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30 votes

I ran out of propane and now the water heater pilot light will not stay lit

I have had similar problems in the past when running out, what I found is I had to hold the pilot for several minutes to get the lines full of propane again. I found it easiest to light the stove top ...
Ed Beal's user avatar
  • 103k
25 votes
Accepted

What is causing the pilot light to go out with a loud clunk?

Fairly common on modern pilot lights to have a thermocouple heated by the pilot flame and a valve controlled by the thermocouple (with a manual thing you have to push and hold when lighting the pilot, ...
Ecnerwal's user avatar
  • 223k
13 votes

I ran out of propane and now the water heater pilot light will not stay lit

My understanding of pilot lights is that they heat a thermocouple, which is a mass of metal that detects heat. The electronics behind that thermocouple will shut off the gas to the pilot if the ...
Sam's user avatar
  • 545
12 votes

What is causing the pilot light to go out with a loud clunk?

If the thermocouple that is heated by pilot flame does not report pilot flame is on, the main gas valve will shut down. That is done for safety reason. So check and clean or replace the thermocouple.
Traveler's user avatar
  • 18.9k
8 votes

What is causing the pilot light to go out with a loud clunk?

Try snuffing the pilot manually: blow on it directly, blow through a straw or tube, or use compressed air. (These suggestions are all intended to simulate wind drafting through the flue.) Supposing ...
Greg Hill's user avatar
  • 32.1k
7 votes
Accepted

How do I prevent a water heater pilot light from blowing out on windy days?

As wind blows against a building some areas experience a rise in air pressure and other areas experience a drop in air pressure. That difference in pressure can cause a surprising draft through the ...
Greg Hill's user avatar
  • 32.1k
7 votes

What is causing the pilot light to go out with a loud clunk?

It's puzzling that the clunk occurs instantaneously when the pilot goes out. A thermocouple usually takes a few seconds to cool off and close the valve with a click rather than a loud clunk. I think ...
MTA's user avatar
  • 12.1k
7 votes

What is causing the pilot light to go out with a loud clunk?

It could be that the draught is pushing the flame away from the thermocouple, or chilling it. So the valve could trip while the flame is still there, and kills the pilot light itself.
Paul_Pedant's user avatar
5 votes
Accepted

Safe to remove pilot cover for water heater?

The "outer door" is below the "thermostatic gas valve." Labeled "jacket door" in this diagram from earlier in the manual. Take that off and have a look for the pilot ...
Ecnerwal's user avatar
  • 223k
5 votes

How can I add a pilot light to the current light switch?

If you specifically want an LED, add a suitable NRTL listed low voltage lighting supply to the circuit in parallel with the light, so it is powered when the light is, and then run your low-voltage, ...
Ecnerwal's user avatar
  • 223k
4 votes

How can I add a pilot light to the current light switch?

This might be too far outside the box, but get a clear nylon rod, drill a friction fit hole through the top of the closet door and stick the 1-3/8" long rod into the hole. Voila! An indicator ...
Aloysius Defenestrate's user avatar
3 votes

Problem replacing Slater Pilot Switch with Leviton

The new switch is just the same as the old switch except that the connection between the switch's load terminal and the hot side of the pilot light is internal to the new switch. This internal ...
DoxyLover's user avatar
  • 13.3k
3 votes

Does a fireplace with switch on wall need to have the pilot on constantly

In almost every case you have a gas valve with “pilot” and on yes the pilot stays on. This is normal, the quantity of gas is very small. The air in the line had to be purged and because the flow is ...
Ed Beal's user avatar
  • 103k
3 votes

Gas Fireplace Pilot Won't Light

I also believe you don't have an electronic spark ignition and a pilot. Although I don't have a thermostat, I do have a light switch which will turn on my logs burner. I suspect your thermostat ...
Geoff's user avatar
  • 71
3 votes
Accepted

Will my stove's pilot light ignite automatically when the gas is turned back on?

If there were a way to spark the pilot light automatically, you would not even have the pilot light at all (you would just use THAT thing to spark the flame only when needed). This is how my stove ...
Leo Lansford's user avatar
3 votes

No pilot light on gas oven?

