Tools repair and advice - distinguishing of the piloy light

Author

distinguishing of the piloy light

Julie Zhu

2006-12-19, 8:25 pm

The pilot light for our house gas heater goes out sometimes (not all
the time). It needs to be re-ignited and a bar in front of the pilot
light (I believe it is the thermocouple) needs to be heated for a while
before the heater fires up. We had a new electric valve installed by a
professional last year and it worked fine. Could you provide any idea
how to fix the problem?? Thanks a lot.

T Shadow

2006-12-20, 5:25 pm

"Julie Zhu" <jzhu129@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1166573795.366268.172660@73g2000cwn.googlegroups.com...
> The pilot light for our house gas heater goes out sometimes (not all
> the time). It needs to be re-ignited and a bar in front of the pilot
> light (I believe it is the thermocouple) needs to be heated for a while
> before the heater fires up. We had a new electric valve installed by a
> professional last year and it worked fine. Could you provide any idea
> how to fix the problem?? Thanks a lot.
>

The thermocouple is working as it should. The heat is how it "knows" the
pilot is lit. You don't want gas being emitted without the pilot light
burning. Had that happen once with an old furnace. When I came home the
house was full of gas. Good thing I don't smoke.

Assuming you don't have a strong draft blowing it out get a professional to
look at it. If you don't get enough gas into the burner it can cause an
increase in carbon monoxide. This is serious. Don't play with it. Get it
fixed.

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