, and check to come across if the pilot is lit. If it isn't, echo the steps until it is. If information technology is, turn the gas valve back to "On" and ready the temperature to your desired setting. For tips on preparing how to light your water heater, read on!

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