According to online documentation, this model uses a glow bar. For an oven (not a stove top) one should NOT have to press any button to get anything to ignite - the thermostat and circuitry will take ...
mike65535's user avatar
  • 1,559
3 votes

Old Carrier Furnace, 3-Wire Pilot Assembly, Electrode Sparks Continually While it Runs

I experience this exact same problem (sparking throughout the entire cycle) when the 646AX gas valve assembly failed and had to be replaced. No direct replacement was available but the stated ...
Daniel Tso's user avatar
3 votes

Indication light on switch lit when switch is off

This is a "switch leg" which is why there is a blue (normally neutral) wire going to a switch. Switches don't use neutral. Switches don't normally use power. They run on human power, and ...
Harper - Reinstate Monica's user avatar
3 votes

How can I add a pilot light to the current light switch?

There are lighted switches which have a small (neon?) light in the toggle. The light is on when the switch is off. I believe the purpose of this is to reveal the switch in darkness, but this could be ...
Jim Stewart's user avatar
  • 22.5k
2 votes
Accepted

Pilot in gas water heater still goes out after replacing thermocouple

I reinstalled the pilot and cleaned out the burner and related assemblies and the pilot was only going out in the morning. The issue turned out to be because we are still on a low-pressure gas system,...
F21's user avatar
  • 165
2 votes
Accepted

Water heater pilot light won't stay lit in my attic

Your plumber may be right, and from my experience, it is uncommon that he'd know that (unless, like you said, he was trying to get the home warranty company out of a bill and happened to stumble on ...
Will I Am's user avatar
  • 182
2 votes

Old Carrier Furnace, 3-Wire Pilot Assembly, Electrode Sparks Continually While it Runs

The following is a sequence of operation for that style of Bryant/Payne/Carrier furnace that uses the three wire bimetal safety switch: The thermostat calls for heat. 24 volts goes to the HOLD coil ...
Jeff Cates's user avatar
  • 2,372
2 votes

How to Turn On a Wall Heater

Check the valve in the bottom 2 pictures that is connected to the pipe that comes up through the floor. That is the manual gas valve that may need to be turned if it is turned off. First, turn the ...
d.george's user avatar
  • 12.5k
2 votes
Accepted

Why doesn't my furnace start? Pilot Light ignites and continuous clicking

It helps to have an understanding of how the gas control works. The gas control valve operates a solenoid-operated valve that delivers gas to the burners when your thermostat calls for heat. The ...
Giff Kucsma's user avatar
2 votes

LP fireplace: My pilot and burner both shut down

A 100lb tank? In Winter? In Maine? You are almost certainly overdrawing the tank. Liquified Propane has to boil to provide you with gas, and it takes heat to do that. The pressure in a propane tank is ...
Ecnerwal's user avatar
  • 223k
2 votes

Pilot light on gas log fireplace extinguishes when turn gas control knob to "on"

Once you light the pilot hold it there for up to a minute then turn to on. It is possible the thermal pile or thermocouple is not quite hot enough. I find giving it a minute usually works if it still ...
Ed Beal's user avatar
  • 103k
2 votes

Where do I hold the lighter to start the pilot light

That looks nearly identical to the pilot assembly in my wall furnace. Here's a picture of it lit, so you can see where the flame goes: There is a hole in the sheet-metal several inches above, and ...
Kevin Reid's user avatar
  • 4,054
1 vote

How to troubleshoot a fireplace pilot light that is too long?

I don't know that particular make or model, but in general the pilot flame nozzle should be a separate replaceable component, with its own restrictor at the rear - in effect, a tiny pinhole. If that ...
Tetsujin's user avatar
  • 11.5k
1 vote

Does a fireplace with switch on wall need to have the pilot on constantly

Yes, the pilot light should stay on. That's what it's for. It might cost you about a dollar to leave it on all year since it uses such a small amount of gas. You can turn it off in the summer, if ...
Chris Cudmore's user avatar
1 vote

Can a marginal transformer be responsible for random standing pilot light cutoff?

Usually the pilot light is normally only controlled by the thermocouple/ sensor on systems of this age probably only a millivolt controlled gas valve. What I have seen quite often is the burners get ...
Ed Beal's user avatar
  • 103k

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